By Wale Mustapha
Nigerian striker Umar Sadiq is set to return to Real Sociedad at the end of the current LaLiga season, as Valencia have opted against making his loan move permanent.
The 27-year-old joined Valencia in the January transfer window after struggling for regular playing time at Sociedad.
Since arriving at the Mestalla, Sadiq has rediscovered his form, scoring six goals in 16 appearances for Los Che.
Despite his strong performances, Valencia have decided not to activate the €9 million buyout clause in his loan deal.
According to Marca, the club cited financial constraints and other pressing priorities as reasons for the decision.
Valencia had paid a €500,000 loan fee to Sociedad and covered Sadiq’s full salary during his six-month stay.
The Super Eagles forward is expected to attract further interest in the summer transfer window, with clubs in both Spain and Qatar reportedly monitoring his situation.
Sadiq’s future now hinges on whether Real Sociedad integrate him back into their plans or move him on permanently.
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.
