Oscar Zambrano (foto: uradna spletna stran kluba)
Oscar Zambrano is expected to leave Maribor after only a few months and return to Hull City, in what could become the first major transfer between clubs owned by Acun Ilicali.
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Oscar Zambrano is set to return to Hull City after spending only half a season with Maribor, with reports in England claiming an agreement between the clubs has already been reached.
Local media in Hull report that the 22-year-old Ecuador midfielder will sign a three-year contract, including an option for a further season, before joining Sergej Jakirović's squad for pre-season preparations.
The move would see Zambrano return to the club he originally joined from Ecuadorian side LDU Quito in the summer of 2024.
His first spell in England was interrupted after only eight appearances when he received a suspension following a positive doping test. The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) initially imposed a 16-month ban, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) later reduced the suspension to 12 months.
Following his return to competitive football, Zambrano joined Maribor, where he made seven league appearances and scored two goals during the second half of the season.
Before his suspension, Zambrano had been regarded as one of Ecuador's brightest young midfielders. His energetic style and defensive qualities even drew comparisons with Chelsea star Moisés Caicedo, while his performances earned him his first senior call-up to the Ecuador national team, although he is still waiting to make his international debut.
Beyond the footballing aspect, the transfer could prove significant for another reason.
Hull City and Maribor are both owned by Turkish businessman Acun Ilicali, making Zambrano's return the first major transfer between two clubs within the same ownership group.
The structure of the deal will therefore attract considerable attention. Zambrano initially moved to Maribor after his loan spell at Hull, signing a contract with the Slovenian club that runs until 2029.
How the transfer fee is determined and how the transaction is structured between the two Ilicali-owned clubs could provide an early indication of how future player movements within the ownership model will operate.
If completed as expected, the transfer will not only offer Zambrano a second opportunity to establish himself in English football, but also become an important case study in the increasingly common world of multi-club ownership.