Aris Limassol announces the signing of German-Nigerian defender Leon Balogun on a one-year contract!
The 36-year-old (born 28/06/1988) central defender, joins as a free agent following the completion of his contract with Rangers FC in Scotland.
Balogun is a player with extensive experience in top-tier leagues such as the English Premier League and the German Bundesliga, as well as appearances at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Born in Berlin, Balogun spent his youth football career with Hertha BSC. In the 2008–09 season, he moved to Hannover 96, making his Bundesliga debut. In 2010, he transferred to Werder Bremen, where he also played in both the Bundesliga and the 2. Bundesliga. From 2012 to 2014, he played for Fortuna Düsseldorf, followed by a season at SV Darmstadt.
From 2015 to 2018, he competed in the Bundesliga with Mainz 05. He made a total of 75 appearances and scored one goal in Germany’s top flight before moving to the English Premier League with Brighton & Hove Albion. During the 2018–19 season, he made 8 appearances and scored once for the "Seagulls" and spent the following season on loan at Wigan Athletic.
From 2020 to 2022, he played for Rangers FC in Scotland, then moved to Queens Park Rangers in the Championship for one season. In 2023, he returned to Rangers for two more years, amassing a total of 114 appearances for the Scottish giants, during which he celebrated a league title, a Scottish Cup, and a League Cup.
The 1.90m-tall defender has made 29 appearances in European competitions, scoring 2 goals.
On International level, Balogun has earned 46 caps for the Nigerian national team, scoring once. In addition to his World Cup participation in 2018, he helped Nigeria secure third place at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
We welcome Leon to our team and wish him every success in the Aris shirt!
