Bundesliga side Hamburger SV have reached an agreement with French club OGC Nice for the transfer of Nigerian forward Terem Moffi.
According to French outlet Nice-Matin, Nice have accepted an offer from Hamburg for the 27-year-old striker. Complete Sports and German outlet Hamburger Abendblatt also reported the agreement, although the financial details were not disclosed. Punch reported on August 22 that the fee is around €2.5m.
DailyVista247 learnt that Hamburg, who secured promotion and are preparing for their return to the Bundesliga after seven years in the second division, have been monitoring Moffi for several weeks as part of efforts to strengthen their attacking options. The German club is now expected to hold talks with the player over personal terms, which will determine the final outcome of the transfer.
Moffi returned to Nice this summer after spending the second half of last season on loan at FC Porto. During his time in Portugal, he made nine league appearances for the Portuguese side. The loan followed a difficult spell at Nice, where he struggled for consistency after starring for fellow Ligue 1 club Lorient.
The Super Eagles striker joined Nice from Lorient in 2023 in a deal worth around €22.5m, having initially moved to the club on loan earlier that year. Since his permanent move, he has scored 24 goals in 72 appearances in all competitions for the club. He is under contract with Nice until June 2027, but the French club is reportedly open to his departure, especially as he would be a free agent next summer if he remains.
Moffi missed a large part of the 2024/2025 season due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, which sidelined him for months. His time at Nice was also affected by an off-field incident where he was physically confronted by Nice supporters just before his loan move to Porto, contributing to his desire to leave.
The Nigerian international, who was born in Calabar and has been part of the Nigerian national team setup since 2021, is known for his pace and finishing. He was part of the Super Eagles squad that reached the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
Hamburg's interest comes as they look to add further punch up front after the arrival of Zambian international Patson Daka earlier this summer. Sporting director Stefan Kuntz confirmed that the club is looking for a new number 9 to lead the line as they aim to survive in the Bundesliga. Reports indicate Moffi will take over as the club's new number 9 if personal terms are agreed.
The development is significant for Hamburg, a six-time German champion that last played in the Bundesliga in 2018. Their return has seen them shopping heavily in the French market, having already signed Martin Adeline and Bilal Nadir from French clubs this window.
For Moffi, a move to Germany represents a chance to revive his career after injury setbacks. A potential stumbling block could be his salary. According to Capology, the Nigerian earns around €3.14m annually at Nice and may need to accept a pay cut to join Hamburg. Turkish Super Lig clubs Samsunspor and Besiktas are also reportedly monitoring his situation, but Hamburg's agreement with Nice puts the German club in pole position.
Negotiations over personal terms are expected to be finalized in the coming days.
