Canadian youth international Okello attracting attention from Bundesliga

Photo credit: Helge Landmann

Noble Okello is a player with an uncertain future. Okello, currently on contract with Toronto FC, is a player Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg is interested in acquiring. The 17-year-old has represented Canada at the U-17 level, but is yet to make any impact at the MLS or USL level for Toronto FC.

In spite of this lack of playing time, Okello was invited to train with Wolfsburg in January and impressed the team’s technical staff enough to warrant three transfer bids for the player.

Soc Takes has seen a copy of the third offer for the player and it includes a six-figure transfer fee. The offer also includes appearance fees as well as a sell-on fee. Soc Takes was able to independently verify the authenticity of this contract.

A source informed Soc Takes that the two sides disagreed on whether or not the deal would be permanent; While TFC was only interested in a loan, Wolfsburg was interested in buying the player outright. Wolfsburg’s meet-us-in-the-middle offer to take the player on loan with an option to buy was also rejected.

Soc Takes spoke to Okello’s agent, who claimed the transfer fee being offered was “a six-figure number that would be more than what FIFA would issue as training compensation.” Soc Takes was unable to independently verify this with FIFA.

Based on the rejection of this deal, it is clear that TFC values the player very highly. That valuation, however, is misaligned with the lack of playing time for Okello at either the MLS or USL level.

A spokesperson for Toronto FC confirmed that Okello trained with the German club and that an offer was received, yet did not clarify why the bid was rejected, citing the club’s policy not to publicly discuss such decisions. 

Since Okello’s contract is with TFC II, TFC would be be able to approve or deny transfer deals without the intervention of MLS.

Canada has a rich history of sending players to the Bundesliga. Paul Stalteri, Marcel de Jong and Julian de Guzman all played in the league. Most famously, Calgary-born Owen Hargreaves moved from Canada to the youth academy at Bayern Munich as a 16-year-old, eventually going on to win multiple trophies with the Bundesliga hegemon.

Whether Okello will be allowed to join that illustrious list, or whether he is able to break through at TFC remains to be seen.

Follow Nipun on Twitter: @NipunChopra7.

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