ELF: Wroclaw Panthers sign Dutch edge defender Semmie Radji

The Wroclaw Panthers of the European League of Football have signed edge defender Semmie Radji for the 2022 season.

The Dutch national team pass rusher joins a Panthers team looking to make another run at the EFL title after falling just short in last year’s semifinals.

Radji on why he chose Wroclaw:

“I want to play with and be coached by the best. We all have a common goal and that’s to win the championship, and the Panthers are just a top organization.”

The 6’4″, 240-pound defender spent the last two seasons in Finland playing for the Kuopio Steelers. In his time in the Finnish Maple League, Radji was part of two Maple Bowl championship defenses that smothered opponents. The Almere, Holland native, earned back-to-back Maple League All-Star honors while putting up 47 tackles, 20 tackles for a loss, and 9 and a half sacks in two seasons. In 2021, Radji’s 12.5 tackles for a loss, and seven and a half sacks both led the league.

This past summer, Radji pulled double duty helping the Hildesheim Invaders win the championship Germany’s Regionalliga following the season in Finland.

Prior to arriving in Finland, Radji spent four seasons playing Germany, the last three for the Hildesheim Invaders in the German Football League and initially for the Lubeck Cougars in GFL2. He amassed 163 tackles and 43 tackles for loss (169 yards) as well as 19 sacks during that time.

Radji’s championship experience and pass-rushing resume make him a promising addition to a defense that brings back linebacker William Lloyd, defensive back Darius Robinson, and ELF All-Star Goran Zec.

Read more about Radji’s unique football story here

Watch Radji’s highlights here

Alex is a former NCAA and semi-pro American football player who is now located in London, where he works in digital marketing. His goal in writing for AFI is to stay involved with the game that has given him so much. Alex enjoys covering leagues and