Nigerian attacking midfielder Tom Dele-Bashiru is on the cusp of a permanent move to Greek Super League outfit Aris FC, as the Thessaloniki-based club moves to bolster its squad for the upcoming campaign.
Greek sports outlet ATHLOS reports that Aris have struck a full agreement with English Championship side Watford over the transfer of the 26-year-old playmaker.
The deal is structured at an initial €1.5 million, with performance-related add-ons potentially pushing the total fee to €2 million.
Dele-Bashiru is scheduled to land in Thessaloniki on Thursday to undergo medical examinations and put pen to paper on a three-year contract that will keep him at the Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium until the summer of 2029.
The former Manchester City academy product will don the famous yellow-and-black stripes of Aris, who are eager to reinforce their creative options in midfield.
The 2025/26 season saw Dele-Bashiru plying his trade on loan at Turkish Süper Lig side Gençlerbirliği, where he featured in 30 matches across all competitions.
While he managed only a single assist during that stint, his work rate, dribbling, and ability to drive from deep positions remained evident, even if end-product numbers dipped.
Dele-Bashiru’s journey to Greece traces back to 2019, when Watford snapped him up from Premier League giants Manchester City. Over the course of five years at Vicarage Road, he accumulated 81 senior appearances for the Hornets, finding the net eight times and setting up four more goals.
His best spell came during the 2022/23 Championship season, where he established himself as a regular starter before injuries and tactical shifts limited his influence.
A former Nigeria U-20 international—having represented the Flying Eagles at the 2019 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations—Dele-Bashiru now seeks a fresh start in Greek football.
Aris, who finished mid-table last term, view him as a key piece in their quest to challenge for European qualification, and the move offers the midfielder a stable platform to rediscover his most dynamic form away from the intense spotlight of English football.
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