Towering Nigerian central defender Akpe Victory has emerged as one of the most sought-after young talents in Europe, with clubs from seven different countries reportedly expressing interest in securing his services this summer.
Victory is on the radar of Swiss, Portuguese, Scottish, Spanish, French, German and Italian clubs.
The 19-year-old has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with Hungarian side Zalaegerszegi TE FC, establishing himself as a key figure in the team through a series of impressive performances.
Renowned for his composure in defence and ability to contribute in attack, Akpe registered one goal and one assist in 18 appearances across all competitions in 2025-2026, earning admiration from supporters and attracting attention from scouts across the continent.
According to Ben Jacobs, Swiss giants Basel have already seen two bids rejected by Zalaegerszegi, with the Hungarian club believing the offers fall significantly short of their valuation of the highly-rated defender.
Negotiations remain some distance apart between both teams, with Basel yet to meet the €5 million asking price set by Akpe's current employers.
Interest in the young Nigerian is not limited to Switzerland. Scottish heavyweights Rangers are also monitoring the defender as they seek to strengthen their squad following another title setback to rivals Celtic.
Portuguese powerhouse Benfica have likewise identified Akpe as a potential target, further underlining the growing reputation of the versatile defender.
In addition, clubs from Spain, France, Germany and Italy are understood to have made approaches or registered their interest in the teenager, creating a highly competitive race for his signature.
With the summer transfer window fast approaching, the Hungarian outfit are optimistic that a substantial bid could arrive in the coming weeks.
Adeyemi Adewale
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