Forgotten Super Eagles forward returns to football five months after family scandal

Nigerian forward Olanrewaju Kayode has completed a transfer to Turkish Division 2 side, Şanlıurfaspor FC, months after he was involved in a family scandal, Soccernet.ng reports.

It has been a torrid year for Kayode. Early this year, news broke that he was embroiled in a marital battle with his wife Ezinne.

The 31-year-old forward joined Genclerbirligi in September 2023, but his time at the club was cut in March this year.

In an earlier report by Soccernet.ng, Kayode’s wife was involved in an extra-marital affair with her pastor Tobi Adegboyega and was using his money to bankroll her pastor’s lifestyle. Also, she allegedly plotted with some friends to defraud Kayode of some of his properties.

There were also issues with the paternity of their children, as Kayode was involved in a back-and-forth with his wife concerning a purported DNA test. The last that was heard about the issue was that Kayode had filed for divorce.

But it appears that the Nigerian forward has put most of that behind him, as he has forged on with his career. In a new development, per Ojora Babatunde, Kayode has joined Turkish second division club Şanlıurfaspor.

The 31-year-old forward penned a one-year contract that will keep him at the club until next season. Kayode will be looking to impress at the club and probably move to a bigger club next summer.

Olanrewaju Kayode’s road to Şanlıurfaspor

Kayode looked like he was destined for greatness after Manchester City bought him from Austria Vienna in 2015. However, that deal did not work out, as he was eventually sold after City sent him out on different loan deals at Girona and Shaktar Donetsk. Kayode joined Shaktar Donetsk permanently in 2018, but he was loaned out a year later. Whilst in the books of the Ukrainian giants, he went on loan at Sivasspor and Ümraniyespor before joining Genclerbirligi permanently last year.