Super Eagles watch: Why Sevilla could be better transfer than West Ham for George Ilenikhena

George Ilenikhena has a chance to return to European football just six months after leaving Monaco for Saudi Arabia, with Sevilla now pushing to sign the 19-year-old striker from Al-Ittihad, Afrik-Foot reports.

The French-Nigerian forward joined Al-Ittihad from Monaco on February 3 for a reported €33 million fee. The move was expected to give Ilenikhena a bigger role, but his first months in Saudi Arabia have been difficult. He made only six appearances for the Jeddah club, starting just one of those games.

That lack of playing time has made a return to Europe attractive. Sevilla are working on a loan deal that could include an option to buy, while West Ham United and Schalke 04 are also interested in bringing him back to European football.

Ilenikhena’s decision is important because his next club should not only give him regular football. It should also put him in an environment where he can rebuild his confidence, improve his game and strengthen his case for a future Super Eagles role.

Sevilla offer the right level of competition and a clearer route back

The strongest argument for Sevilla is the chance for Ilenikhena, who was reportedly on Galatasaray’s radar, to play in La Liga rather than spend next season in the English Championship.

West Ham are preparing for life in the second tier after their relegation from the Premier League. The club have made an enquiry about Ilenikhena as they look to rebuild their attack and push for an immediate return to England’s top flight. That could give Ilenikhena regular football, but it would also place him in a 46-match Championship season where the physical demands are high and promotion pressure is constant.

Sevilla offers a different route. The Spanish club are looking for another striker after moving to strengthen an attack that struggled last term. Robbie Ure is close to joining the club, while Isaac Romero is also part of the attacking group. Ilenikhena has been identified as another option to improve the forward line.

That matters because Ilenikhena does not need another move where he spends more time fighting for scraps of playing time. He needs a club that sees his age and potential but is also prepared to give him a clear role.

A return to one of Europe’s major leagues would also put him back in front of a wider audience. La Liga provides weekly matches against clubs with different tactical styles, from possession-based teams to sides that defend deep and attack on the counter. That environment could help Ilenikhena develop the parts of his game that were difficult to show during his short spell at Al-Ittihad.

The 19-year-old already has experience of European football. He scored against Barcelona during his time at Royal Antwerp and repeated that feat with Monaco in the Champions League in September 2024. His Champions League experience is one reason his profile attracted major European clubs before his move to Saudi Arabia. Returning to that level now makes more sense than taking a step into the Championship.

Sevilla can help Ilenikhena rebuild his confidence before his Super Eagles push

Ilenikhena’s biggest problem at Al-Ittihad has not been a lack of ability. It has been a lack of opportunities.

He arrived in Saudi Arabia with a multi-million euro price tag after Monaco agreed to sell him in February. But he struggled to establish himself and had very few minutes during the second half of the 2025-26 campaign. That makes Sevilla’s reported loan proposal particularly useful.

A loan gives Ilenikhena the chance to start again without carrying the pressure of another permanent transfer so soon after a big-money move. Al-Ittihad would also have an opportunity to see how he performs in Spain before deciding his long-term future.

Sevilla’s need for another forward could make the move even more attractive.

The club have already sanctioned the departure of Super Eagles striker Akor Adams and are closing in on Robbie Ure, but reports from Spain say Ilenikhena is being considered as another important addition to the attack. Sevilla’s sporting department sees him as a striker who can add speed, movement and a threat inside the penalty area.

There is also a Super Eagles angle. Lagos-born Ilenikhena has represented France at youth level but has chosen Nigeria at senior level, giving him a potential route into the Super Eagles squad. Regular football in La Liga would give Nigeria’s coaching staff a better opportunity to assess his progress against top-level opposition.

The timing is important because Ilenikhena turns 20 on August 16. He is still young enough to take another developmental step, but his career has already involved major transfers from Amiens to Antwerp, Monaco and then Al-Ittihad. His next decision therefore needs to be about football, not simply the name of the club or the size of the contract.

Sevilla currently offers a cleaner path. A loan to the Spanish club would return Ilenikhena to Europe’s top-five leagues, give him a chance to compete in La Liga and put him back into an environment where his technical development can continue.

With Sevilla now negotiating and reportedly ahead of West Ham in the race, the move to Spain could be the more sensible choice for Ilenikhena and his long-term Super Eagles ambitions.