Super Eagles transfer: Why Sevilla want Chidera Ejuke to join Saudi club instead of Anderlecht

Belgian giants Anderlecht have stepped up their pursuit of Super Eagles and Sevilla winger Chidera Ejuke, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Belgian club has reportedly prepared a bid worth around €4 million for the 28-year-old, hoping to bring him back to the Belgian Pro League after his impressive loan spell with Royal Antwerp during the 2023/24 season.

However, Anderlecht face serious competition from several Saudi Pro League clubs that have been closely following Ejuke’s situation. Clubs in Saudi Arabia have far greater spending power and are expected to offer both Sevilla and the player much better financial terms.

Ejuke is also attracting interest from elsewhere in Europe. Premier League sides Fulham, Sunderland and Leeds United have all been linked with the Nigerian international, while Bayer Leverkusen are also monitoring his situation in Germany.

A summer exit appears increasingly likely because Ejuke has entered the final year of his Sevilla contract, which runs until June 2027. His first season in Spain was disrupted by muscle injuries, limiting him to 29 La Liga appearances, with one goal and one assist to his name.

Chidera Ejuke: Why Saudi Arabia is Sevilla’s preferred option

While Anderlecht can offer Ejuke regular football in a familiar league, Sevilla’s priority is getting the biggest financial return possible.

The Spanish club signed the winger on a free transfer from CSKA Moscow, meaning every euro received from his sale will be recorded as pure profit. That makes the former Heerenveen star one of Sevilla’s most valuable assets from a financial standpoint, despite his mixed performances last season.

Sevilla are also under pressure to raise around €25 million through player sales to meet La Liga’s financial regulations and create room to register new signings. A transfer to Saudi Arabia gives them a much better chance of reaching that target because Gulf clubs can comfortably outbid Anderlecht’s reported €4 million offer and could even push the final fee closer to Sevilla’s €5 million valuation.

There is another major advantage for the Spanish side. Ejuke reportedly earns around €1.9 million per season, a salary that Saudi clubs can easily match or improve. Anderlecht, on the other hand, may struggle to cover those wages and could ask the player to accept lower pay.

A Saudi move would solve two problems at once for Sevilla. They would receive the highest possible transfer fee while also removing a sizeable wage from their payroll. Unless Anderlecht or another European club comes close to matching the financial package expected from Saudi Arabia, Sevilla are expected to continue pushing for the Nigerian international’s move to the Middle East.