Rumour Mills: Alavés lead race for Sadiq Umar as Real Sociedad plot summer exit

By Dayo Awoniyi

Deportivo Alavés have emerged as the leading contenders to sign Nigerian striker Sadiq Umar, as Real Sociedad prepare to part ways with the forward three years after his record-breaking arrival.

Sadiq’s future at the Anoeta has been uncertain for over a year, and this summer could mark the end of his stint with La Real. Signed from Almería in 2022 for €20 million, the 28-year-old was seen as a major attacking acquisition following an impressive tally of 43 goals and 13 assists in 84 appearances for the Andalusian side.

However, his progress at Sociedad was derailed by a serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury suffered just three games into his debut season. The setback kept him sidelined for nearly a year. Though he returned last season, recurring fitness concerns hampered his form and consistency.

In search of regular playing time, Sadiq joined Valencia on loan in January and scored six goals in 19 appearances. Despite a decent showing, Valencia opted not to pursue a permanent deal.

Now back at Real Sociedad, Sadiq appears surplus to requirements under head coach Imanol Alguacil. While Transfermarkt values him at €5 million, the club is expected to demand a higher fee in a bid to recoup part of their investment and ease their wage bill.

Several LaLiga sides, including Getafe, have expressed interest, but according to Solofichajes, Alavés are set to submit a formal bid in the coming days. The Basque club are reportedly keen to bolster their attacking options ahead of the new campaign.

With three years remaining on his contract, a move to Alavés could provide Sadiq with a much-needed opportunity to reignite his career in familiar surroundings.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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.

See Full Bio