NK Novalja have completed the signing of Danish-Togolese right winger Joshua Kokou Awaga from Greek side PAO Vardas on a free transfer, with the move officially registered to begin on 2026-03-03. The 19-year-old has joined the Croatian club without a transfer fee, and his new deal with NK Novalja runs until 2026-03-03.
Awaga arrives as a left-footed attacker primarily deployed on the right wing, adding youthful pace and height to Novalja’s forward options. Standing at 1.90 m, he offers a different physical profile for the Croatian side, who have recruited him directly from Greek football after a short spell at PAO Vardas. The transfer has been finalised with no market value listed for the player at the time of signing.
The move continues a rapid and geographically varied rise for the Copenhagen-born winger. In the last few seasons, Awaga has moved through several youth and development setups, starting in Denmark with Hellerup IK Youth before switching to HB Køge Youth, AC Amager Academy Youth and then AC Amager Academy U19. A step up to Naestved Boldklub U19 followed, keeping him in Danish football before a significant switch to Brazil with Capital CF U20.
From Brazil, Awaga moved to Greece to join PAO Vardas, and now he takes another step abroad to Croatia with NK Novalja. The pattern underlines a career that has already spanned Denmark, Brazil, Greece and now Croatia, despite his age. His dual nationality – Denmark and Togo – means he remains eligible from an international perspective for both European and African national-team pathways, though there is no record yet of senior international involvement.
While PAO Vardas and NK Novalja both operate outside the major headline European leagues, this transfer positions Awaga in a new environment in Croatian football, where he will look to convert his youth and developmental experience into consistent senior minutes. His preferred role as an attacking right winger fits modern tactical trends, especially with his left foot allowing him to cut inside from the flank.
No official market value has been assigned to Awaga in the data, reinforcing that NK Novalja are taking a low-risk approach with potential upside on a free transfer. Previous clubs have not published detailed appearance or goal statistics, and there is no match data provided on his recent performances, scorelines or specific contributions in competitive fixtures.
The contract running until 2026-03-03 gives both club and player a clear initial window to assess his adaptation to Croatian football and the demands of senior competition. If Awaga settles quickly and translates his physical attributes and international experience from Denmark, Brazil and Greece into end product, this move could mark the start of a more stable, upward phase in his career and open the door to wider recognition in European football.
