Ugandan U-20 forward John Paul Dembe is set to extend his loan deal for an additional six months at Swedish second-tier side IK Oddevold, sources have informed The Nerve Africa.
Dembe joined Oddevold from his parent club BK Hacken in March on a short-term loan deal initially set to expire on June 30. However, it will now be extended for another six months.
The former KCCA FC player’s camp has welcomed Hacken’s decision, as Oddevold promises more first-team playing time than Hacken, which could benefit his development. Hacken believes another loan spell will aid his growth, with plans to reintegrate him into the team in the second half of the 2024/2025 campaign.
The 18-year-old has made three appearances for Oddevold without scoring a goal. He aims to make a more significant impact as the club strives for promotion. Oddevold currently sits sixth in the Swedish Superettan (second division) with 12 points from eight matches.
Before joining Oddevold, Dembe had not made a league appearance for Hacken but featured twice in the UEFA Europa League, playing against Norway’s Molde and Azerbaijan’s Qarabag FK.
Valued at €108,000 by TransferMarkt, Dembe has yet to receive a call-up to Uganda’s senior national team but has progressed through the youth ranks, including the U-17 and U-20 teams. He participated in the 2023 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, where Uganda lost 1-0 to Nigeria in the quarterfinals.
