Nigeria-Togo centre-forward Gift Orban is being linked with a move from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim to Italian Serie B club Venezia, according to the latest speculation in Germany and Italy.
The 23-year-old, valued at €7.00m on Transfermarkt, is the subject of transfer rumours suggesting Venezia are exploring a deal as they look to bolster their attack for a promotion push. The probability of the transfer remains unclear, with the move currently listed as “?” in reports and no agreement announced between the clubs.
Orban, born in Benue on 17 July 2002, is a right-footed centre-forward standing at 1.78m and holding both Nigerian and Togolese nationality. He is regarded as a pure No 9, operating primarily through the middle in an attacking role. His current career status is complicated by unclear contract information, with no publicly listed expiry date, which has fuelled talk that he could become available on favourable terms or potentially edge towards free-agent territory if no extension is in place.
Recent data places Orban at Italian club Hellas Verona with shirt number 16, but the latest transfer chatter centres on his registration with Hoffenheim and a possible switch across the Alps to Venezia. In his most recent recorded outing, he featured as a centre-forward in a tightly contested league fixture on 2 June 2026, with Hoffenheim drawing 1-1 against mid-table opposition; Orban led the line but did not score, showing his usual high work-rate without adding to his goal tally.
Having already experienced football in Germany and Italy’s top divisions, a step to Venezia in Serie B would represent a change of direction for a striker whose market value suggests he is still seen as a significant asset. If the move materialises, it could offer Orban a platform to reassert his reputation as a prolific finisher and shape the next decisive phase of his career.
