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At just 23 years old, Gift Orban has already played in five European countries and scored at a rate of nearly one goal every two matches. His consistent performances have drawn the attention of top-tier clubs, a remarkable achievement for someone who endured severe hardship in his youth. Today, Orban stands among Europe’s most remarkable Hidden Gems.

‘Child of the Streets’

Born in Benue State, Nigeria, and raised by his father while his mother lived in Togo, Orban grew up surrounded by conditions no child should ever face. His love for football began amidst these harsh realities.

“I am a child of the streets,” he once told Sporza during his stint with Gent in Belgium. “I started playing football as a small boy in the suburbs of Lagos. Around me, people were getting hurt, often under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Recently, I was in Brussels with a friend, and when we returned to our car, it had been completely ransacked — money, bank cards, passport, everything gone. My friend was terrified, but for me, that was normal. I grew up dealing with that kind of thing every day.”

Those early struggles continue to fuel Orban’s drive for success. While the memories are painful, he channels them into a desire to help others avoid similar suffering.

“It was extremely tough, and I’d rather not talk about it. My problems are beyond explanation,” he told L’Equipe. “You wouldn’t understand because you were born in Europe. In France, if you’re poor, the state or charities can help you. In Africa, no one helps — you could literally starve to death. That’s why so many of us turn to football.”

“In Benue, if your family has no money, life is impossible. That’s what drives me. I never want to relive that. We had to find food daily just to survive. Now, I want to help the poor, orphans — anyone who has lived a life like mine or worse.”

He continued, “Do you know what real poverty is? Poverty in Europe and Africa cannot be compared. In some places, you can barely sleep, and when you wake up, there’s still nothing to eat.”

A Colourful Personality

Orban is known for his outspoken and honest nature. “I say what I think, I’m sincere. People who don’t know me may find me strange, but when they get close, they see I’m respectful,” he said. However, this forthrightness has occasionally landed him in trouble — particularly during his current season with Hellas Verona in Serie A.

After scoring to put his struggling side 2-0 ahead against reigning champions Napoli in January, Orban celebrated by pretending to fire an imaginary gun and then gesturing as if cutting his throat. The dramatic celebration earned him a yellow card, and Napoli later came back to draw 2-2, leaving the home fans with the last laugh.

Just six weeks later, Orban faced further disciplinary action when he was sent off after only 11 minutes against Parma for verbally abusing the referee, resulting in a two-match suspension.

Leap of Faith

Despite those setbacks, Orban has continued to show his goal-scoring instinct since moving to Italy on loan from Hoffenheim. His seven goals so far make him Verona’s top scorer as the club fights to avoid relegation. Scoring goals has always been his strength, even though he initially avoided joining any club or academy as a youngster.

“As a kid, I played football on the beach all the time,” he recalled. “Playing on sand builds every muscle. I didn’t join a football academy until around 13. I needed my freedom. On the streets, I could do my own thing, but at an academy, they always shout at you.”

Following his father’s advice, Orban joined Bison FC, playing in tournaments attended by European scouts. That’s where Norwegian club Stabaek discovered him, impressed by his pace and physical strength. However, after an initial trial, Stabaek decided not to sign him.

Only after an injury crisis among their strikers did Stabaek reconsider, inviting Orban to sign his first professional contract. Still, adjusting to life in Norway proved difficult for the young Nigerian.

“The coach gave me a chance, and I scored twice immediately,” he said. “I repeated the same in the next game and kept scoring. But life there was tough. For the first time, I experienced freezing temperatures. And the Norwegian language — blah, blah, blah — it hurt my ears! I didn’t like it there. I had already decided I needed to move on quickly. I just couldn’t stay.”

Haaland Comparisons

Determined to move forward, Orban scored 19 goals and provided seven assists in just 24 games for Stabaek. His explosive form caught the attention of Gent’s head scout, Samuel Cardenas, who convinced the Belgian club to spend €4.5 million — their second-highest transfer fee ever — to secure his signature.

Any doubts about his worth vanished quickly. Orban scored 20 goals in his first 22 appearances for Gent, including five hat-tricks. One of those hat-tricks became the fastest ever in European competition, achieved in just 205 seconds against Istanbul Basaksehir in the Conference League.

His pace, power, and finishing drew comparisons to Erling Haaland, and while Tottenham Hotspur were reportedly interested, they ultimately signed Brennan Johnson from Nottingham Forest instead.

Off the Boil

However, Orban’s prolific run did not last indefinitely. During the first half of the 2023-24 season, he scored only three goals in 17 Jupiler League matches and was frequently benched by Gent’s coach, Hein Vanhaezebrouck.

“It’s not easy for him,” Vanhaezebrouck commented. “Last year he was a hero — everything he touched turned to gold. Now he’s facing tougher times, but that will only make him stronger.”

In January 2024, Orban moved to Lyon for €14 million, a transfer fee that could have been double had he left six months earlier. However, his time in France was short-lived as he struggled to displace club veteran Alexandre Lacazette. He later joined Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga.

He started strongly in Germany, scoring four goals in his first seven matches, but his form dipped again, and he ended the season on the bench as Hoffenheim narrowly escaped relegation. Consequently, he was loaned to Verona for the 2025-26 season — his fifth European adventure.

What’s Next?

With 11 games left in Serie A and Verona having just two wins all season, the club sits nine points from safety and faces the grim prospect of relegation. It’s unlikely they will activate the €8 million purchase option in Orban’s loan deal. Hoffenheim, meanwhile, are well-positioned for Champions League qualification and seem unlikely to include Orban in their future plans given the strength of their attacking lineup.

Another transfer seems inevitable for the Nigerian striker, who has netted 67 goals in 133 senior appearances. As for his future ambitions, Orban has made his dream destination clear.

“My biggest dream is to play in the Premier League,” he revealed. “Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City — those are the clubs I’d love to join. I’m not particularly fond of Arsenal; it seems like they don’t want to win titles! I want to be somewhere that’s truly hungry for trophies.”