Houston Dynamo are being linked with a move to re-sign Nigeria centre-forward Ibrahim Aliyu from Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.
The 24-year-old, whose reported market value stands at €1.80m, is the subject of fresh speculation over a switch back to Houston, where he previously played before joining Columbus in April 2025. Transfer data lists the probability of a deal only as “?” at this stage, underlining that talks are at rumour level rather than an advanced negotiation.
Aliyu, born in Kano on 16 January 2002, moved to MLS in April 2023 when Houston brought him in from Croatian side NK Lokomotiva Zagreb. He later made the intra-league move to Columbus, again in a standard transfer, and currently wears the number 11 shirt in Ohio. No contract expiry date is recorded for his Columbus deal, leaving open the possibility that, if terms are running down or not renewed, he could become a free agent and open the door for Houston or other suitors to step in.
The forward has built his reputation as a direct, mobile centre-forward, standing at 1.84m, and has seen his valuation fluctuate in recent seasons. After peaking at €3.00m during his time with Houston in 2024, his listed value has since settled at €1.80m with Columbus as of December 2025.
Aliyu’s path to MLS began with Footwork FC in Nigeria before a move to Lokomotiva Zagreb’s under‑19s in 2020 and subsequent promotion to the first team in the Croatian top flight. He later crossed the Atlantic to join Houston and then Columbus, remaining within MLS throughout.
With the rumour emerging on 11 March 2026, both clubs are yet to confirm any interest, but a return to Texas could offer Aliyu another platform to revive his market value and shape the next phase of his career in North America if a move does materialise.
