Nigerian national senior team right-back Ismail Sodiq is on the verge of completing a January transfer window move from local club Remo Stars to Albanian top-flight side FK Partizani Tirana, Kick Off Nigeria has exclusively learned.
This follows a week of speculation linking the Super Eagles youngster to FK Partizani. The Albanian club and Remo Stars have been in negotiations for days regarding Sodiq’s transfer. The defender has just six months remaining on his current contract.
As part of the agreement, FK Partizani will pay Remo Stars €100,000 (approximately 159 million Naira). Sources close to the player indicate that Sodiq will sign a three-year contract, earning a weekly salary of €1,880 (about 3,000,000 Naira).
“Partizani have been tracking Ismail (Sodiq) for months but only made their approach at the start of the week. Remo Stars demanded €100,000 because they do not want to lose him for free in June. Initially, Sodiq planned to see out his contract before deciding his next move, but that is no longer the case. He will sign for three seasons, with a release clause in place should a top club come calling,” a source told Kick Off Nigeria in an exclusive interview.
Sodiq made headlines in the Nigeria Premier Football League during the 2023/2024 season, recording 13 assists and scoring one goal as a defender. His contributions helped Remo Stars secure a second-place finish in the league standings.
This season, the talented right-back has already scored four goals and provided two assists in 13 appearances across the local league and the CAF Champions League qualifiers. Since making his debut for Remo Stars in the 2021/22 season, Sodiq has played 68 games, scoring five goals and delivering 20 assists.
At the international level, Sodiq has been a vital player for the Super Eagles in their qualification campaign for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN). Notably, he scored the opening goal in Nigeria’s 3-1 victory over Ghana, which secured their spot in the tournament scheduled for February 2025. He has also earned multiple competitive caps for the senior national team.
