Hannover 96: Okon Will Need Time
Hannover 96 managing director Marcus Mann has commented on the signing of South African international Ime Okon, saying they collected data about him, but he will need time to adapt to the new environment.
Later on Tuesday, German side announced the signing of Okom from SuperSport United on a deal until 30 June 2029.
The 21-year-old leaves SuperSport after being promoted to the senior team in July 2023. During his time with the club, he featured in 57 matches across all competitions, scoring two goals.
“Ime is a player with exciting abilities and very good physical conditions,” said Mann.
“Christian Titz and André Kilian have been watching his path for some time. We then collected data on him in scouting and evaluated his athletic profile, which is extraordinary.
“It’s completely clear that he will need his time to adapt, but he is extremely willing to learn, so we absolutely see the potential in him to develop really well. Now he should settle in well in Hannover and in our team.”
Having come through the youth club Randburg FC, Okon joined SuperSport United’s youth team in 2022.
A year later, the defender made his debut for the professionals in the Betway Premiership.
In total, Okon played in 57 games for SuperSport, including the CAF Confederations Cup, scoring two goals.
Current South African international, he also made his debut for the South African national team at the beginning of June.
Okon recorded all of his five appearances to date during the COSAFA Cup, where he and his team reached the final. In the group game against Zimbabwe, the defender scored his first goal in the jersey of the national team.
Okon commented: “I’m very happy to sign for Hannover 96 now. I accept this challenge of being able to play in Germany with great pleasure. I really want to join the club, I want to become a better player here and mature as a person. I would describe myself as a fast, robust defender – I try to bring these strengths to bear from now on and thus help the team.”
Okon is Hannover 96’s 13th summer signing, followed by Virgil Ghita (KS Cracovia), Waniss Taibi, Mustapha Bundu (Plymouth Argyle), Hendry Blank (RB Salzburg), Benedikt Pichler (Holstein Kiel), Bastian Allgeier (SSV Ulm), Jonas Sterner (Holstein Kiel), Maurice Neubauer (SV Elversberg), Benjamin Källman and Franz Roggow (Borussia Dortmund). In addition, there are loan returnees Marius Wörl (Arminia Bielefeld) and the former U23 loan player Hayate Matsuda (FC Mito HollyHock), who has been permanently signed for the first team.
Okon is scheduled to join 96 team training on Wednesday morning.
