Ridwan Sanusi joins AS Trenčín on loan in Slovak Niké Liga

Nigerian winger Ridwan Sanusi has completed a season-long loan move to AS Trenčín from fellow Slovak club MŠK Žilina. The agreement includes an option for Trenčín to make the transfer permanent, giving the 23-year-old another opportunity to secure a regular role in Slovakia’s top division.

Sanusi arrives after a season with FK Železiarne Podbrezová, where he played 25 league matches and supplied three assists. His contribution helped Podbrezová finish sixth in the Slovak Niké Liga. The campaign followed two seasons in which he scored 10 league goals in 45 appearances for the club, making it the most productive period of his career in senior football.

The winger joined Žilina last summer after building his reputation at Podbrezová. His return to the club has not produced the expected first-team opportunity, however, with Sanusi repeatedly left out of matchday squads. The move to Trenčín therefore gives him a route back to consistent competitive football while his contract with Žilina approaches its end.

Sanusi began his professional career in Slovakia with ŠKF Sereď in 2021. He subsequently spent time with second-tier sides Slavoj Trebišov and FK Pohronie before moving to Podbrezová. The sequence has made him a familiar figure in Slovak football, although the loan to Trenčín represents his fifth club in the country since arriving in Europe.

His usual position is on the right wing, where he can use his pace and ability to carry the ball. He is also capable of playing in midfield or on the left flank. That flexibility adds to his value for a Trenčín side seeking options across the attacking and midfield lines, while his previous experience in the Niké Liga should reduce the adjustment required at his new club.

Trenčín finished eighth in the league last season. The club last won the Slovak title in 2016 and now faces the challenge of improving its position in a competition dominated domestically by Slovan Bratislava over the past seven years. Sanusi joins at a point when regular contributions from new players could help Trenčín move higher in the table.

For Sanusi, the loan is also an important step in a career that has developed entirely within the Slovak system. He has yet to represent Nigeria at senior or age-grade level. Establishing himself at Trenčín would give him the chance to add more league appearances, build on his record of 10 goals and three assists at Podbrezová, and strengthen his position before a decision is made on his future.

The permanent option means the coming season could determine whether Sanusi remains with Žilina or begins a longer stay at Trenčín. His immediate task is to convert the opportunity into regular involvement and effective performances. Trenčín will hope his experience, versatility and attacking output can support its push up the Niké Liga standings, while Sanusi will be seeking the continuity that was missing during his time out of Žilina’s squads.