Ejuke dreams Eagles return after Sevilla move

New Sevilla signing Chidera Ejuke hopes his move to the La Liga side can inspire his comeback to the Super Eagles.

Ejuke joined Sevilla as their first signing ahead of the 2024/25 season as a free agent from CSKA Moscow, sealing a three-year deal that will see him remain in Spain till 2027.

The club also confirmed that he is the first Nigerian to play for their men’s team, which has had players from almost 50 countries.

“It’s a special feeling to be the first Nigerian. But it just feels good to be part of this team and I’m looking forward to contributing what I can. I hope that I can return to the Nigerian side, it’s always nice to represent your country. So, hopefully this will be the time to do that again,” Ejuka said via the club’s website.

The 26-year-old, who made his debut for the Super Eagles during a friendly game against Tunisia in October 2020, has played eight times for Nigeria.

He was also part of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations squad in Cameroon, making two appearances at the tournament.

Four of his eight appearances for Nigeria were during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

His last invitation to the national team came during a friendly against Algeria in September 2022 but he didn’t feature in the game. Since then, he hasn’t been invited to the Eagles.

Ejuke arrived in Norway as a 19-year-old in 2017, making 59 appearances in two seasons for Valeranga. He scored 15 goals and registered six assists, before moving to The Netherlands to join Heerenveen. In his only season at the club, he racked up 10 goals and six assists before catching the attention of CSKA Moscow.

At CSKA, he added 10 goals and rendered eight assists to his club career tally, making five appearances in the UEFA Europa League.

He, however, had to leave Russia on loan due to the war and thrived on spells thereafter, firstly at Hertha Berlin during the 2022/23 season and then at Royal Antwerp, where he made four appearances in the UEFA Champions League for Mark van Bommel’s side in the just-concluded season. He scored five goals and provided six assists in 35 appearances for Antwerp.

On his latest move to Spain, the winger hopes to achieve something with Sevilla.

“The majority of the season I have played, I have enjoyed. Regardless of whatever happens I just like to enjoy football and for me I have enjoyed all the leagues and all the teams that I have played in. There have been plenty of good moments that I won’t forget. As a football player, you look forward to playing in these types of games and showing what you can do, contributing to the team. I’m definitely looking forward to these games and hopefully, we can get good results.”

At Sevilla, he joins Super Falcons midfielder Toni Payne, who is a force to reckon with in their women’s team in the Spanish top division.

He will work under former Watford coach Quique Flores Sanchez as they look to return to their best after a 14th-place finish in La Liga last season.