Amarante bring in Nigerian forward Kenneth Ikugar for Liga Portugal 2 campaign

Nigeria centre-forward Kenneth Ikugar has joined Amarante from Italy’s Villasimius on a free transfer, adding a 25-year-old striker to the Portuguese club’s Liga Portugal 2 squad.

Ikugar completed the move on 21 August 2026 and has agreed a contract with Amarante until 30 June 2027. The 1.93m forward becomes the latest addition to a club competing in Portugal’s second tier after spending the previous part of his career in Italy and Central Europe.

He arrives at Amarante after a spell with Villasimius, whom he joined in January 2026 after a period without a club. His move to Portugal represents another change of country for a player whose career has included time in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The Nigerian began his senior club career with FootyFanz before moving to Usti nad Labem in 2021. He subsequently joined Spartak Trnava and had loan spells with Slavoj Trebisov and FC ViOn, gaining experience in Slovak football before returning to the Czech Republic.

Ikugar later moved to Zlin in February 2024 and transferred to Olomouc B that summer, also on a free transfer. He then joined FK TransINVEST in August 2025, although that spell ended three months later. After joining Villasimius, he has now made the switch to Amarante without a transfer fee.

Across the competitions recorded during his professional career, Ikugar has made 86 appearances and scored 13 goals, while also providing five assists. His most productive listed return came in the Czech second tier, where he scored five times in 17 appearances and supplied two assists.

He has also scored in cup competition, including two goals in the Slovnaft Cup, and has featured in European qualifying. The available figures show a forward with experience across league, cup and continental football, although his appearances have been spread among several clubs and competitions.

Ikugar is a right-footed striker and was born in Calabar, Nigeria, on 27 October 2000. His arrival gives Amarante another centre-forward option as the club prepares for its Liga Portugal 2 campaign.

The transfer was completed on 21 August 2026.