Anderlecht make £3.5m move for Sevilla and Nigeria winger Chidera Ejuke

Anderlecht have submitted a €3.5m (£3.0m; ₦5.5bn) offer for Sevilla winger and Nigeria international Chidera Ejuke, with the Belgian club seeking to strengthen their squad ahead of a renewed challenge in the Jupiler Pro League.

Ejuke’s future has been one of the major unresolved issues at Sevilla during the summer transfer window. The 28-year-old still has a year remaining on his contract, but the Spanish club are expected to allow him to leave.

Speculation over a possible departure did not begin this summer. Ejuke’s position was also the subject of discussion last year, although those talks did not lead to a move.

The winger has experienced an inconsistent spell at Sevilla, but his performances are not believed to be the main reason the club are prepared to sell. Instead, Sevilla need to raise funds by moving on some first-team players so they can meet La Liga’s requirements.

Ejuke returned to Sevilla for pre-season training despite the uncertainty over his next step. However, he was not included in coach Gracia Plaza’s travelling squad for the club’s pre-season trip to the Netherlands, a decision that suggested he is not part of the manager’s immediate plans.

That omission has increased speculation that the Nigeria forward could now return to Belgium.

Reports from Vamos Sevilla say Anderlecht have made an approach for the player, who already has experience of Belgian football. Ejuke spent the 2023-24 season with Antwerp, recording four goals and four assists in 29 league appearances.

Anderlecht have struggled to compete consistently near the top of the Jupiler Pro League in recent seasons. They are looking to recruit additional quality as they attempt to close the gap on leading sides including Union SG and Club Brugge.

Sevilla are understood to be open to doing business and may not demand a substantial transfer fee. The club signed Ejuke on a free transfer two years ago, reducing the pressure to recover a large sum from his sale.

It remains unclear whether Sevilla will accept Antwerp’s bid, as described in the report, or whether Ejuke would agree to the move. The initial approach is attributed to Anderlecht, while the later reference to Antwerp creates uncertainty over the Belgian club involved.

Belgium is not the only possible destination for Ejuke. Clubs in Saudi Arabia have also shown interest and are understood to have made offers. Those proposals could appeal to the player because of the lucrative financial terms typically available in the Saudi market.

Ejuke’s situation is likely to become clearer before the transfer window closes. With another month remaining for clubs to complete deals, Sevilla must decide whether the Anderlecht proposal is acceptable and the player must weigh up his options in Belgium, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere.