Super Eagles defender Zaidu Sanusi earns Porto contract extension

• The Nigeria international was the hero for the Dragons last season, and in midweek and has been rewarded with a new deal

With a statement on their official website, FC Porto have confirmed that Nigerian defender Zaidu Sanusi has extended his contract with the club until the summer of 2027.

Sanusi joined the Dragons two years ago from fellow Portuguese side Santa Clara, inking a five-year deal that would have kept him at the Estádio do Dragão until 2025.

But the Super Eagles full-back is now committed to a two-year extension with the reigning Primeira Lig champions.

Sanusi arrived in Portugal in 2016, joining Portuguese first-division club Gil Vicente from Nigerian academy club Jega United.

He was loaned out to lower league side Mirandela the following season, where he excelled and earned a permanent move in 2018.

Another brilliant campaign where he mustered three goals in 32 league games from a left-back position convinced Santa Clara of his quality. And the Azoreans wasted no time in swooping for the Nigerian before the start of the 2019-2020 campaign.

It was at Santa Clara that Sanusi showed he was one of the best full-backs in the Portuguese top flight, and it was no surprise when Porto coughed out €4 million in August 2020 to sign the Lagos-born star.

Sanusi endured criticism from Porto fans and others during his first year and the majority of his second season at the Estádio do Dragão.

But the 25-year-old became an instant club hero when he scored the goal that won the 2021-2022 league title for Porto in May.

The Super Eagles defender has not slowed down since. And on Wednesday, Sanusi netted the opening goal for the Dragons in their 2-0 defeat of Bayer Leverkusen, the club's first win in this season's UEFA Champions League.