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By Johnny Edward.
Nigerian and Gent star Gift Orban has set the standard since he joined the Belgian club in January from Norwegian second division club Staebak, scoring 14 goals with two assists in 14 games across all competitions.
Orban was virtually unknown less than three months ago, but his first steps among the game’s elite have left Europe’s top sides watching his goalscoring exploits with much interest.
Orban’s unique journey started in November 2021, when Stabaek’s sporting director Torgeir Bjarmann made his annual trip to Nigeria to attend an amateur tournament — and returned in no doubt about who his club should sign.
Bjarmann, was at Lyn Oslo when former Chelsea and Nigeria midfielder Mikel Obi played there, and signed Odion Ighalo, who later made his name at Watford and currently at Saudi Arabia club Al Hilal.
The 20-year-old was the next arrival but after seeing him in training Stabaek’s coaches were not overly impressed at the start, and despite several trials, Orban returned to his homeland when his visa expired.
But he needed Bjarmann to come to his defence about his talent to return back on a loan deal and it was at that time that he blossomed.
“I had to be more persuasive to sign him on loan after his visa expired, but the original idea was for Gift to play for the reserve team in the fourth division,” Bjarmann said.
“He scored in every game there, so we gave him a chance in a cup fixture in June. He netted twice, remained in the squad and never looked back.
“His mentality is very strong and the desire to win knows no bounds. It really was a one-of-a-kind story.”
Stabaek, who were surprisingly relegated the previous season, earned an instant return to Norway’s topflight — thanks in no small part to Orban’s goals.
Even though he only joined in the middle of the campaign, he ended up as the league’s top scorer with 16 goals in 19 matches, and added seven assists.
“Gift is extremely hungry for success and possesses a true winning mentality,” said Bjarmann. “He works hard in training every day and makes himself heard. I had high expectations of him, but he exceeded them.”
Stabaek midfielder Fredrik Krogstad added, “Usually it takes an African player about a year to adjust to Norwegian football, because style and culture are very different.
“Gift adapted amazingly fast, it was just crazy. He learned everything very quickly and became a leader.
“He is a funny guy who likes to laugh and dance, but becomes very serious in training sessions and matches.”
Stabaek planned to keep Orban for their topflight campaign, but were forced to change their mind when big offers came in January.
On the last day of the winter transfer window, the Nigerian signed for Gent for £3.06m, which was considered a major gamble by the Belgian press for someone who had only played a few months in the Norwegian Second Division.
“The price was supposed to be lower, but it went up after David Datro Fofana was sold from Molde to Chelsea for £10.5m,” said Gent’s chief executive Michel Louwagie. “It was a risk, but head of recruitment Samuel Cardenas kept telling me every day that we absolutely must sign him.”
Meanwhile, reports emerged in Spain on Tuesday that Spanish Giants, Barcelona, were seriously considering the Nigerian striker ahead of the 2023/24 season as they continue to rebuild their team.
It is well-documented that the Catalans want to bring in a young forward ideally with the prospect of replacing Robert Lewandowski.
With the Blaugrana in financial crisis, Orban has become a primary target knowing that the 20-year-old will not cost them much fortune.
Orban has only been in Europe for just a year after making the move from Bison to Stabaek in Norway.
One season involving 16 goals in 22 games was enough for Gent to take a €3.3m risk on him this winter, a move that has paid dividends so far, with a remarkable return of 11 goals in 11 Belgian league games, and five goals in five Conference League games. Included in those goals is the fastest-ever European hat-trick, with Orban netting three times in the space of just 3 minutes and 25 seconds against Istanbul Basaksehir.
According to The Athletic, around 40 to 50 scouts were in attendance to watch the young striker during Gent’s Europa League fixture against West Ham last week.
In their report, professionalism and iron desire to win are some of the attributes of the Nigerian, a trait that will see him excel in Spain should Barcelona make the move.