Hull City owner Ekun Ilikali ‘disgusted’ by transfer demands

Hull City Owner Ekun Ilekali said he was “disgusted” by claims the club had rejected transfer targets and sought to clarify the situation in an unusual move.

The Tigers are returning to the Premier League after a nine-year absence after winning the Championship play-off final in May.

So far, they have Signed keeper Jack Butland From Rangers, Midfielder Oscar Zambrano After leaving Maribor and defender Matt Targett Newcastle United As they prepare for the 2026-27 top-flight campaign.

“We are reading rumors of dozens of false transfers in many places,” Ilkali wrote in a social media post., outsider

“We are fed up with the claims that we have been rejected and the use of our club name to attract attention.

“We have been working intensively for two months. I believe we will build a team that we will all be proud of.”

Illikali, who did not mention the reports he referred to, added: “To prevent false speculation and give you more information, I leave you with our latest transfer situation, which includes some clues…”

In the rest of his message, Illikali listed numerically Butland, Zambrano and Target with ticks next to their names.

He put numbers from four to 11 along with the countries’ flags and their side’s percentages as he suggested how close Hull were to signing players from those countries.

At number four he posts the Japanese flag with 99% and BBC Radio Humberside sports editor Mike White reports that the Tigers have agreed a deal to sign free agent midfielder Hidemasa Morita.

Among others, Greece and Sweden had 90% of their flags, while Australia, Croatia and Portugal had 80%.

Hull City boss Sergej Zakirovic said The Tigers were close to completing a deal for Olympiakos goalkeeper Konstantinos Zolakis earlier this month.

Recently Dr. Ilikali The club took out a £55m bridging loan to remain in a “stronger financial position” and help complete the transfer.