Valencia Football Club has officially decided not to make the loan deal of Nigerian international striker Umar Sadiq permanent following the expiration of his loan contract at the end of the 2024/2025 season, according to reports from Estadio Deportivo.
The 28-year-old Super Eagles forward was among a group of players who were brought in on temporary deals last season, but after a comprehensive review of returning loanees, the club has chosen to part ways with Sadiq along with five other players. Those also departing Mestalla this month include Max Aarons, Barrenechea, Rafa Mir, Giorgi Mamardashvili, and Iván Jaime.
Valencia’s decision not to retain Umar Sadiq permanently is largely due to the high financial demands set by his parent club, Real Sociedad. The Basque-based club has made it clear that they are not open to another loan arrangement and have instead placed Sadiq on the transfer market. However, their valuation of the player is considered too steep by Valencia’s management, which ultimately discouraged further negotiations.
Despite the fact that Umar Sadiq had expressed his willingness to continue with Valencia, the club’s sporting directors have prioritized financial sustainability and other squad needs during the transfer window. As a result, they have chosen not to pursue a long-term deal for the striker, bringing his brief stay at the Spanish side to an end.
Interestingly, while Sadiq will be leaving, Valencia is actively working on securing a return for Iván Jaime, another player who was on loan last season. Talks have reportedly commenced with FC Porto, Jaime’s parent club, over the possibility of arranging a second loan spell. Unlike Sadiq, Jaime has the full backing of Valencia’s technical staff, who view him as a valuable addition to the squad moving forward. However, no formal agreement has been reached yet between both clubs.
Umar Sadiq, who initially joined Real Sociedad in 2022, will now explore other opportunities as the summer transfer window progresses. With several clubs in need of an experienced and physically strong forward, the Nigerian international is expected to attract interest from both within Spain and abroad.