“National pride” – Peter Lazarus signs for Swedish giants IFK Göteborg

South Sudan’s football community is celebrating after homegrown football prodigy Peter Lazarus George Laku signed a five-year professional contract with Swedish top-flight club IFK Göteborg, two-time UEFA Cup winners, now known as the UEFA Europa League.

The move marks a major milestone for the 18-year-old winger, who becomes one of the few South Sudanese footballers to secure a professional deal with an established European club.

Made in Juba

Lazarus began his football journey at Future Stars Football Academy in Juba, where he developed into one of the country’s most promising young talents.

His path to Europe was not easy. While pursuing his dream move, the youngster faced extensive visa hurdles before finally completing the transfer.

The winger first caught international attention with his impressive displays at the CECAFA youth tournaments, where he stood out with his pace, skill and attacking ability.

Born in 2008, Lazarus has enjoyed a rapid rise in football. His performances earned him a senior Bright Stars debut at just 16 years old, making him one of the country’s youngest senior internationals.

The 18-year-old also has one senior international on his CV for South Sudan.

National pride

His move to IFK Göteborg has sparked celebrations across South Sudan’s football community, with many describing it as another sign that local talent can compete on the international stage.

The South Sudan Football Federation described the transfer as a moment of national pride, saying the youngster’s achievement had brought joy to his family and the entire nation.

“National Pride: From captaining our youth national teams to testing himself against Africa’s best in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

“This is an incredible milestone for Lazarus, his family, and the entire nation. The Bright Star is rising, and Europe is officially taking notice,” the SSFF wrote on its page on Facebook.

Offensive x-factor

IFK Göteborg sporting director David Vukovic described Lazarus as an exciting attacking player with strong technical ability and an eye for goal. He said the club sees the South Sudanese youngster as a player for the future.

“Peter is a perverse and irrational player with a clear offensive x-factor. He can play on both larger and smaller surfaces and has the ability to create more time for himself through his technique. He is also a skilled finisher with both feet and with a good sense of goal,” he said of Lazarus.

“This is a recruitment that we see in the longer term and Peter will be part of our top group, where he will be able to move between different training and match environments,” he added.