Plymouth Argyle strengthen their attack with Nigerian striker Muhamed Tijani on loan from Slavia Prague

Plymouth Argyle have significantly strengthened their attacking options with the signing of Nigerian striker Muhamed Tijani on a season-long loan from Slavia Prague.

The 23-year-old, who turns 24 later this month, joins the English side with a permanent transfer option at the end of his loan spell.

Tijani is a product of 36 Lion FC, a renowned Lagos-based club that currently competes in the second tier of Nigerian football, the Nigeria National League (NNL).

His early training at 36 Lion FC paved the way for his move to Europe, where he joined the youth system of Czech club Banik Ostrava at the age of 18.

During his time in the Czech Republic, Tijani played on loan at Třinec, Karvina and Taborsko. His most notable performance came in the 2021/22 season with Taborsko in the Czech second division, where he scored 13 goals in 33 games.

This prolific form earned him a place in Banik Ostrava’s first team for the 2022/23 season, where he made 25 appearances as they finished 11th in the Czech top flight.

In the summer of 2023, Tijani was transferred to Slavia Prague for around £1 million. He made 19 appearances for Slavia and scored four goals, including the decisive last-minute winner in the UEFA Europa League against FC Sheriff.

Tijani’s talent has also been recognised on the international stage, where he has made four appearances for the Nigerian national under-20 team.

Plymouth Argyle head coach Wayne Rooney expressed his excitement at the acquisition, saying: “The addition of Muhamed further strengthens our forward line and he will bring a number of different attributes to the team.

“He is big, athletic and can run behind, but he is equally good at keeping the ball and bringing other players into play. He has played and scored in the Europa League, so he has good pedigree, but he is also young and eager to improve. We are looking forward to working with him.”

Argyle director of football Neil Dewsnip highlighted the competitive nature of securing Tijani’s signature, adding: “He was highly coveted, with a number of Europa League clubs keen to sign him, but Muhamed became heavily involved in the Argyle project and was desperate to play for Wayne. He brings a different profile to our forward line and still has plenty of growth potential, which we are very excited about.”

With the move pending EFL approval and international clearance, Plymouth Argyle are keen to integrate Tijani into the squad as they prepare for next season.

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