Vittsjö GIK have completed the signing of Nkem Ezurike from Boston Breakers.

Having bolstered their attack earlier this week with the signing of winger Clara Markstedt from Hammarby IF, Vittsjö have now recruited a player with senior international experience and one who has played in one of the best leagues in the world, the NWSL.

Ezurike struggled for opportunities in the States in 2015 though, starting just three games all season for Boston, which meant she was only able to return one goal.

As a result, she has obviously been looking at alternate options, and has found one in an ambitious Vittsjö side who are in desperate needs of improvements going forward ahead of the new Damallsvenskan season.

Mårtensson pleased with signing

Speaking to the club's official website about the new arrival, manager Thomas Mårtensson was full of praise for Ezurike, a player he believes can make a real difference to his team.

He described her as "a quick, tall forward with great physicality," whilst he is excited that she will be keen to get going after struggling for minutes in Boston.

"She was ranked as one of the greatest talents before she went to Boston," Mårtensson added, with her having made her debut for her country, Canada, in 2014, the same year she joined the Breakers.

Ezurike came up against the very best in the NWSL, and will take this experience to Sweden. | Photo: Boston Breakers
Ezurike came up against the very best in the NWSL, and will take this experience to Sweden. | Photo: Boston Breakers

However, she did not have the best of times at the club in terms of chances on the pitch, and her new manager is eager to make up for that, saying how "easy" it can be for a player "to lose confidence" in that situation.

Arriving at Vittsjö, Mårtensson wants to make the most of her ability, whilst he is happy to have "[increased] the competition a bit" up front too, something which can only be a good thing.

Vittsjö looking to push on

With the new campaign only three months away, Vittsjö have highlighted the attack as an area to improve after they managed only 26 goals in 22 games last season.

However, Mårtensson isn't stopping yet, with him keen to add more players to his team despite an already busy transfer window.

"We will have two [more players]," the manager said upon Ezurike's arrival, with Vittsjö clearly looking to fight at the right end of the table this year.

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About the author
Ameé Ruszkai
Head of the Sunderland, Swansea City and women football sections at VAVEL UK. Email: [email protected]