African football legend Emmanuel Amunike in an exclusive interview with The Nerve Africa has backed Togolese international Kevin Denkey to shine in Major League Soccer (MLS) following his big-money move to FC Cincinnati from Belgian side Cercle Brugge.
The forward’s transfer fee amounts to €16.6 million, with €15.3 million as a fixed payment, setting a new record for Cercle Brugge as the most expensive transfer in the club’s history.
The move to Cincinnati also places Denkey among the highest-profile acquisitions in MLS history, surpassing the previous record of $16 million set by Atlanta United for the arrival of Thiago Almada in 2022.
Amunike, who played for FC Barcelona and Sporting, has backed the player’s decision to move to the States at the age of 23 and is confident that Denkey will live up to expectations, even predicting a future return to some of Europe’s biggest teams.
“There should be absolutely no fuss about the transfer fee, as Kevin Denkey is worth it, and he’ll prove himself worth every penny,” Amunike said in an exclusive interview with The Nerve Africa. “His talent is still raw, but what he’s done in Belgium is amazing. FC Cincinnati have secured a very good player who will help push their ambitions of surpassing Inter Miami in the 2025 season.”
Last season, as a budding star in the Belgian Pro League, Denkey scored an impressive 27 goals in 38 matches, finishing as the league’s top scorer. This season, he continued to excel with 10 goals and 4 assists in just 16 appearances, further underlining his enormous potential.
“I’ll say it again: the move is big for Cincinnati but also for Denkey. Let no one say otherwise, because in the MLS, he’ll face less pressure and will keep delivering. It’s an absolute joke when people question his decision,” Amunike added.
“But Cincinnati will have a tough time keeping him for long. My belief is that top European clubs will come knocking, and it’ll be hard to resist. I think he’ll play for a top European team in a few years,” the 53-year-old African football legend concluded.
Denkey’s signing positions FC Cincinnati as serious contenders in the MLS as they prepare to challenge star-studded teams like Inter Miami.
