Junior Pius

Junior Udeme Pius (born 20 December 1995) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays for Belgian club Sint-Truidense V.V. on loan from Royal Antwerp F.C. as a central defender.

Club Career

Born in Eman, Akwa Ibom, Pius finished his development in Portugal with FC Porto. On 1 September 2014, he was loaned to C.D. Aves to kickstart his senior career, making his Segunda Liga debut on 5 October in a 0–0 away draw against C.D. Santa Clara where he was sent off for two late bookable offences.

Released by Porto at the end of the season, Pius took his game to the Portuguese third division, representing in quick succession F.C. Cesarense and A.D. Sanjoanense. In the summer of 2017 he moved straight to the Primeira Liga, signing a three-year contract with C.D. Tondela. He played his first game in the latter competition on 16 September, when he came on as a 31st-minute substitute in a 0–2 away loss to Sporting CP.

In December 2017, while nursing a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury to his right knee contracted in a friendly against S.C. Covilha two months earlier, Pius was caught stealing from a fund containing player fines of various types, this allegedly being the third time the incident had occurred with him. He was immediately suspended by the club, also being forbidden from attending its facilities.