Montpellier sign Nigerian teen sensation Victor Orakpo on loan from OGC Nice

French club Montpellier have secured the services of promising Nigerian striker Victor Orakpo on a season-long loan from OGC Nice.

Orakpo, 19, joined Nice in January following an impressive showing for Nigeria’s U-20 team at the 2024 FC Bayern Youth Cup, where he emerged as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) and top scorer with six goals.

Since arriving at Nice, the young forward made five appearances across all competitions last season, showing glimpses of his potential.

Speaking after completing his move, Orakpo expressed joy over joining Montpellier — a club with sentimental value for his family.

“It’s a great feeling to sign for this great club, Montpellier,” Orakpo said in an interview with the club’s official website. “My dad is a fan of the club. In France, he supports Montpellier and Paris Saint-Germain. Since we were little, my brothers and I watched Montpellier games with him, so it means a lot.”

The move comes after Montpellier suffered relegation from Ligue 1 last season. Orakpo is determined to play a key role in helping the club bounce back to the top tier.

“My goal is to help the team get promoted — score goals, provide assists, and contribute however I can to win games. But the main objective is promotion back to Ligue 1,” he stated.

The signing is seen as a strategic step by Montpellier to bolster their attacking options ahead of the new campaign in Ligue 2.