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Brown Ideye has returned to Nigerian football after 17 years.
Former Super Eagles star and 2013 AFCON winner Brown Ideye has signed with Nigerian football giants Enyimba until the end of the 2024/25 season.
The 36-year-old forward, who has been without a club since leaving Kuwaiti side Al Yarmouk in 2022, is set to bring his experience to the reigning league champions.
Confirming the transfer, Enyimba’s Sporting Director, Ifeanyi Ekwueme told PUNCH online:
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“Yes, the talks have been going on for a while, and we completed it yesterday. He will be with us until the end of the season, and we believe he will bolster our team’s attack as we compete in the league and on the continent.”
The deal comes 17 years after Ideye left Ocean Boys, marking a homecoming for the seasoned striker.
This move follows his near-signing with Rivers United in October, which ultimately fell through.
“Follow the money”: Ideye’s advice to Osimhen
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Ideye’s transfer arrives months after his candid advice to Victor Osimhen, urging the Napoli star to prioritise financial security in career decisions.
Reflecting on his own move to the Chinese Super League, Ideye tweeted: “I had no plans to go to China… My agent negotiated with TEDA about my salary and bonuses. When I saw the long numbers and told my wife, na she pack my luggage for me to leave the next day LOL.”
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In the thick of the transfer deadline day saga surrounding Osimhen back in August, Ideye criticised Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda, for potentially ruling out a Chelsea move and criticized the lack of respect he believes Osimhen receives from European clubs.
However, Osimhen’s move to Chelsea fell through and the 25-year-old forward instead secured a loan to Turkish side Galatasaray.
Brown Ideye’s scandals and unfinished business
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Despite his footballing accolades, Ideye remains embroiled in controversy.
Ukrainian businesswoman Yana Voloshchenko, the mother of his two children, has accused him of allegedly abandoning his parental responsibilities during the war in Ukraine.
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Yana told Pulse Sports that Ideye owes over $150,000 in unpaid child support, stating, “He hasn’t fulfilled his duties as a father since January 2022.”
The legal battle escalated last year, with Voloshchenko vowing to hold the footballer accountable.
As Ideye returns to Nigeria’s top flight, his on-pitch contributions may reignite his legacy—but his off-pitch controversies remain a lingering shadow.
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