Official: Forgotten Super Eagles star Emmanuel Dennis returns to England after joining Brøndby

Brøndby IF have completed the signing of Nigerian forward Emmanuel Dennis on a contract that runs until the summer of 2028, Soccernet.ng reports.

The club have also confirmed that the 28-year-old must now return to England to finalise his residence and work permit before he can officially join up with his new team.

The Danish Superliga side moved quickly after Dennis impressed during a week-long trial at the club’s training camp, convincing the sporting department that his pace, power and experience could add a new dimension to their attack.

Once the paperwork is approved, a process Brøndby expect to stretch into February, Dennis will travel back to Denmark and begin full integration with the squad. He will wear the number 17 shirt.

Brøndby’s football director Benjamin Schmedes made it clear the decision was straightforward after seeing the former Club Brugge and Premier League forward up close.

“Emmanuel has shown us over the past week with all the clarity we could wish for that he possesses some skills that can give us more opportunities offensively, and that you don't necessarily see every day in the Super League,” says Schmedes.

“He has speed and breakthrough power, and he has shown that he is a threat in front of goal. At the same time, he brings valuable experience from a high international level.

“Equally important is that Emmanuel has clearly expressed that he now wants to be at Brøndby, while also showing that he is ready to invest the effort it takes to succeed here. All of this combined means that we are getting a really exciting player.”

Dennis, who has eight caps for Nigeria's Super Eagles, has been without a club since leaving Nottingham Forest in the summer and last played competitive football during a short loan spell at Blackburn in May. He says the atmosphere around the club played a big role in his decision.

“I am very happy to have signed with the club. I have seen video clips of the fans,” the former Watford star said. “They have a lot of energy, and so do I. I really appreciate the club giving me this opportunity and I am very excited to get started. Hopefully we will achieve great things together.

“The first week with the boys was fantastic. We found chemistry really quickly. They welcomed me so well that it felt like we had known each other for years. I could feel the love right away, and that made it even more attractive to me.”

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Emmanuel Dennis: A career reset after a turbulent year

Dennis’ move to Brøndby is a fresh start after a difficult period in his career. Once a €13m signing for Nottingham Forest under Steve Cooper, he had been among the Premier League’s better-paid forwards and previously scored 12 goals in the competition during his time at Watford.

However, his stock dropped sharply over the past year. 

A proposed move to Romanian side CFR Cluj collapsed in September after a dispute over wages, with club owner Neluțu Varga later saying:

“Dennis started sending us into a bidding war when he told us he had offers from other interested clubs, and I didn't like that. That's why we dropped him. He was supposed to be here to sign, but I personally gave up on him.”

With other options failing to materialise, Dennis has now accepted a chance to rebuild in Denmark, and Brøndby believe they may have secured a proven attacker hungry to prove himself again.