Espanyol chief Pace confirms Ngonge deal: 'Big hopes for him' as European dream grows
Espanyol president Alan Pace has confirmed Belgian forward Cyril Ngonge will join the club on loan from Napoli, with a potential €15m purchase option.
Belgian forward Cyril Ngonge is set to bolster Espanyol’s European ambitions after club president Alan Pace confirmed his imminent arrival from Napoli.
Deal details emerging
The 25-year-old attacker was spotted in the stands during Espanyol’s match against Alavés, with his loan move from Napoli expected to be officially announced within hours. The deal reportedly includes a purchase option around the €15 million mark - not exactly pocket money for the Catalan outfit.
Pace didn’t beat around the bush when speaking to DAZN before the match, stating: “He’s in the stadium. We have very big hopes for him.” The Espanyol president made it clear this signing forms part of their ambition to secure European football, adding they need to “support the team in any way possible” to achieve this goal.
Journeyman seeking stability
Ngonge’s career has been a bit of a whistle-stop tour through Italian football recently. After impressing at Hellas Verona - his first Italian club - he earned a move to Napoli, where he struggled for consistent playing time.
The Belgian forward was subsequently loaned to Torino, where his numbers haven’t exactly set the world alight:
- 20 appearances for Torino
- 1 goal
- 1 assist
What this means for Espanyol
The Catalans are clearly showing serious ambition in the transfer market. Despite Ngonge’s modest output at Torino, the club clearly sees untapped potential that could help drive their European push.
The Adam and Eve (believe) around the club is that Ngonge possesses the technical ability and versatility to provide a significant boost to Espanyol’s attacking options. Several other clubs were reportedly interested in securing his services, suggesting there’s more to the Belgian than his recent stats might indicate.
With the transfer window slamming shut, Espanyol fans will be hoping their new Belgian import can hit the ground running and help transform European dreams into reality.