Plymouth Argyle Strengthen Attack with Nigerian Forward Muhamed Tijani on Loan from Slavia Prague

Plymouth Argyle has significantly bolstered its attacking options by signing Nigerian forward Muhamed Tijani on a season-long loan from Slavia Prague.

The 23-year-old, who will turn 24 later this month, joins the English side with an option for a permanent transfer at the end of his loan spell.

Tijani is a product of 36 Lion FC, a renowned Lagos-based club currently competing in the second division of Nigerian football, the Nigeria National League (NNL).

His early development at 36 Lion FC paved the way for his move to Europe, where he joined the youth system of Czech club Banik Ostrava at the age of 18.

During his time in Czechia, Tijani had productive loan spells at Třinec, Karvina, and Taborsko. His standout performance came in the 2021/22 season with Taborsko in the Czech second tier, where he scored 13 goals in 33 games.

This prolific form earned him a place in Banik Ostrava’s first team for the 2022/23 season, where he made 25 appearances as they finished 11th in the Czech top flight.

In the summer of 2023, Tijani transferred to Slavia Prague for approximately £1 million. He featured in 19 matches for Slavia, scoring four goals, including a crucial last-minute winner in the UEFA Europa League against FC Sheriff.

Tijani’s talent has also been recognized on the international stage, where he has made four appearances for Nigeria’s U-20 national team.

Plymouth Argyle’s Head Coach, Wayne Rooney, expressed his excitement about the acquisition, stating, “Muhamed joining further strengthens our forward line and he will bring different attributes to the squad.

He is big, athletic, and can run in behind, but is equally as good at holding the ball up and bringing other players into play. He has played and scored in the Europa League, so he comes with good pedigree but is also young and keen to improve. We are really looking forward to working with him.”

Argyle’s Director of Football, Neil Dewsnip, highlighted the competitive nature of securing Tijani’s signature, adding, “He was highly coveted, with several Europa League clubs keen to secure his signature, but Muhamed really bought into the project here at Argyle and was desperate to play for Wayne. He brings a different profile to our forward line and still has so much potential for growth, which we are really excited about.”

With the move pending EFL approval and international clearance, Plymouth Argyle is eager to integrate Tijani into the squad as they prepare for the upcoming season.