Ibrahim Alhassan, a former midfielder for Akwa United, is the first summer signing for Portuguese team Boavista.
After his contract at freshly promoted Beerschot, in Belgium, expired, he signed a two-year contract with the club. At the end of the previous season, he also led Beerschot to the second division title.
On Thursday, four days after his contract in Belgium expired, the team unveiled him.
“I am very happy. Signing for Boavista was an easy decision, firstly because I know how great the club is and also because I have already played in Portugal, which I consider to be my second home. I am very excited about this challenge and I can’t wait to meet my new teammates and start this adventure,” the 27-year-old player said via the club’s website.
He now becomes the third Nigerian on the roster of Boavista next season, with Super Eagles defenders Chidozie Awaziem and Bruno Onyemaechi already at the club.
“I know Bruno and Chidozie personally. I played with Chidozie when I was in the Nigerian national team and I had already faced Bruno when he was still at Feirense. I also shared the dressing room with Filipe Ferreira at Nacional, and I remember playing against Ibrahima Camara. This connection with my teammates could be important for me to adapt more easily,” the midfielder added.
Alhassan is back in Portuguese football, having also represented CD Nacional for four seasons, between 2018 and 2022. He played twice at the Estadio do Bessa, Boavista’s home ground, which he described as “incredible.”
“The atmosphere was spectacular, and the fans were always supporting, making it difficult for the opponents. Fortunately, now I’m on this side, it will be easier to play at Bessa.”
He represented Nigeria at the U-17 and U-20 levels before being winning two caps with the senior national team in 2017.
