Italian Serie A club Cremonese have signed Nigeria forward Cyriel Dessers from Belgian side Genk, with the terms of the transfer undisclosed.
Newly-promoted Cremonese were one of a number of clubs interested in the 27-year-old, who finished as top scorer in the inaugural Europa Conference League last season with 10 goals for runners-up Feyenoord.
“I feel like a child unwrapping his Christmas gift by joining one of the most illustrious leagues in the world,” Dessers said.
Belgium-born Dessers, who decided to play international football for Nigeria in 2020, managed 11 goals in 43 appearances for Genk.
His career highlights have come in the Netherlands, where he scored 29 goals in 40 matches for NAC Breda in the second tier in 2016-17.
After moving to top-flight Utrecht he produced 19 goals in 56 games, and his 15 league goals for Heracles in 2019-20 saw him finish as the Eredivisie’s joint top scorer.
He then sealed a move back to his native Belgium, but Dessers’ most impressive campaign came on loan at Feyenoord last season, scoring 20 goals and adding four assists in 41 appearances.
“It is going to be a difficult challenge full of obstacles, but I am ready to defend the colours of Cremonese,” Dessers said.
“I’m looking forward to living a childhood dream in a new environment and doing all I can to help the team in the battles ahead.”
Cremonese, back in Serie A for the first time since 1995-96, have not disclosed the length of Dessers’ contract.
Dessers, who was born in Leuven to a Belgian father and qualifies for Nigeria through his mother, has won three caps for Nigeria, scoring one international goal.
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