Nigerian midfielder John Otomewo is on the brink of completing a transfer to French second-division side Stade Reims, with Hapoel Jerusalem and the Ligue 2 club having agreed a fee of €1.6 million for the 19-year-old.

The deal would mark a landmark moment for Hapoel Jerusalem, surpassing their previous record sale — the €1.5 million transfer of Cedric Don to Maccabi Haifa — and making Otomewo the most expensive player ever sold by the Israeli club.

From talent tournament to first-team regular

Otomewo's rise has been swift and striking. He was recruited into Hapoel Jerusalem's youth academy last summer after scouts identified him at a talent tournament in Nigeria.

Despite only recently arriving at the club, the midfielder began training alongside the senior squad from an early stage. When an injury crisis struck the first team, Otomewo stepped into the breach and never looked back, going on to make 19 league appearances and cementing his place as a regular starter.

Medical ahead of France move

According to reports, the teenager is expected to travel to Israel before heading on to France to complete his medical. Once formalities are concluded, the move to Stade Reims will be confirmed.

Should the transfer go through as anticipated, it will represent a remarkable turnaround for a player who was playing in a talent tournament on Nigerian soil just over a year ago and is now poised to compete in French professional football.