SC Delhi sign Nigerian centre-back Nduka Junior on one-year deal
Sporting Club Delhi have completed the signing of Nigerian defender Nduka Junior on a one-year contract with an option to extend for a further season, Khel Now exclusively revealed on August 22, 2026. The 23-year-old joins from Iraqi club Al-Najaf FC and is billed as the Capital side’s marquee foreign addition ahead of the Indian Super League 2026-27 season, which begins on October 10.
“Nigerian international Nduka Junior, who was heavily linked to Moroccan club Raja Club Athletic earlier in the summer window, has agreed to join ISL side SC Delhi for the upcoming ISL season,” a source tracking the transfer told Khel Now. Khel Now also understands SC Delhi remain in discussions to sign a foreign striker and expect to conclude that deal before the season starts. The announcement follows SC Delhi’s Durand Cup semi-final exit, a penalty shootout defeat to East Bengal after a goalless draw in Kolkata on August 19.
Junior established himself at Remo Stars, where he was handed the captain’s armband as a teenager and led the club into the Nigeria Premier Football League after promotion in September 2021. Under his captaincy, Remo Stars recorded consecutive top-two finishes in the NPFL and qualified for the CAF Champions League, facing opponents including Morocco’s AS FAR Rabat.
He moved abroad during the 2025-26 season, signing for Erbil SC in the Iraq Stars League reportedly on a five-year deal, before transferring to Al-Najaf FC in January. In the most recent season in Iraq he made 26 appearances; his career totals stand at 158 first-team appearances, eight goals and seven assists.
Junior received his first senior Nigeria call-up in May 2025 for friendlies against Jamaica and Ghana but did not feature in those matches. He captained Nigeria at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in August 2025, playing three matches against Senegal, Sudan and Congo; the tournament is restricted to players registered with clubs in their domestic leagues.
Primarily a right-sided centre-back, Junior has featured in both four-man and three-man defensive systems and is noted for a passing range that allows him to step into a holding midfield role or cover at right-back. At Remo Stars he was the main dead-ball taker, converting penalties and scoring direct free-kicks, including a decisive strike against Rivers United; his early captaincy also provided an organisational defensive role that SC Delhi expect to utilise.
SC Delhi have been active in the transfer window and have released several players from last season, including Alex Saji, Muhammed Rafi, Isaac, Ousmane Fane and Julio Rivas. Incoming signings already announced include David Richard Ndayishimiye, Duván Viáfara, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Rodriguinho and Juan Pena, while youth additions Diamond Singh, Irengbam Newtan, Kamgouhao Doungel and Ringsangmi Lungharwo have been made—Newtan, Doungel and Lungharwo have since been loaned out and Diamond Singh remains with the first team. The club has also extended the contracts of Mohammed Aimen, Mohammed Azhar, Nora Fernandes, Gogou, Joseph Sunny and Ashutosh Mehta.
With Junior now on board and talks ongoing for a foreign striker, SC Delhi are close to finalising their foreign contingent ahead of the ISL season opener on October 10, 2026; under the league’s club-led framework clubs may register six foreign players, with a maximum of four allowed in the playing XI at any time.