Tottenham Hotspur academy product Nathan Oduwa has completed a transfer to Irish club Dundalk on a free, the Irish club have confirmed.
Oduwa had spent the last week training with Tottenham prior to his medical at Dundalk having been without a club since summer after leaving Israeli outfit Hapoel Hadera.
The 24-year-old has had a nomadic senior career with spells in Slovenia with NK Olimpija and in Denmark with Vejle BK before his move to Israel last January.
Dundalk manager Vinny Perth claimed that the winger has got “real pedigree” and feels at home in Ireland after his stints abroad.
“Nathan is someone we have tracked for a while,” said Perth. “He trained with us last week and we were really impressed with him. He can play left-wing, right-wing and we also feel he could operate as a centre forward.
“Career-wise, he probably made a couple of wrong decisions over the past couple of years but he’s got real pedigree and this is the first time he has felt at home in a group for a long time.
“He’s had loads of options and he has been to lots of different clubs over the past few months but this felt more like a home move for him. It’s an opportunity for him to rebuild his career.”
Oduwa has represented both England and Nigeria at various youth levels and was on Spurs’ books until 2017, despite never appearing for the senior team.
He was sent out on loan multiple times to Luton Town, Rangers, Colchester United, and Peterborough United by the Tottenham management.
It was at Rangers that he showed glimpses of his true potential, cementing a regular starting spot under Mark Warburton in the Scottish second division but the deal was cut short and he returned to Tottenham mid-way.
While talking to the club he remarked that he was surprised at the facilities available in Ireland and was excited to get started at the reigning League of Ireland champions.
“My agent told me to come over and have a look at Dundalk and I was surprised at the standard and the facilities, to be honest,” said Oduwa.
“In England, they don’t really talk about the League of Ireland too much but the gym facilities, changing rooms and canteen here are of European standard.
“I’m only 24 but I’ve travelled to a lot of places and I’ve learned a lot,” he added. “The world of football can be very cut-throat and players like to have security and be somewhere where they are happy to play and express themselves and I feel like I have that at Dundalk. I’m just raring to go now.”
Football Insider reported that Oduwa has been offered a one-year deal which can be extended should he make a positive impression at the club.
