DUTV
STORY OF THE MATCH | RANGERS (H)
16th September 2024
Dundee United are delighted to announce the signing of Meshack Ubochioma from OTP Bank Liga outfit Zalaegerszegi TE on a two-year deal, with a club-held option of an additional year. The move is subject to both international and SFA clearance.
A native of south-east Nigeria, the mercurial winger honed his talents in the local area of Onuimo, before catching the eye of Ligue 1 giants Paris St Germain. Aged just 17, Ubochioma headed for the French capital to partake in a trial, affording him his first taste of an elite-level environment as he shared an office with stars such as Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Marco Verrati.
As his Parisian adventure came to a close, another European opportunity arose via a diplomatic partnership between the football associations of Hungary and Nigeria, and newly-promoted Zalaegerszegi TE tabled his first professional contract. Immediately after putting pen to paper on the deal, he embarked on a scintillating loan spell with Slovenian second-tier side NK Nafta.
Ubochioma took the division by storm, scoring no fewer than 12 goals in just 17 appearances as his temporary employers finished just one point off the promotion play-offs having lost just four games throughout the term. His stint at the Lendava Sports Park also brought a first hat-trick, rippling the net three times in a comfortable victory over Beltinci.
Upon his return to ZTE, Ubochioma’s form outwith the building aided his efforts to nail down a place in the starting XI of his parent club, and he would feature in all but three of their league matches across the next two campaigns. In that time, Ubochioma found the back of the net on eight occasions and supplemented his strikes with four assists.
Compared with OTP Bank Liga peers aged 23 and under during 2022/23, he took a chart-topping 68 touches in the opposition penalty area, attempted the most take-ons and completed 99 ball-progressing runs.
Furthermore, the season culminated with Zalaegerszegi securing the first Magyar Kupa of their 104-year history, and Zete entered European competition for the first time in over a decade as a result. Our new recruit started both legs of the subsequent UEFA Europa Conference League Second Qualifying Round tussle with NK Osijek of Croatia.
Despite his youth, Ubochioma, 22, arrives in the city of Discovery with almost 6,500 senior minutes under his belt as our summer transfer haul enters double figures.
AN EXCITING TALENT
United Manager Jim Goodwin gave his assessment on our new number 70, commenting: "Meshack is another exciting talent to arrive from outwith the United Kingdom, following the captures of players such as Vicko Sevelj, Kristijan Trapanovski and David Babunski - all of whom have demonstrated their quality in the early stages of their time with the club.
"His pace on the transition and unpredictability with the ball at his feet perfectly complement his intelligent use of possession, and we hope he can replicate the impact he made on Hungarian football here.
"At just 22, Meshack also has the potential to develop into a real asset for the club in years to come and we feel we have an apt environment in which to nurture his raw talents.
I'M SO EXCITED
"I'm so excited, it's great to finally be here," said a buoyant Ubochioma upon his arrival at the Calforth Construction Arena at Tannadice Park. "I've always wanted to make the next step in my career and as soon as I got the call from Dundee United I knew this was my chance.
"Scoring and assisting as many as possible are my targets for the season ahead on a personal level, and as a collective we have goals to work towards which will need everyone on the team to contribute.
"I just can't wait for the moment I score my first goal at Tannadice - hopefully all the fans will be chanting my name!
