Tayo Abiodoun: Al-Gharraf sign Nigerian forward from Skenderbeu on free transfer

Al-Gharraf have completed the signing of Nigerian centre-forward Tayo Abiodoun from Albanian side KF Skenderbeu on a free transfer for the 2026-27 season.

The 21-year-old moves into the Iraq Stars League after two years in Albania, where he was on the books of Skenderbeu and gained top-flight experience with both Skenderbeu and FK Kukesi. His latest move comes with a current estimated market value of 200,000.

Abiodoun, a Nigeria-born striker, joined Skenderbeu from Lagos club 36 Lion FC in September 2024, making the switch from domestic Nigerian football to Europe as a teenager. His value increased significantly during his time in Albania, rising from 25,000 shortly after his arrival to a peak of 225,000 by the end of 2025.

Skenderbeu twice sent Abiodoun out on loan in search of regular minutes, first to KS Besa in early 2025 and then to Kukesi in February 2026. He returned to Skenderbeu at the end of each loan spell before sealing his permanent departure this summer.

A strong second half of the 2025-26 campaign with Kukesi underlined his development, with his market valuation stabilising at 200,000 in June 2026 ahead of this move. That progress has now earned him a switch to Al-Gharraf, who add a young, upwardly mobile centre-forward to their attack.

Abiodouns transfer marks his first move into Middle Eastern football and the next step in a career that has already taken him from Nigerias 36 Lion FC to the Albanian Kategoria Superiore and now the Iraq Stars League.