Sporting Lagos confirms that Academy graduate Yusuf Abdullahi has completed a permanent transfer to Danish club Aarhus Fremad, as we continue the international pathway the club has been deliberately building for young Nigerian talent.
The 18-year-old forward moves to Denmark after three years inside the Sporting Lagos development system where he progressed from academy football to first-team competition and now to the European stage.
Yusuf joined the Sporting Lagos Academy as one of the first-ever recruits in February 2023 after being identified through our scouting network. For the Academy, he featured across two seasons of The Creative Championship, playing a leading attacking role as the Academy reached the latter stages of both league and cup competitions, finishing as runners-up in 2024.
He was also part of the Sporting Lagos Academy team that won the 2024 Gothia B17 Cup in Sweden, scoring in the 4–0 final victory against Tokyo FC.
Ahead of the Nigeria National League (NNL) 2024/25 season, Yusuf earned promotion to the Sporting Lagos first team, scoring on his debut as the first-ever academy graduate to score a first-team goal in the club’s history. This season, he has recorded two assists in four appearances.
His journey reflects the kind of pathway Sporting Lagos exists to build, from limited opportunity and uncertainty to structured development, international competition, and professional progression. From selling fruits on the streets of Abuja after nearly stepping away from football, to lifting an international youth title and now signing in Europe, his story is one of resilience, discipline, and belief rewarded by structure.
This transfer is part of Sporting Lagos’ long-term commitment to discovering, developing, and exporting elite Nigerian talent through credible global routes and trusted football partnerships.
We are proud of Yusuf, and we wish him continued growth and success at Aarhus Fremad.
The pathway remains active. The work continues.
