By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
LaLiga side Villarreal is reportedly targeting Nigeria-eligible striker Kevin Carlos from FC Basel as a possible replacement for forward Thierno Barry, who is drawing interest from several Premier League clubs.
Barry, who joined Villarreal from Basel less than a year ago, looks set to depart as top English clubs circle.
In response, Villarreal is actively scouting options to bolster their attack, with Kevin Carlos emerging as a promising candidate, according to reports from Sport.
The 24-year-old striker, born in Ceuta to a Spanish mother and Nigerian father, is currently under contract with the Swiss double winners until 2028.
However, limited playing time at Basel has sparked speculation that a move could offer him a chance to become a regular starter elsewhere.
Italian Serie A club Bologna is also reportedly keen on securing Carlos’ services.
Valued at around €4.5 million by Transfermarkt, Carlos enjoyed a productive 2024–25 campaign, making 40 appearances in all competitions for Basel.
Despite not always starting, he scored 15 goals and provided two assists, playing a key role as Basel clinched both the Swiss Super League title and the Swiss Cup.
With his dual heritage and impressive recent form, Kevin Carlos is increasingly viewed as an attractive option for Villarreal as they prepare for a potential summer reshuffle in their forward line.
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.
