VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Friday that the club has signed Nigerian midfielder Nosa Igiebor through the remainder of 2017 with club options for 2018 and 2019.
"Nosa is a box-to-box midfielder who brings a lot of experience having played in some of the top leagues in the world," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. "When you have an opportunity to bring in a player with this pedigree, you take it. Nosa adds competition for places in our midfield, which will only help strengthen our group."
Igiebor will occupy an international roster spot and officially join the club's roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate, Canadian work permit, visa, and medical examinations.
The club also confirmed on Friday that midfielder Matías Laba, who underwent successful right knee surgery last month, has been placed on the Disabled List; Igiebor will occupy the international slot previously held by Laba.
Nosa Igiebor - Whitecaps FC midfielder
- Over 300 professional appearances, including two seasons in Spain's La Liga and 25 combined appearances in the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League
- Two goals in 15 appearances with Nigeria's men's national team
- Named to Nigeria's preliminary roster for 2014 FIFA World Cup
Igiebor, 26, has appeared in over 300 matches at the professional level, including 28 appearances in Spain's top-tier La Liga, 21 in the UEFA Europa League, and four in the UEFA Champions League.
Most recently, Igiebor was a member of Çaykur Rizespor in Turkey's top-flight Süper Lig, where he recorded one goal and two assists in 15 appearances, including a pair of Turkish Cup matches, during the second half of the 2016-17 season.
Prior to that, Igiebor spent three seasons with Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel's Premier League and two seasons with Real Betis in Spain. The 5-foot-10 midfielder also enjoyed stints with Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel's Premier League, Lillestrøm in Norway's Eliteserien, as well as Sharks FC and Warri Wolves FC in his native Nigeria.
During his time in Israel, Igiebor was a two-time Israel State Cup winner, scoring the game-winning-goal for Hapoel Tel Aviv in the 2011-12 final, in addition to winning the 2014-15 Israeli Premier League and Toto Cup titles with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Internationally, Igiebor has two goals in 15 appearances with the Nigerian national team and was a member of the team that won the 2013 African Cup of Nations. He was also named to Nigeria's preliminary 30-man roster for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and represented his country at the U-20 level.
Nosa Igiebor
Pronunciation: NO-sa EE-ge-bor
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-10
Weight: 175 pounds
Date of Birth: November 9, 1990 in Lagos, Nigeria
Hometown: Abuja, Nigeria
Citizenship: Nigeria
Status: International
Previous Club: Çaykur Rizespor (Turkey's Süper Lig)
How Acquired: Free agent signed on September 8, 2017
