Nigeria's teenage sensation Julius Aghahowa now plays for Shakhtar Donetsk

The first club to sign an African professional, and still the keenest in recruiting young talent is Shakhtar Donetsk, who have already played in this season's European Champions League.

Nigerian defender Isaac Okoronkwo turned out for them in that competition, and was followed to the club in November by one of the brightest young players from his country, teenage striker Julius Aghahowa.

To sign Aghahowa from his Tunisian club Esperance of Tunis, Shakhtar Donetsk broke the Ukraine's transfer record by paying a staggering �6m for his services.

Aghahowa burst on to the scene at last year's African Nations Cup finals in his home country.

Senegalese and Ghanaians

The coach of Dynamo Kiev Valerii Lobanovskyi wants African talent in his team

Last month Shakhtar added to their African contingent by recruiting Senegalese defender Assane N'diaye from top Senegalese club Jeanne d'Arc.

Shakhtar Donetsk also sent scouts to Ghana's second-largest city Kumasi in February to watch the African Super Cup game between Hearts of Oak and Egyptian side Zamalek.

Unsurprisingly, Ghanaian national team strikers Ishmael Addo and Emmanuel Osei Kuffour caught the eye and were both invited to Cyprus for trials.

There remains a good chance that at least one of them, more probably Kuffour - who is also Ghana Footballer of the Year - will be signed.

Another Ghanaian forward, Issah Mohammed of Sekondi Hassacas, also made the trip to Cyprus.

Congolese and Cameroonians

Ghana's Footballer of the Year Emmanuel Kuffour could be on his way to the Ukraine soon

DR Congo's attacking midfielder Ngidi Yemweni, who is currently playing for the famous Congolese club DC Motema Pembe, also attracted the interest of Donetsk when he played for his national team, the Simbas.

He has scored five World Cup qualifying goals in the last year for his country.

Another African player attracting the interest of Donetsk is Cameroon's Olympic gold medal winner Aaron Nguimbat, currently at Canon Yaounde.

Ukraine's other top club, Dynamo Kiev, who reached the semi-finals of the 1999 European Champions League, has already signed three Nigerians.

Yakubu Ayegbeni, a defender, and Harrison Omokoh, a defensive midfielder, are on loan from Israeli side Maccabi Haifa for this season.

Dynamo have already bought a half-share in their registration.

More Nigerians

The third Nigerian acquired by the Kiev club is Lucky Isibor, who has signed a five-year deal after arriving from Russian side Spartak Moscow.

African influences are not confined to the top two only.

Another Nigerian forward Uche Uwakwe has moved from Georgian side Dynamo Batumi to Tavria Simferopol.

Guinea's Alcaly Soumah was reported to be in the Karpaty Lviv squad, while Nigerian Daniel Njoku is on the books of FK Vorskla Poltava.

The rise in the number of African players has been so swift that it would suggest they are going to play a big part in the league for some time to come.