After putting pen to paper on his deal with Paide Linnameeskond, former Nigeria Under-23 midfielder Luqman Gilmore the revealed the reasons behind his decision not to extend his contract with FC Urartu in an exclusive conversation with Kick Off Nigeria.
The Nigerian midfielder spent last season playing for Armenian club FC Urartu, where he featured in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers. In his debut season in the Armenian League, Luqman was the center of attention—a standout player who worked his way into FC Urartu’s star-studded squad. His performances earned him praise from both the club and its fans, as well as a plethora of offers from European-based clubs.
Despite his impressive displays, the Nigerian footballer surprisingly left FC Urartu to sign for Paide Linnameeskond, leaving many wondering why he chose not to renew his contract and instead left FC Urartu as a free agent.
“There are things that could have worked better, yes. I didn’t stay at FC Urartu because the club failed to meet my personal terms in the new contract, and we couldn’t reach an agreement, which resulted in too many back-and-forth negotiations with time running out.“, said Gilmore.
“I’m excited to try something new. Throughout my career, I’ve never been afraid of new challenges. Paide Linnameeskond is an exciting team—one of the top clubs in the Estonian League. They’ll also be playing in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers this summer, so why not?”
The 28-year-old Nigerian who is eager to embark on a new challenge after joining Estonian club in the winter transfer window also explained why he signed for Paide Linnameeskond and who convinced him to make the move to Estonia.
“I had offers from some clubs, which I wouldn’t want to mention, from Cyprus, Lithuania, Georgia, and Albania. With a handful of offers on the table, I was in a big dilemma. But the words of the team’s representatives were reassuring. They showed me how much they truly wanted me to join the club.”
“My personal target in the Estonian League is to make the most of this opportunity, align with the club’s ambitions for silverware, and help them reach the group stage of the UEFA Europa Conference League.”
The energetic and creative Nigerian junior international lists FC Imereti Khoni, Dinamo Tbilisi, FK Liepāja, and FC Urartu as his former clubs.
