February 01, (THEWILL) – Paul Onuachu has broken the record for height in the English Premier League following his signing with Southampton.
The Nigerian striker, who stands at 202 cm, joined the club from Belgium side KRC Genk in the January transfer window for a fee of €18 million. He has surpassed the 201 cm Dan Burn of Newcastle United to become the tallest player in the EPL.
Onuachu’s height, along with his goal-scoring abilities, were a big factor in Southampton’s decision to sign him. The Nigerian striker led the Belgian Pro League in goals scored with 16 in 19 league games for Genk before leaving for England.
Onuachu hopes to make his debut for Southampton when the team visits Brentford Community Stadium on Saturday, February 4. The league’s other tallest players this season include Sasa Kalajdzic (200 cm), Asmir Begovi (199 cm), Jannik Vestergaard (199 cm), and Wout Weghorst (197 cm).
Genk’s Head of Football stated that the signing of his replacement, another Nigerian striker, Tolu Arokodare, was due to Arokodare’s similar height and build. With Onuachu’s height and goal-scoring abilities, he is expected to make a big impact in the EPL.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
