Victor Obinna

8/27/2008 4:55 PM
Obinna Signs For Inter, Loaned To Everton
According to various news sources in Italy, Inter have signed Chievo striker Victor Obinna and immediately loaned him out to Premiership side Everton.

The 21-year-old Obinna is one of the most highly rated youngsters currently plying his trade in Italy, and the lightning paced striker last season played a key role in Chievo’s promotion to Serie A.

According to various sources, including Sky Italia, Obinna has signed a contract with Inter, but has immediately been loaned out to Premiership side Everton, who have the option to make the move permanent next summer for a set fee.

Inter already had first refusal on the Nigerian, as when he joined Chievo from Enyimba in 2005, the Italian champions actually helped finance the move, and in fact they already partly owned a percentage of the player's contract.

Obinna has been linked to a host of Italian clubs, including Roma and Napoli, but it seems as Inter have snapped him up, only to let him go immediately.

Yesterday Obinna, who starred at the recent Olympics with Nigeria, admitted that Chievo had promised him that he could leave this summer.

"I'm looking forward to a brighter future - to go and play for an important club, maybe in the European Champions League," Obinna told BBC Sport.

"I wanted to leave them last season, they begged me, they said that I should stay so that I will come back to Serie A and then I can leave.

"They gave me their word, so they have to fulfil their promise."

Everton beat off competition from West Ham to grab Obinna on-loan, and when confirmed this will come as some consolation to manager David Moyes who has been left disappointed by the club's summer transfer campaign up to now.

Luca Capofranco

goal.com