French Ligue 1 giants Olympique Marseille have reached an agreement to sign Nigeria midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi from Belgian club Zulte Waregem in a deal worth €6 million.
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According to reports from France, including Foot Mercato, all parties have agreed terms, with the transfer expected to be officially confirmed on the final day of the winter transfer window. Nnadi is due to arrive in Marseille within hours to complete the move.
The transfer will make the 22-year-old the fourth-most expensive sale in Zulte Waregem’s history, placing it in a similar bracket to the €7.5m deal that saw Senegal midfielder Pape Demba Diop join RC Strasbourg last summer.
Nnadi has been one of the standout performers in the Belgian Pro League this season, playing a key role in midfield as newly promoted Zulte Waregem push to consolidate their top-flight status.
He has started 16 league matches in the current campaign and remains under contract with the club until 2028.
The Nigerian international joined Zulte Waregem in January 2024 from Bulgarian side Botev Plovdiv, where he had made his European breakthrough.
His consistent performances in Belgium quickly elevated his profile and attracted interest from clubs across Europe.
Born in Ihiagwa, Imo State, Nnadi’s rise has been steady rather than spectacular. After developing in Nigeria, he had spells in Dubai and Bulgaria before finding the platform to grow his game in Belgium.
His progress earned him a surprise call-up to Nigeria’s squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where he made his senior debut in a 3–1 group-stage victory over Uganda.
Although his minutes at the tournament were limited, his inclusion was viewed as a strong endorsement of his development and accelerated transfer interest.
Premier League clubs including West Ham United, Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Brighton & Hove Albion and Leeds United are understood to have monitored his situation, while teams in Germany and Spain also tracked his progress.
Marseille’s move now appears to have won the race, with the Ligue 1 side set to secure one of Nigeria’s fastest-rising midfielders as they strengthen their squad for the second half of the season.
