Vitesse snap up 'super-fast' Nigerian winger Hilary Gong

Dutch Eredivisie outfit Vitesse have completed the signing of Nigerian winger Hilary Gong in a four-year deal, on the back of a breakout season with AS Trencin.

The 19-year-old played a crucial role as Trencin secured Uefa Europa League qualification.

He scored 12 goals, including two in Europa League preliminaries, assisting a further 12 in a remarkable 2017-18 season, having only been handed his professional debut in the colours of the Slovakian top-flight side in April 2017.

Marc van Hintum, technical director of the Dutch top-flight side, hailed the decision of their 'super-fast' acquisition whom he claimed saw off interests from 'a lot of other clubs'.

"Hilary is a super-fast winger who can play on both sides," Van Hintum told club website.

"He had been on our radar for a while. He has a lot of potential. And even though he is still young, he did very well at AS Trencin.

"Despite interest from a lot of other clubs, Hilary has consciously opted for Vitesse."

Gong, on his part, said the reputation of the Dutch league for grooming young talents, among others, was enough of an appeal to take him to Arnhem.

"The story of Vitesse really appealed to me," he said.

"They have often looked at me and knew exactly where my qualities lie. The Eredivisie is known as a competition in which young players get plenty of opportunities. I hope to adapt quickly to the new environment and then show the true Hilary Gong."

In what has been a very busy summer for Vitesse in the transfer market, the Nigerian teenager becomes the club's eighth signing, joining Khalid Karami, Rasmus Thelander, Oussama Darfalou, Max Clark, Jake Clarke-Salter, Matus Bero and Danilho Doekhi.

The player will hope to feature prominently in the plans of former Hull City coach Leonid Slutsky [whom they secured his services in March] in the upcoming campaign.