With his Sevilla future still unresolved, Super Eagles winger Chidera Ejuke’s pre-season absence has been explained by the club’s sporting director, even as his participation in Saturday’s La Liga opener remains in doubt.
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Sevilla sporting director José Ignacio Navarro has given an update on Nigeria international Chidera Ejuke amid ongoing transfer speculation surrounding the winger.
Ejuke has attracted heavy transfer interest this summer after Sevilla made him available for sale in a bid to raise funds. Despite the speculation, the club and player remain on good terms, and with a year left on his contract, he has continued taking part in pre-season preparations, though not in full.
Why He Missed The Pre-Season Trips
Ejuke was absent from the squads that travelled to the Netherlands and Germany for pre-season training camps, a decision that fuelled speculation the club might be easing him out of first team plans ahead of an anticipated exit. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Navarro addressed the situation directly, explaining that a squad had been named for the trips to the Netherlands, where two matches were played, and Germany, and that given the ongoing uncertainty around his situation, it was considered best for all parties that Ejuke not travel.
Doubtful For The Rayo Vallecano Opener
With Ejuke having missed key parts of pre-season, he is unlikely to feature when Sevilla open their La Liga campaign against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday. He could still be named in the matchday squad, but actually seeing minutes on the pitch remains a long shot.
Sevilla are under pressure to sell this summer to recoup value on the winger before his contract expires next year, which would otherwise risk losing him on a free transfer. He has drawn interest from multiple suitors this window, including clubs from Saudi Arabia, though given his age he is expected to prioritise staying in Europe unless an exceptional offer arrives. With Europe’s major transfer windows closing within the next three weeks, a resolution on his future is expected soon.
📌 Did You Know?
- Ejuke joined Sevilla as a free agent from CSKA Moscow in July 2024, becoming the first Nigerian player in the Andalusian club’s history.
- Before his move to Spain, he spent four years at CSKA Moscow after a €11.5 million transfer from Dutch side Heerenveen in 2020, with loan spells at Hertha BSC and Royal Antwerp along the way.
- Ejuke was born in Zaria, Kaduna State, and began his career at Gombe United before moving to Norwegian club VÃ¥lerenga in 2017 to launch his European career.
- Earlier in his Sevilla career, he briefly led all of Europe’s top five leagues in successful dribbles, completing 28 take-ons from 46 attempts at a 61% success rate.
- He has eight caps for Nigeria and featured for the Super Eagles at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
- A four year financial dispute between Heerenveen and CSKA Moscow over his 2020 transfer fee was only fully resolved in early 2025, years after the move itself.
- Sevilla’s La Liga opener against Rayo Vallecano marks the start of a season in which the club faces real financial pressure to balance its books through player sales.
