After much speculation over the last month or so, Villareal have decided to extend the Nigerian rising star’s short-term contract to one which will see him in the club until 2023.
It all started back in December when the young Nigerian player sat down with the new Villareal coach, Luis Garcia, to discuss his future in the team and playing for the first team. He was then assured that he would play for the senior squad.
That led to Chukwueze trying even harder to impress the new manager and working harder to improve his game. And it showed immediately when he scored the opening goal for Villareal against Spartak Moscow in the Europa League Round of 32. Coach Garcia was full of praise for the youngster after the match.
In between matches, many experts in Spain and from Nigeria itself rated Samuel Chukwueze as the most promising young player in Spanish football right now. At some point, media outlets speculated on the player’s buy-out clause and it was also around that time he was voted as the most wanted after teenager in world football by one of the Spanish football internet portals.
Samuel Chukwueze (www.villarrealcf.es)
Just before Christmas, rumours started spreading about Atletico Madrid being serious about getting Chukwueze to join them. A figure of €40 million was mentioned in terms of a buy-out of his contract. Villareal manager Garcia was quick to throw away those rumours, saying that Samuel Chukwueze is worth much more to the Yellow Submarines than what the team from Madrid was offering.
By that point, Samuel has scored five goals in all competitions and secured his place in the first team. And even though his contract expires at the end of the season, fans were confident he would stay put.
And just as the January transfer window opened, Villareal have officially put into effect a contract extension clause for Samuel Chukwueze. His original contract was a two-year deal which has now been extended to a long-term deal which will keep the youngster in Villareal until the summer of 2023.
The newest Super Eagle has really risen through the ranks this season. His first buy-out clause of around €5 million, which has risen to €10 million and then €40 million, will now be increased to a projected €80 million to go in line with his current market value as a footballer. The team has also offered to give him a pay increase to reward him for his efforts and try to keep him in the club.
It is not clear whether Samuel Chukwueze has accepted this deal and there is still an option of him leaving the club in the summer to possibly go to England, but all will be clearer at the end of this month.