Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu has revealed that he was the first Nigerian goalkeeper to command a million naira transfer fee across the country.
The former Besiktas goaltender said his move from Concord to stationery Stores and then to Shooting Stars of Ibadan in the 90s was the most expensive in the history of Nigerian club football at the time.
“I am the first precisely, probably not amongst the players but for a goalkeeper, I’m the first to command a one million naira transfer fee from Stationery Stores to Concord and then to Shooting Stars.
“3SC of Ibadan paid the highest to Concord before I could move, at the end of the day Shooting got more money when I got a transfer to Europe,” Said Shorunmu.
Ike later moved to FC Basel of Switzerland from Shooting Stars and lasted only a season at the club.
He then joined FC Zurich from where he moved to Turkish side Beşiktaş J.K. in 1999 for a fee in the region of $2,400,000.
Shorunmu represented Nigeria at the Ghana/Nigeria 2000 and Mali 2002 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and was the first choice at the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup.
The 52-year-old made 33 senior team appearances for Nigeria and later worked goalkeepers’ trainer in the Super Eagles.