Newroz SC have completed the signing of Nigerian centre-forward Paul Komolafe from Tajik champions Istiqlol Dushanbe, adding a physical focal point to their attack for the Iraq Stars League. The move was finalised as a permanent transfer, with Komolafe under contract at the Iraqi club from 2026-02-06 to 2028-06-30.
The deal sees Komolafe, whose current market value is listed at €125k, make another step on a career that has already taken him across Asia and Europe. While the transfer fee has not been disclosed, the switch brings an in-form 25-year-old striker from the Tajik Vysshaya Liga into one of West Asia’s most competitive leagues, confirming Newroz SC’s intent to strengthen their offensive options.
Komolafe joins Newroz SC directly from Istiqlol, where he had arrived ahead of the 25/26 season after a spell at FK Khujand. That move to Istiqlol coincided with a stabilisation of his valuation at €125k, underlining his status as a dependable attacking asset. His new contract in Iraq positions him as a long-term piece in Newroz’s planning rather than a short-term gamble.
Born in Lagos and standing 1.92 metres tall, Komolafe offers a classic centre-forward profile: an imposing presence at the tip of the attack, operating primarily as an out-and-out number nine and favouring his right foot. His journey to Iraq has been shaped by a wide range of experiences: from Nasarawa United in Nigeria to SV Kapfenberg in Austria, then FC Qizilqum in Uzbekistan, Scottish side Arbroath FC, KF Erzeni in Albania, Chittagong Abahani in Bangladesh and FK Khujand in Tajikistan before joining Istiqlol.
That path has exposed him to contrasting tactical cultures and playing styles. In Austria and Scotland he developed in physically demanding environments, while his time in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Bangladesh immersed him in more transitional, open games in emerging football markets. Each move has been accompanied by fluctuations in his valuation, rising as high as €250k during his time at FC Qizilqum before settling back at the current €125k mark.
Komolafe’s recent career also shows phases without a club, notably before his moves to KF Erzeni and FK Khujand, underlining how quickly his status can change between free agent and key signing. The completed transfer to Newroz SC removes any short-term uncertainty, with the contract duration offering him a stable platform in the Iraq Stars League.
For Newroz SC, his arrival signals a push to add height, hold-up play and penalty-box presence to their forward line. For Komolafe, the move extends his run of playing abroad and keeps him in a top-flight environment, now in Iraq rather than in his native Nigeria. If he adapts quickly to the Iraq Stars League and converts his varied experience into consistent performances, this contract period at Newroz SC could become the defining chapter of his career and solidify his reputation as a reliable journeyman goalscorer across multiple continents.
