Why I snubbed bigger clubs to join Coventry — Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka explains

Frank Onyeka, nicknamed 'The Tank', completed a loan move to Coventry City, despite reported interest from Sheffield United and Spanish side Valencia.

The 28-year-old Nigerian international was desperate for regular first-team football after limited minutes at Brentford and a strong showing for Nigeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

In an interview with the Coventry Telegraph, Onyeka revealed how the move came about and why he picked Frank Lampard's promotion-chasing side.

"My agent told me about it early in January, but I was just focusing on AFCON so we didn’t speak much about it," he said.

"And then I think two weeks before the transfer deadline, I had a call with Frank Lampard, and that’s when everything started.

"I spoke to him and could see the club is going in the right direction, the club is going up, and it was something that I wanted.

"And for family reasons, I want to stay close to them, and there are a lot of challenges like this. So that was the reason why I chose Coventry over other clubs."

The loan deal runs until the end of the 2025/26 season, with an obligation to buy if Coventry win promotion to the Premier League.

Onyeka emphasized his commitment: "I’m very happy to be here. I’m a strong midfielder, I’m a winner and I always want to fight for my teammates."

Onyeka, who was an unused sub against Oxford United, is hoping to make his debut in Monday night’s big top-of-the-table fixture against Middlesbrough at the CBS Arena.

“Yeah, I hope to play,” he said. “For me, I’m just doing everything I can to train well and am hoping that I get the opportunity to play Monday."