Sevilla remain unable to register Nigerian forwards Akor Adams and Kelechi Iheanacho for the upcoming La Liga season, as the club contends with severe financial restrictions. Neither player was included in the squad submitted to La Liga, leaving their participation in doubt.
The club currently hovered near its salary cap, forcing the deregistration of several recent signings including Akor Adams and returning players like Iheanacho. Without immediate moves to offload other squad members, both Nigerians remain in limbo.
Editorial
We view Sevilla’s situation with increasing concern. The inability to register key reinforcements—especially Nigerians Akor Adams and Kelechi Iheanacho reveals a financial crisis that strikes at the heart of team planning. An array of new arrivals and returning loanees now face the unlikely of participation without swift corrective action.
What troubles us most is the stifling of tactical and creative options. Akor Adams, a powerful striker, and Iheanacho, despite a rocky spell, remain vital offensive assets. Yet, without registration, they cannot contribute. This constricts manager Matías Almeyda’s flexibility and leaves the squad threadbare forcing reliance on youthful reserves to fill multiple voids.
We also discern a deeper structural issue. This scenario underscores how precariously clubs can fall when transfer spending outpaces revenue or fails to account for regulatory constraints. Sevilla's predicament is a cautionary tale: ambition must align with fiscal prudence each arrival must be mirrored by strategic departures.
We maintain that swift, decisive moves—selling, loaning, or negotiating departures are now essential. Without these, the club risks not only sporting performance but also financial integrity.
And we circle back to that point: registering Akor Adams and Kelechi Iheanacho is not merely beneficial—it is urgent. Only then can Sevilla hope to balance aspiration with reality.
Did You Know?
Akor Adams joined Sevilla in late January 2025 from Montpellier for approximately €5.5 million, signing a contract that runs until 2029.
Kelechi Iheanacho arrived on a free transfer from Leicester City in July 2024, later spending part of the season on loan at Middlesbrough.
Iheanacho’s loan at Middlesbrough ended with modest returns just one goal and two assists in 15 Championship appearances.
Since 2020, Sevilla have struggled to find a reliable centre-forward; neither Iheanacho nor Adams have yet resolved this long-standing issue.
La Liga rules require clubs to register their squad before the season begins and failure to register players can stem from exceeding the league’s salary cap, as Sevilla currently exemplifies.