It is a most welcomed switch for the 25-year-old left back, which should lead to several more Nigeria stars teaming up with other top European clubs as was the case in the country’s golden era of the mid-90s.
This transfer is a fitting reward for hard work and self belief after many months of speculations concerning the future of the defender, who has blossomed for both club and country in the last two years.
In his three and a half years at Portuguese club Sporting Braga, he helped them to win the League Cup last season. It was their first major trophy in 47 years.
He also helped Braga reach the final of the UEFA Europa League in 2011, when they eventually lost to local rivals FC Porto.
Braga are now among the top four clubs in Portugal.
AS Monaco are in a different class – Seven league titles with their last triumph being in 2000 and five Cup wins.
Elderson’s switch therefore will put him under the spotlight both in the more popular French Ligue 1 as well as in the UEFA Champions League season after season.
The Nigeria star will be expected to cope with increased pressure as the club from the Principality are a lot more ambitious under a Russian investment company.
They have shown the mean business by splashing the cash on the likes of Colombia stars Radamel Falcao and James Rodriquez as well as Portugal internationals Joao Moutinho and Ricardo Carvalho.
It's great to be at a great club like Monaco
Monaco have showed great confidence in Elderson by giving him a four and a half year contract, which will take him just about his 30th birthday.
He will slug it with 21-year-old France youth international Layvin Kurzawa for a place in the first-team.
One thing that will be going for him is that this will be his second spell in the French top flight after he started out his career in France with Stade Rennes between 2007 and 2010.
Nigerians led by Victor Ikpeba have also flourished at Monaco. ‘Prince of Monaco’ Ikpeba was crowned African Footballer of the Year in 1997 after his goals helped them to win the league championship and Lukman Haruna also held his own at the club.
Elderson has played with a lot more confidence for Nigeria in the last one year so much so that he has ventured upfront to score two goals.
And you can be sure that now that his future has been sorted out, he will be one of the most upbeat and assured players for Nigeria at the World Cup in June in Brazil.
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