Valencia Renew Push for Sadiq Umar but Seek AFCON Assurance First

Valencia are considering a fresh bid to bring Nigerian striker Sadiq Umar back to Mestalla in the January transfer window as they look to solve their goalscoring troubles and pull clear of the La Liga relegation zone.

The forward has endured another frustrating start to life at Real Sociedad, making only 40 minutes of league appearances this season. It mirrors the previous campaign, when limited opportunities led to a six-month loan spell at Valencia a stint in which he scored six goals in 19 matches and played an important role in securing a mid-table finish.

According to Blanquinegres, Valencia manager Carlos Corberán remains convinced that the 28 year old could significantly improve his attacking options. The need is clear Valencia have found the net just 11 times in their opening 12 league fixtures, a worrying return for a team currently placed 17th.

Any deal, however, will depend on the stance of Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay, who refused to sanction a sale during the summer after Valencia declined to activate Sadiq’s €10 million release clause.

Another major factor is the striker’s international situation. Corberán is reportedly seeking clarity on whether Sadiq will receive a call-up for Nigeria’s squad to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Losing a key January signing for up to two months during a relegation battle would be a gamble the club is unwilling to take.

Sadiq’s last appearance for the Super Eagles came in March, and his lack of playing time in Spain has seen him slip down the pecking order under Eric Chelle, with Akor Adams, Tolu Arokodare and Cyriel Dessers currently ahead of him in the national-team hierarchy.

Editorial

Football often turns on moments of bravery  the courage to trust talent, the resolve to persevere through doubt. Valencia now stand at such a crossroads with Sadiq Umar, a striker whose career has flickered between promise and frustration. There is something inherently human about his journey the quiet battles for relevance, the staccato rhythm of opportunity gained and opportunity lost.

Carlos Corberán sees beyond the numbers. He sees a forward who once shouldered Valencia’s burden with dignity and drive, who gave a floundering side shape, ballast and a reminder of what purposeful movement looks like. Goals matter, of course, but so too does presence the type Sadiq offers with his range, his hold-up play, his insistence on making defenders uncomfortable.

Yet football, especially at a club edging dangerously near the trapdoor, is ruled by hard calculations. AFCON looms. Valencia cannot afford to sign a striker only to lose him when the season’s pulse beats loudest. Nor can Real Sociedad be expected to part cheaply with a player they once deemed central to their evolution.

And here lies the broader truth Sadiq is not just fighting for a transfer. He is fighting to reclaim control of his narrative, to remind the national selectors that talent does not erode simply because minutes are rationed. Football history is littered with players who reignited their careers with a single brave move it is also filled with clubs who hesitated at decisive moments and paid the price. Valencia must choose wisely. Sadiq must hope they choose boldly.

Did You Know? 

1. Sadiq Umar is a former Olympic medalist, winning bronze with Nigeria at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
2. He once finished as top scorer in the Serbian SuperLiga, netting 18 league goals for FK Partizan in 2020–21.
3. Valencia’s academy, known globally as “Paterna,” produced stars including David Silva, Isco and Jordi Alba.
4. Real Sociedad’s recruitment model heavily favours long-term development, making them historically reluctant to sell forwards mid-season.
5. The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco will be the first AFCON hosted by the country since 1988.