Lorient sign Italy-Nigeria defender Nosa Edward Obaretin from Napoli

Nosa Edward Obaretin has joined French club FC Lorient from Napoli on a season-long loan, with the Ligue 1 side paying a €350,000 loan fee for the 23-year-old Italy-Nigeria centre-back.

The move was completed on 25 August 2026 and Obaretin’s agreement with Lorient runs until 30 June 2027. He returns to Napoli at the end of the loan, according to the terms of the transfer.

Obaretin, who was born in Forli, Italy, stands 1.93m tall and is left-footed. He moves to France after spending the early part of the 2026-27 campaign with Napoli, although he did not make an appearance in Serie A before switching clubs.

The defender joined Napoli’s senior squad from the club’s under-19 team in July 2023, having previously developed in the youth systems of AC Milan and Cesena. Since then, he has gained experience through a series of loan spells in Italy.

His first senior loan took him to Trento during the 2023-24 season. He then spent the 2024-25 campaign with Bari before joining Empoli for the 2025-26 season. Obaretin returned to Napoli at the end of each temporary move before leaving for Lorient.

Lorient’s new signing arrives with a market value of €1.5m and becomes part of a squad competing in France’s top flight. His transfer represents another temporary switch away from Napoli as he continues his senior club career outside the Italian champions’ immediate first-team group.

Obaretin began his youth career at AC Cesena before moving to AC Milan in 2018. He progressed through Milan’s youth ranks and transferred to Napoli’s under-19 side in July 2022, a year before stepping up to the club’s senior set-up.

The loan gives Obaretin a further opportunity to play in a different league after his previous experience in Italy’s Serie A and lower divisions. Lorient have secured his services for the 2026-27 season, while Napoli retain the player’s registration beyond the temporary move.

Obaretin has completed his loan transfer from Napoli to FC Lorient for €350,000, with the deal running until 30 June 2027.