Swiss Super League giants FC Basel have completed the signing of former Banga Gargždai defender Akpe Victory from Hungarian side Zalaegerszeg in a deal reportedly worth €3 million, with the transfer set to earn the Lithuanian club a substantial financial windfall.
The 19-year-old Nigerian centre-back spent the 2025 season in Lithuania, quickly establishing himself as one of Banga’s key players. In his first season in European football, Victory made 32 appearances in all competitions, contributing three assists and playing a crucial role in the club’s defensive line.
His performances did not go unnoticed across Europe, and in January he secured a move to Hungarian top-flight club Zalaegerszeg for a reported €100,000.
Victory’s rise has continued at remarkable speed. During the second half of the 2025/26 season in Hungary, he made 16 appearances, scoring once and adding an assist before attracting interest from one of Switzerland’s biggest clubs.
Basel, 21-time Swiss champions, have now announced the signing of the physically imposing defender on a contract running until the summer of 2030. Swiss media report that the transfer fee is approximately €3 million.
The move also represents a major financial success for Banga Gargždai. When the Lithuanian club agreed to sell Victory to Zalaegerszeg in January, they negotiated a 15 per cent sell-on clause as part of the deal.
As a result, Banga will now receive an additional €450,000 from Basel’s purchase, on top of the original €100,000 transfer fee received six months ago. In total, the Lithuanian club will have earned around €550,000 from the sale of a player who spent just one season at the club before making his rapid rise through European football.
