Dundee United can confirm the signing of Ugandan striker Sadat Anaku on a two-year deal.

Sadat will join United from Kampala Capital City Authority FC (KCCA FC), subject to a work permit and international clearance.

At 21, Sadat has netted 22 goals in 67 games for his club and is on the brink of breaking into the Uganda national team.

Earlier this year, Sadat was named in a provisional 45-man Uganda international squad for a five-game tour of Europe and Asia.

He was also selected by the Ugandan Government as part of a ‘Team Fundi’ project, showcasing the talents of the country’s top 22 players in a series of games at a Spanish training camp.

Dundee United watched Sadat net four goals in one game at that camp and, following an integration period at Tannadice, he has excelled.

Deployed as a number 9, in friendlies with Leicester U21s, Arsenal U21s and Newcastle, Sadat underlined his quality. 

He also netted a hat-trick in a 6-2 Dundee United B Team win over Queen’s Park earlier this week before penning a deal with United until the summer of 2024.

Dundee United Head Coach Jack Ross said: “I’ve been really impressed with Sadat since he came in.

“You have to have a certain mental toughness to come in from overseas and settle. 

"Sadat has done that by leaving a really good impression on the players and staff at United.

“He has a real hunger and drive to try and succeed in European football and sees this as a real opportunity to do that.

“He’s a really good finisher and will offer something different to the attacking options we already have at the club. That gives the squad a good balance.

“There’s an element of the unknown about him but we can see he has real potential.

“That element of unknown can help us. Defenders won’t know what he’s about and he’s not easy to play against from what I’ve seen in training.

“Hopefully he can capitalise on that element of surprise and get off to a good start. If he can hit the ground running and score quickly then things can fly from there.” 

Dundee United Sporting Director Tony Asghar said: “We’re delighted to have Sadat here.

“He’s coming from a country that has big ambitions and objectives and Sadat can become an integral part of that.

“Uganda want to get to the World Cup and the African Cup of Nations and Sadat is a player with real potential at international level.

 “We identified his talent at an early stage and invited him to Scotland see how he could integrate into our group. We’re delighted with the impact he has made here so far.

“The coaching and performance staff believe he is good enough to make an impact on our first team.

“Is he good enough to take the next level beyond that? Yes, that’s now down to us to develop him.

“We’ll identify his attributes and add in the bits he needs to become a top player European and help him fulfil his potential at Dundee United.”

 

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