Nigerian goalkeeper Mathew Yakubu has officially joined MFK Dukla Banská Bystrica, signing on after productive spells with ŠKF Sereď, MFK Stará Ľubovňa, and OFK Baník Lehota pod Vtáčnikom.
Yakubu, born on 9 March 1999 in Zaria, Nigeria, made 34 appearances for ŠKF Sereď in Slovakia’s top-flight Fortuna Liga between 2019 and 2023.
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In the 2024/25 season, he featured prominently for MFK Stará Ľubovňa, playing 14 league matches in the Slovak 2. Liga. This spring, he continued his form with OFK Baník Lehota pod Vtáčnikom, where he remained an influential shot-stopper.
Upon completing the move, Yakubu remarked:
“I didn’t expect my journey to bring me to Banská Bystrica. It’s a challenge for me, and I’m ready to fight for the No. 1 spot.”
Dukla’s official welcome message added: “Welcome to Dukla, Mathew! We wish you many successful saves and clean sheets in our jersey!”
The signing represents a fresh chapter for MFK Dukla Banská Bystrica, who, after relegation from the top tier in 2024–25, aim to strengthen their squad and push for promotion back to the Fortuna Liga.
Yakubu draws attention not only for his shot-stopping ability—he earned praise for clean sheets and consistency, including a standout performance against Ruzomberok in 2025 while at Sereď —but also for his ambition. In recent comments, he made clear his focus lies on securing the starting position at club level before even contemplating national team aspirations.
At 1.83 m tall and with years of Slovak football experience, Yakubu arrives ready to compete for the goalkeeper’s jersey at Dukla. As a Nigeria-born stopper making waves in Eastern Europe, his next goal will be to help lead Dukla out of the second division and back into top-flight contention.
With a competitive mindset, professional maturity, and Slovak football familiarity, Mathew Yakubu is now set to make an impact in Banská Bystrica.
The coming season will show whether he can establish himself as the club’s No. 1 and help drive them toward promotion
