July, 4 2023.
Greek powerhouse, PAOK Thessaloniki FC have announced the signing of Super Eagles vice-captain, William Troost-Ekong from his mother club, Watford FC.
Troost-Ekong is believed to have signed a three-year deal with PAOK, meaning they will have the defender, who will be 30 years by September, until 2026.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria central defender joined Watford from Udinese in September 2020 and helped the Hornets gain promotion to the English Premier League at the end of his first season at the club. But he only featured sparingly as Watford got relegated from the top flight the next season, back to the Championship.
Troost-Ekong played 15 times for the Golden Boys in the English second tier in the first half of the campaign, before he moved on loan to Serie A side Salernitana in January.
He made nine league appearances for the Italian side, scoring one goal (against his former club Udinese) and helped them escape relegation, www.ckdmedia.ng reports.
But Salernitana decided against making his loan deal permanent, and that forced the 29-year-old to return to Watford.
Earlier reports suggested that another Greek Side, Panathinaikos, as well as the Serie A duo of Genoa and Verona were the clubs leading the race to sign him.
But it is now official that PAOK has acquired the services of the former KAA Gent ace defender, whose father is a Nigerian and his mother a Dutch.
He joins the likes of Anderson Esiti, the Ahamefule brothers - ThankGod and Napoleon, Henry Okoro and Ifeanyi Udeze, who had previously laced their boots for the three-time Greek champions, which has the 3rd largest fan base in Greece.
PAOK finished fourth in the Greek Super League last season, and will play in the Europa Conference League next term.