Raddy Ovouka: Congolese International leaves Hearts of Oak for American second-tier outfit New Mexico United on season loan deal
Ghana Premier League side Hearts of Oak have finally given listening ears to an offer submitted in exchange for Raddy Ovouka but only on temporary basis.
The Ghanaian side have hugely looked reluctant to open negotiations for sale of the Congolese International after the player’s impressive displays caught eyes of clubs from France, Belgium, Serbia and Portugal.
With Ovouka kneed on moving abroad, the left-back pushed for a move away from Hearts of Oak through activating his release clause which meant if any club pays a region of $385,000 the 22-year old could leave his parent club without any blockage despite having a contract with the Ghanaian side until summer 2023.
It’s understood that the player’s entourage may have induced the release clause departure after personally informing interested clubs to come and pay the activation fee when Hearts never wanted to sell.
Along the line, FIFA came in to settle the transfer challenge where the world football governing body have initially told Hearts of Oak to let Ovouka leaves if his release clause have been activated- with a report in GhanaWeb claiming that.
It later appeared that Hearts want the proper way of things resolved after contacting back to FIFA and decided to open negotiations for Ovouka instead of the release clause gateway.
Since that turnaround of a decision, New Mexico United have been the beneficiary after several clubs initially unable to meet in time this later development.
Two unnamed French clubs, clubs from Portugal, Belgium, Al Ahly and TP Mazembe have all missed on the Congolese International within the period of tension between Hearts and Ovouka.
New Mexico United and Hearts of Oak have been on the negotiation table for some time and agreement over a season loan move from the Ghana Premier League to USL Championship has been reached.
The Ghana Premier League giants announced the transfer of Raddy Ovouka to New Mexico United on a season-long loan deal on Tuesday.
The club’s official statement reads “Accra Hearts of Oak has agreed with American based club, New Mexico United to transfer defender, Raddy Ovouka to them on a 1-year loan deal.”
The 22-year-old played in Hearts of Oak’s double-winning feat last term after aiding them to halt their eleven-year trophy drought.
Ovouka joined Hearts of Oak on a free transfer in 2018 after a successful trial.
Following his exploits in the Ghana Premier League, he was invited for the Congo national team’s 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The American side may have the option to buy permanently after end of loan spell.
Read more on Raddy Ovouka
- Hearts of Oak pushed into the dark over Raddy Ovouka transfer after FIFA reportedly intervening to see release clause activated
- The CLAUSE that could see Raddy Ovouka leave Hearts of Oak for free despite being contracted for next two years
- TP Mazembe and Al Ahly enter into huge transfer war for Hearts of Oak left-back Raddy Ovouka
- Ghana Premier League outstanding fixture rescheduled as Hearts face Kotoko in February
