PSG backed Eupen bring in experienced German-Congolese striker in bid to boost promotion push | OneFootball

Belgian second tier side Eupen have announced the signing of striker Ba-Muaka Simakala from Azerbaijani side Araz Naxçivan. Simakala came through the Borussia Monchengladbach youth system before going on to play for a variety of clubs before he ended up in Azerbaijan. The striker joins Eupen off the back of a decent campaign, with nine goals in 36 games.

Simakala made his one and only appearance for Borussia Monchengladbach during the 2016/2017 Bundesliga season. In 2018 he left to join Dutch side Roda, but only managed four goals in 43 games. His big breakthrough came with VFL Osnabruck, who he joined in 2021. He scored eight goals in 31 games during the sides 2 Liga campaign before exploding in his second season at the club with 19 goals in 37 games. Holstein Kiel then signed him on a free transfer, but the striker went goalless in 13 games. After a loan spell with Kaiserslautern, resulting in one goal in seven, he returned to VFL Osnaburck for the 2024/2025 campaign. Simakala scored eight goals in 24 games before joining Araz.

He joins a Eupen side that are now closely linked to PSG and have brought in the experienced Felice Mazzu as a head coach. The last time Mazzu coached in the Belgian second tier was when he won promotion with Union St Gilloise.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson