Tyrese Ikekpolor has completed a free transfer from Sticla A. Turda to fellow Romanian side CS Vulturii, sealing a move that keeps the Austrian-Nigerian centre-back in Romania while offering him a fresh platform to establish himself in senior football. The deal, confirmed as a free transfer, formally begins on 06/02/2026, with his contract at CS Vulturii running until 30/06/2026.
The 22-year-old defender leaves Sticla A. Turda after a short spell to join CS Vulturii (registered as Vulturii Fărcășești), where he is already listed with the club and its associated national team setup. Although the transfer involves no fee, the move is a clear statement of intent from CS Vulturii, who add a tall, right-footed central defender with experience across several European lower leagues.
Ikekpolor’s career path has been notably itinerant for a player of his age. Born in Lagos and holding both Austrian and Nigerian nationality, he progressed through the ranks at SV Donau Youth in Austria after an early spell with SC Wollers Jugend. From there, he stepped up to SV Donau’s senior side before earning a move to Germany with BSG Chemie Leipzig’s U19s. A subsequent switch to FC Singen 04 kept him in Germany before he returned to Austria with SV Horn II and later SV Donau Langenlebarn.
His return to Austrian football was followed by another move abroad, this time to ASV Draßburg/Mattersburg II, and then to Italy’s Li Punti Calcio. In 2025 he joined Romanian club Sticla Ariesul Turda, staying in the country with his latest transfer to CS Vulturii. Across these moves, Ikekpolor has consistently been deployed in his main role as a centre-back, using his 1.88m frame to anchor the back line.
The transfer also underlines his established status as an expatriate professional. Rather than playing in his adopted home of Austria or his country of birth, Nigeria, Ikekpolor continues his career in Romania, competing in a domestic environment classified here as N/A in terms of league designation. This keeps him on a path that has seen him gain experience in Germany, Austria, Italy, and now Romania, but still outside the top-flight spotlight.
Market-value data for Ikekpolor is currently listed as unavailable, and no transfer fee has been recorded, strengthening the impression that CS Vulturii view this as a low-risk, potentially high-upside addition. The short contract running to 30/06/2026 gives the club flexibility while offering the player a defined window to prove himself and possibly earn a longer stay or attract new suitors.
With no detailed public record in this dataset of his appearances, statistics, or individual match performances for his recent clubs, it is clear that Ikekpolor arrives as a relatively under-the-radar signing rather than a headline star. The move, however, extends a steady upward trajectory through various senior and reserve setups in central Europe and now the Romanian game.
For CS Vulturii, the confirmed signing of Tyrese Ikekpolor adds depth and physical presence at the heart of defence. For the player, it represents another concrete step in a career increasingly shaped by international moves. If he can turn this short-term contract into consistent minutes and solid displays, the spell at CS Vulturii could become the springboard that defines his next phase, whether that is an extended stay in Romania or a move to a higher-profile league.
