FIFA U17 World Cup winner, he spent his last three seasons in Italy

MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact announced on Tuesday the acquisition of Nigerian striker Orji Okwonkwo, following a loan from Italian club Bologna FC 1909 for the 2019 season. He will join the club upon receiving his international transfer certificate, his visa, and passing his medical.

“I’m satisfied in welcoming another striker to the team,” declared Impact head coach Rémi Garde. “Orji Okwonkwo is a young player scouted by Bologna three years ago who will help reinforce the team offensively. He’s a strong and quick forward who has an interesting margin of progression. I would like to welcome him to the team.”

Okwonkwo, 21, has played the last three seasons in Italy, scoring three goals in 27 Serie A games with Bologna FC 1909, including four starts, and 951 minutes, between 2016 and 2019. He joined the Italian club in 2016 after going through the academy of Nigerian club FC Abuja.

He spent the second half of the 2017-18 season on loan with Brescia, in Serie B, recording one goal in 13 games, four as a starter, and 455 minutes.

At the international level, Okwonkwo won the FIFA U17 World Cup in 2015, in Chile, with the Nigeria U17 team, appearing in five games throughout the tournament. He scored a goal in a 4-2 win against Mexico in the semi-final game.

Transaction: The Montreal Impact acquired striker Orji Okwonkwo on loan from Italian club Bologna FC 1909 for the 2019 season.

ORJI OKWONKWO

Position: Striker

Height: 5’8”

Weight: 160 lbs

Birthdate and birthplace: January 19, 1998, in Benin City, Nigeria

Citizenship: Nigeria

Last club: Bologna FC 1909 (Italy)

Date acquired: February 12, 2019