Nigeria Super Eagles and Sevilla star Chidera Ejuke. Photo by IMAGO
Sevilla president José María del Nido Carrasco has praised Chidera Ejuke’s impact this season, describing the Nigerian winger as a player destined to leave his mark on the club’s history, Soccernet.ng reports.
Ejuke, who joined Sevilla on a free transfer from CSKA Moscow on July 1, 2024, made history as the first Nigerian to sign for the Andalusian club.
After a season on loan at Antwerp in Belgium and a previous stint in the Netherlands with Heerenveen, this campaign is his first experience in Spanish football.
The 27-year-old has featured prominently in Sevilla’s La Liga campaign, making 13 appearances and accumulating 620 minutes of game time. He has started six matches and come off the bench seven times across the team’s 23 league fixtures.
Ejuke’s most memorable moment so far came on September 24, when he scored Sevilla’s winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Real Valladolid.
His 85th-minute strike not only secured three crucial points but also made him the first Nigerian ever to score for the club — a landmark achievement Sevilla has embraced.
Reflecting on Ejuke’s record-setting contribution, Sevilla president José María del Nido Carrasco expressed the club’s delight at his performances, particularly in the early part of the season before an untimely injury.
“We are very happy with Chidera,” Del Nido Carrasco told Premium Times.
“Indeed, Chidera is the first Nigerian player to score a goal with Sevilla FC, and it is a pity that when he was at his best, he had an injury—let’s call it serious.
“But now he is getting back in shape, starting to play different minutes in different matches, and we are convinced that Chidera will be an important player in our history.”
Despite scoring just once this season, Ejuke has consistently been one of LaLiga’s most exciting attacking threats. His exceptional dribbling ability has drawn widespread attention, making him a nightmare for defenders.
At his peak earlier in the season, Ejuke led not only La Liga but also all of Europe’s top five leagues in successful dribbles.
The Nigerian completed 28 take-ons from 46 attempts—a remarkable 61% success rate—outperforming high-profile names like Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, and Kylian Mbappé.
However, his progress was halted by an injury suffered on October 21 in a 5-1 defeat to Barcelona.
Ejuke returned to action on January 19, playing a crucial role in Sevilla’s 2-1 victory over Girona.
His comeback was a turning point for Los Nervionenses, who had endured a six-game losing streak before his return. His presence also helped Sevilla break a three-match away losing run and sparked a three-game unbeaten streak before their recent 4-1 loss to Barcelona.
As Sevilla prepare for their next LaLiga fixture— a trip to Real Valladolid on February 16 —Ejuke will be aiming to add to his goal tally and further solidify his place in the club’s history.
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