OFFICIAL: Villarreal lands Nigerian-born Canadian striker Tani Oluwaseyi

By Dayo Awoniyi

La Liga side Villarreal CF have completed the signing of Nigeria-born Canadian international Tani Oluwaseyi from MLS outfit Minnesota United, in a deal worth up to $11 million. The Spanish club confirmed the transfer on Friday.

The 25-year-old forward arrives after enjoying his best-ever season in Major League Soccer, netting 10 goals and seven assists in 24 appearances (21 starts) while adding two more goals and an assist across other competitions — bringing his total tally to 12 goals and eight assists.

The deal sees Villarreal pay an initial $7.5 million, with a further $3.5 million in performance-related add-ons, and the striker has penned a five-year contract running until June 30, 2030.

While Villarreal fans are excited about his arrival, Minnesota supporters have voiced disappointment, insisting he will be a huge loss in their push for the MLS playoffs.

Oluwaseyi, who was born in Lagos, Nigeria, before moving to Canada as a child, has already earned international recognition with the Canadian national team.

But his father, Mr. Debo Oluseyi, revealed that Nigeria had always been a strong pull for his son: “He has a mind of his own. He would have preferred to play for Nigeria if the opportunity came first.”

A boyhood fan of Thierry Henry, Tani grew up studying the French legend’s movement and finishing, shaping his own style as a clinical, intelligent striker.

Analysts note that breaking into Villarreal’s starting XI may take time given the competition in attack, but the move presents him with an invaluable opportunity to showcase his talent in La Liga and potentially the UEFA Champions League.

Oluwaseyi, the second of three siblings — elder sister Tami and younger brother Tife — has made it clear that his ultimate dream is to rise to the very top of world football.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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