Nigeria Under-20 striker Ahieri Kparibo in an exclusive interview with Kick Off Nigeria has revealed that he turned down offers from Aston Villa and French club Lyon to sign for Norwegian side Lillestrøm Sportsklubb, prioritizing first-team football and his development.
The Nigerian youngster, who rose to prominence after his heroics in Nigeria’s second-tier league with Beyond Limits Academy, followed by outstanding performances for the Nigeria Under-20 team in the WAFU-B tournament, has signed a four-year contract with Lillestrøm Sportsklubb.
Renowned for his goal-scoring prowess, Kparibo caught the attention of several clubs after his impressive campaign with Nigeria’s Under-20 team in the CAF WAFU-B tournament in 2024. He had already signed a pre-contract with Lillestrøm Sportsklubb before turning 18 in 2025.
Kparibo, along with promising Nigerian defender Tochukwu Ogboji, has now been officially unveiled by his new club, Lillestrøm Sportsklubb.
In an exclusive interview with Kick Off Nigeria, the TCC League top scorer revealed the clubs that competed for his signature before he ultimately chose Lillestrøm Sportsklubb.
“I wanted to be able to play in the first team, which is why I signed for Lillestrøm Sportsklubb, despite interest from English club Aston Villa and French club Lyon.”
“It’s a great feeling to have signed my first professional contract with Lillestrøm Sportsklubb—this is me living my dream.”
“My goal is to break into the first team, score a lot of goals, and help the team win matches.”
The highly-rated youngster joins Lillestrøm Sportsklubb from a prominent Nigerian academy that has produced several top Nigerian footballers.
