By Dayo Awoniyi
Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho is reportedly on the verge of completing a move to EFL Championship side Middlesbrough, following speculation about his future at Sevilla.
Since joining the Spanish club on a free transfer in the summer of 2024, Iheanacho has struggled to make a significant impact, leading to questions about his place in the squad.
The arrival of Akor Adams from Montpellier has further limited Iheanacho’s playing time, fueling rumors of a potential exit.
Middlesbrough is believed to be leading the race for the Nigerian forward, with other clubs, including Scottish giants Celtic, also linked with a move.
However, reports of a reunion between Iheanacho and Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers have been dismissed as mere speculation.
Sevilla’s manager, García Pimienta, has confirmed that Iheanacho has the freedom to choose his next destination, with the Nigerian’s focus likely to be on securing regular playing time to revive his career.
Despite interest from various clubs, it seems Middlesbrough is in the best position to sign Iheanacho, with a deal potentially imminent.
As the transfer window progresses, all eyes will be on Iheanacho’s next move, with many eager to see where he will continue his career.
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.
