Nigerian forwards Aliyu and Agada switch clubs before MLS trade deadline

Ibrahim Aliyu was traded from Houston Dynamo to Columbus Crew on Thursday evening. Photo Credit: Houston Dynamo

The first trade and acquisition deadline in Major League Soccer passed with little activity, but two Nigerian forwards are on the move to new clubs within the American top flight.

Houston Dynamo have traded Ibrahim Aliyu to Columbus Crew, ending the Kano native’s two-season stint in Texas. The 23-year-old was once seen as a player with strong potential but fell out of favour following a run of poor performances early in the 2025 season. He recorded 12 goals and eight assists in 89 appearances.

Title-chasing Columbus Crew have acquired a pacey forward with the potential to flourish under top coach Wilfried Nancy. The Crew sent $450,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) to Houston Dynamo, with an additional $750,000 on the table if Ibrahim Aliyu meets certain performance targets.

After more than three seasons with Sporting Kansas City, William Agada has joined Real Salt Lake in a deal worth up to $850,000 in allocation money. Like Aliyu, Agada saw his role diminish this season despite being a regular contributor in previous campaigns.

The 25-year-old former Hapoel Jerusalem star scored 24 goals and registered six assists in 77 appearances for Sporting Kansas City. He joins a Real Salt Lake side that has struggled for goals and lacks depth in the striker position.