August, 31 2023.
Nigeria's junior international, Benjamin Fredrick has added to the number of players of Nigeria origin in the English Premier League, by inking a season-long loan deal with Brentford FC of England.
According to a source close to the player, the loan deal has in it, an obligation for the Bees to buy the teenage defender, by offering him a fresh contract.
www.ckdmedia.ng can confirm that plethora of clubs had been jostling for the signature of the Kaduna-born defender, before Brentford FC was finally able to get the player and his representative to sign a deal.
Benjamin Fredrick, a product of Simoiben Football Academy, Kaduna was part of Coach Ladan Bosso squad to the 2023 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Argentina, where the run of the Flying Eagles of Nigeria was by South Korea in the quarterfinals.
Prior to playing at the Under-20 World Cup, Benjamin had played for clubs like ABS FC of Ilorin and Nasarawa United FC of Lafia in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
The 18-year-old Star, who was one of the standout performers for Nigeria in Argentina, flew to the United Kingdom on Sunday and underwent a medical already booked for him, on Monday.
As part of a tour of the club's facilities, he met and had a brief chat with Super Eagles midfielder, Frank Onyeka who currently plys his trade for the club, based in London.
The 18-year-old is now set to put pen to paper for the London club, subject to the issuance of a UK work visa and other regulatory processes. Simoiben FC will receive no fee for the loan.
No further details of his loan deal has been made available, but Benjamin is happy to grab the offer made him by Brentford, and accepts that he now has to start a new life in the United Kingdom.