Valencia CF have reached an agreement with Real Sociedad for the permanent signing of Nigerian international striker Sadiq Umar, securing his return to Mestalla on a contract that runs until June 2028.
The 28-year-old forward, born in Kaduna on February 2, 1997, previously impressed during a loan spell with Los Che in the second half of last season. After joining the club in January, Sadiq featured in 19 matches and scored six goals, quickly establishing himself as a key attacking figure as Valencia’s form improved markedly.
Sadiq’s impact went beyond goals. His physical presence, aerial strength, and ability to threaten from both direct play and combination football made him a constant problem for opposing defences. His energy and charisma also endeared him to the Valencia supporters in a short space of time.
One of the standout moments of his spell came in March, when he won the LALIGA EA SPORTS Goal of the Month award for a spectacular backheel finish against CA Osasuna.
Having already proven his value in a Valencia shirt, Sadiq’s permanent arrival adds further depth and quality to Carlos Corberán’s attacking options. His experience across multiple leagues and familiarity with the club are expected to bring greater versatility, competition and reliability to Valencia’s frontline as they look ahead to the coming seasons.
With this move, Valencia CF reinforce their attacking unit with a player who already understands the demands of the club—and one who has shown he can deliver when it matters most.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey 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.
