Nigeria-eligible Samu Omorodion joins Zaidu Sanusi at Porto following failed Chelsea move

Spain U-23 International, Samuel Omorodion Aghehowa, has joined 30-time Portuguese Champions, Porto, on a five-year deal, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 20-year-old was a part of the Spain team that won gold in the men’s football competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

After a brilliant individual season on loan with Alaves from Atlético de Madrid, Omorodion was linked with a move to Chelsea. A deal in principle was agreed between Atlético and Chelsea, while the young striker already had a medical done, only for the deal to fall through.

Atlético had already signed Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez this summer and needed to offload Omorodion to balance the financial books.

FC Porto, according to a statement on their official website, confirmed the signing of the 1.94m tall striker that’ll see him stay at the Estadio De Dragao until the summer of 2029.

The 2004 UEFA Champions League winners will pay €15m to Atlético for 50% of Omorodion’s economic rights and can buy another 15% for €5m in 2025, and 2026. The deal also includes a release clause worth €100m.

🔵⚪️🐉 Samu Omorodion becomes new FC Porto player thanks to Villas-Boas mission after Chelsea deal off.

◉ €15m for 50% of Samu, Atléti own 50%.

◉ Porto can buy 15% for €5m in 2025.

◉ Porto can buy another 15% for €5m in 2026.

◉ Contract until 2029, €100m release clause. pic.twitter.com/0RuuEi0xnr

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 23, 2024

Omorodion will most likely replace Brazilian forward, Francisco Evanilson, who joined Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth side after the Cherries lost their top-scorer, Dominik Solanke, to Tottenham Hotspur.

“It is an honour to be part of a club with the enormous history of FC Porto. I know the responsibility of playing here, where forwards such as Gomes, Jardel, Falcao and Jackson Martínez have played, but I know I am ready,” Samu said on Porto’s official website.

Samu was born in Melilla, Spain, to Nigerian Parents, before moving to Seville as a child. He began his career at AD Nervión before joining Granada.

He becomes the second Porto player with Nigerian blood in his veins, with Super Eagles left-back, Zaidu Sanusi, already playing for the Portugues Champions since 2020. While Omorodion is eligible to play for Nigeria, it appears his heart is set on Spain.

Adefolahan Guerreiro

Adefolahan is a multilingual journalist and writer at Soccernet Nigeria.

With a track record of involvement in College sports, Adefolahan is focused on crafting engaging football content and utilising his language skills and extensive sports knowledge to enhance content accessibility for a global audience.

He has interviewed Nigerian stars like Finidi George, Junior Lokosa, and Abraham Onahi Ogbu.