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Sam Sodje questions Akor Adams’ €16m move from Sevilla to Venezia
Former Nigeria defender Sam Sodje has questioned Akor Adams’ decision to leave Sevilla for newly promoted Serie A club Venezia, despite the striker ending his latest campaign as the Spanish side’s leading league goalscorer.
Adams completed a €16m transfer to Venezia in July, with the fee potentially increasing to €23m if performance-related add-ons are met. The move attracted attention because it came after the 26-year-old had produced his most effective season since moving to Spain.
Adams scored 10 goals and supplied three assists in 32 La Liga appearances during the 2025/26 campaign. His contribution was important as Sevilla secured their top-flight status, with two of his goals arriving at decisive moments in the season.
He scored the winning goal against Espanyol before finding the net again in a crucial victory over Villarreal.
Sodje said he was not entirely sure why Adams had chosen Venezia but suggested the Italian club may have offered him an appealing long-term project.
Speaking to Footy-Africa, the former Super Eagles defender indicated that the move could not be judged solely by comparing the current reputations of Sevilla and Venezia. He cited Como as an example of how substantial investment and ambitious ownership can rapidly alter a club’s prospects in Italian football.
Sodje also encouraged supporters to consider the potential of a club rather than focusing only on its present status when assessing a player’s career choice.
The questions surrounding Adams’ transfer stem largely from the timing of his departure. Sevilla had signed him from Montpellier for about €5.5m in January 2025, but his early months at the club were interrupted by injuries and a lack of regular playing time.
His position at Sevilla changed during the following season. Adams established himself as the club’s leading scorer in La Liga, while his influence was regarded as extending beyond his goals and assists.
The forward also scored on his Nigeria debut and became an important part of Eric Chelle’s plans. The Franco-Malian coach viewed Adams as a suitable partner for Victor Osimhen in the Super Eagles’ attack.
Adams returned from the Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria finished third, and helped Sevilla collect points that proved vital in their battle against relegation. He had wanted to remain with the club and contribute to an improved league position, but Sevilla’s financial difficulties forced the record Europa League Champions to sell him.
That financial pressure ultimately led to Adams’ move to Venezia, even though his form and growing importance at international level suggested he might have been able to attract interest from more established clubs. Sodje’s comments reflect the uncertainty around a transfer that has taken the striker from a team fighting to remain in Spain’s top flight to a newly promoted side beginning a new Serie A project.
