Nigerian winger Michael Babatunde has signed with Albanian first division club KF Laçi on a free transfer, reports Sports247. Babatunde was last with Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca.
Laçi revealed on its social media platforms that the 29-year-old has signed a one-year contract with them. They finished second in Albania’s top flight last season and will face FK Iskra in the UEFA Europa Conference League’s first qualifying round.
Babatunde began his career in 2010 with Heartland FC in Nigeria before moving to Europe with FC Kryvbas in Ukraine in 2011.
He played for two more Ukrainian clubs FC Volyn Lutsk (2013-2015) and FC Dnipro (2015). He also played for Raja Casablanca and Qatar SC before his move to Wydad Casablanca in 2018.
Babatunde enjoyed his best club form while at Wydad. The attacking midfielder scored 13 goals and assisted on 10 occasions in 58 appearances for The Red Castle winning one Moroccan league title and reaching the CAF Champions League final in 2019.
Babatunde made a name for himself with his performances for Nigeria at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The then 21-year-old started Nigeria’s final two group games, a 1-0 win over Bosnia and a 3-2 loss to Argentina in Group F. He set up the Super Eagles’ first goal against Argentina, but unfortunately, fractured his right wrist later in the game.
He was ruled out of the remainder of the tournament, missing Nigeria’s 2-0 defeat to France in the first knock-out round. He had already gained recognition and the interest of bigger clubs by that point.
Babatunde failed to live up to his World Cup promise and faded into oblivion thereafter. The once-heralded player will continue his career in the lesser-known Albanian division.
