[Oliver_Kahn]

Rot-Weiss Essen have a new striker: the Ruhrpott club signed striker Solomon Okoronkwo from Hertha BSC until the end of the season.


The 19-year old forward, who played 18 Bundesliga matches for Hertha in the 2005/06 season, will be on loan at Essen until the end of the season. After Denis Epstein, who joined Essen on loan from Cologne, Okoronkwo is the second signing for RWE during the winter break.

"For Okoronkwo it is important to get more match experience. He has huge potential, but he doesn´t get to play often enough. We know Essen´s coach Lorenz-Günther Köstner and their sporting director Olaf Janßen very well, and we therefore know that Solomon Okoronkwo will make further progress at their club”, said Hertha´s C.E.O. Dieter Hoeneß.

Winner of the African Cup 2005

In 2005, Okoronkwo won the African Cup with Nigeria´s Under 20s national team, and was voted "player of the tournament”. In the Summer of 2005 he lost the final of the U 20 World Cup with Nigeria against Argentina. After the tournament he moved to Berlin from his hometown club Gabros International F.C. .

"We are very pleased that Solomon has decided to join Rot-Weiss Essen and to help us staying in the league. He is undoubtedly one of the most promising young strikers in the Bundesliga. He is unbelievable aggressive and, despite his young age, isn´t shy of going into one-on-ones. He goes where it hurts in the 18 yard box”, said Essen´s sporting director Olaf Janßen. "Now we all have to help Solomon to integrate into the team as quickly as possible.”

Number Ten

Okorownkwo will wear the no. "10” at Essen. RWE-C.E.O. praised Dieter Hoeneß and Falko Götz for their help in the deal. "Just as with the loan signing of Pascal Bieler, the cooperation of both clubs was excellent.”

Some facts and figures on Okoronkwo:
Date of birth: 02.March 1987
Height: 6.04 ft
Weight: 78 kg
Clubs so far: Hertha BSC Berlin, Gabros International F.C./Nigeria