Newly promoted Nigeria Premier Football League side Sporting Lagos have won the race to sign attacking midfielder Haruna Hadi from Remo Stars, fending off strong competition from Shooting Stars and seven other top-flight clubs. The club’s long-term vision and the personal involvement of head coach Jeffery Butler proved decisive in sealing the transfer.
The 25-year-old completed his move to Sporting Lagos despite attracting interest from several NPFL clubs, including Shooting Stars, who reportedly tabled a more lucrative financial offer and the prospect of continental football.
Sources close to the negotiations revealed that Sporting Lagos had identified Hadi as a priority target months ago, with head coach Jeffery Butler closely monitoring the midfielder as part of plans to strengthen the squad ahead of the club’s return to the NPFL.
Although Sporting Lagos had made significant progress in negotiations, the race intensified after Shooting Stars joined the pursuit alongside seven other top-flight clubs.
Sporting Lagos opted against entering a bidding war but agreed to meet the minimum transfer fee Remo Stars were willing to accept, with Hadi entering the final year of his contract at the Ikenne-based club.
Despite the strong interest from rival clubs, Hadi remained committed to joining Sporting Lagos throughout the negotiations, although family considerations nearly changed the outcome.
His father, a former Shooting Stars player, reportedly hoped his son would continue the family legacy at the Ibadan club and was approached by the Oluyole Warriors during the transfer talks. Other interested clubs also attempted to sway the deal by offering significant bonuses to members of the player's family.
In the end, Sporting Lagos' sporting project, combined with Butler’s persistence and belief in Hadi’s abilities, convinced the midfielder to make the move to the Lagos-based side.
