Royal send-off: German Red-Green-Whites give Super Eagles Tank hero's farewel

German Bundesliga club FC Augsburg have warmly sent off Nigerian and Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka following the conclusion of his loan from Premier League side Brentford.

Onyeka, affectionately nicknamed “The Tank,” spent the 2024/2025 season with Augsburg, where he quickly became a key figure in the squad.

The Nigerian midfielder featured regularly, making 30 starts in 31 matches and playing a decisive role in helping the Red-Green-Whites secure a 12th-place finish in the Bundesliga table.

In the club’s final home game of the season, Onyeka was celebrated in front of the fans before playing 80 minutes on the pitch. Augsburg took to social media to express their gratitude, posting:

“Thank you, Frank! Frank's Onyeka loan is coming to an end, and we thank you for your commitment to the Red-Green-Whites!”

Accompanying a heartfelt video, the club added: “Thank you for your commitment, 𝙁𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙖𝙣𝙠.”

The Super Eagles AFCON 2023 star also reflected on his time at Augsburg as he leaves with a heart full of gratitude.

“When I came here, I thought it was going to be difficult, but everyone made it easier. Thank you to everyone in the club; they made me feel welcome, I felt at home.”

As Onyeka’s loan spell ends, both Augsburg and fans will remember his dedication and impact throughout the season, while the Super Eagles midfielder looks ahead to the next chapter in his career.

Meanwhile, the 27-year-old will return to the Super Eagles team after he was left out of Nigeria’s crucial World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

Onyeka was one of the shock omissions as new Super Eagles boss Eric Chelle unveiled his first-ever Nigeria squad.

However, the tank is back in the team and will meet up with his national teammates ahead of the Unity Cup clash against West African rivals Ghana in London.

Both teams will clash in Onyeka’s home, the Brentford Stadium, with the midfielder expected to be in action against the Black Stars.