# Anderson Esiti

Anderson Esiti (born 24 May 1994) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Hungarian NB I club Zalaegerszegi TE and the Nigeria national team.

## Club career

Born on 24 May 1994, in Warri, Esiti took his first steps in Football Academy Bobbies United. In 2012 he made his trip to Europe to join Leixões. After a few games with the second-string team, he was promoted to the senior side of the club, and played 45 matches. His overall performance caught the eye of José Mário Branco, technical director of Estoril at the time and they signed him. He fit right at in his new team. He remained there for two seasons, featuring in 57 appearances. He established himself as one of the leading midfielders in the league and attracted interest from various clubs around Europe. Eventually he signed with Gent making a total of 95 appearances in all competitions.
On 25 July 2019, PAOK confirmed the arrival of Esiti, who signed a four-year contract with the club. The transfer fee paid to Gent was €3.5 million. He was to fill a gap in defensive midfield for PAOK as the midfielders Jose Canas and Yevhen Shakhov, key members of the PAOK squad, had already left the club this summer. In the 2018–19 season, Esiti made 30 appearances for Gent across all competitions.
In his first match with PAOK after his return from the loan to Göztepe, in a friendly match against Volos, Esiti scored his first goal for PAOK.

### Ferencváros

In February 2022, Esiti moved to Hungarian club Ferencváros. PAOK retained a percentage in their rights in the event of a resale.
On 5 May 2023, he won the 2022–23 Nemzeti Bajnokság I with Ferencváros, after Kecskemét lost 1–0 to Honvéd at the Bozsik Aréna on the 30th matchday.
On 20 April 2024, the Ferencváros–Kisvárda tie ended with a goalless draw at the Groupama Aréna on the 29th match day of the 2023–24 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season which meant that Ferencváros won their 35th championship.
On 15 May 2024, Ferencváros were defeated by Paks 2–0 in the 2024 Magyar Kupa Final at the Puskás Aréna.

### Zalaegerszeg

On 9 January 2025, Esiti moved from Hungarian club Ferencváros to Zalaegerszeg.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of 15 September 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Leixões | 2013–14 | LigaPro | 36 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 46 | 0 |
| Estoril | 2014–15 | Primeira Liga | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 0 |
| Estoril | 2015–16 | Primeira Liga | 25 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 29 | 0 |
| Estoril | 2016–17 | Primeira Liga | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Estoril | Total | Total | 44 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 57 | 0 |
| Gent | 2016–17 | Belgian First Division A | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 0 |
| Gent | 2017–18 | Belgian First Division A | 26 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 0 |
| Gent | 2018–19 | Belgian First Division A | 26 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 0 |
| Gent | Total | Total | 77 | 0 | 9 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 0 | — | — | 95 | 0 |
| PAOK | 2019–20 | Superleague Greece | 21 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 0 |
| PAOK | 2020–21 | Superleague Greece | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 0 |
| PAOK | 2021–22 | Superleague Greece | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 0 |
| PAOK | Total | Total | 41 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 0 | — | — | 62 | 0 |
| Göztepe (loan) | 2020–21 | Süper Lig | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20 | 1 |
| Ferencváros | 2021–22 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 9 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 1 |
| Ferencváros | 2022–23 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 21 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 1 |
| Ferencváros | 2023–24 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 |
| Ferencváros | Total | Total | 32 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 0 | — | — | 53 | 2 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 250 | 3 | 25 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 333 | 3 |
* ↑ Includes Taça de Portugal, Belgian Cup, Greek Football Cup, Magyar Kupa
* ↑ Includes Taça da Liga
* 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
* 1 2 Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Appearance(s) in UEFA Conference League
* ↑ Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, seven appearances in UEFA Europa League

## Honours
### Ferencvárosi TC

* Nemzeti Bajnokság I: 2021–22
* Magyar Kupa: 2021-22

### PAOK

* Greek Football Cup: 2020–21