Orta: Betting on Iheanacho was a mistake

by Staff Reporter

Tuesday Apr 15, 2025. 15:00

There appears to be no way back for Kelechi Iheanacho at Sevilla after sporting director Victor Orta declared that signing the striker was a mistake.

The Nigeria international joined Los Palanganas on a free transfer in July 2024 after bringing an end to his seven-year stay at newly-promoted Leicester.

However, Iheanacho has failed to impress at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, managing just nine appearances in La Liga – six of them as a starter – and he’s yet to open his account for the Andalusian outfit.

The 28-year-old was shipped off to Middlesbrough in February on a six-month loan, but his form in England hasn’t improved, scoring just one goal in 11 Championship outings.

Speaking at the unveiling of Joaquin Caparros on Monday after he was brought in to replace the sacked Garcia Pimienta, Orta gave his view on the off-season acquisition of Iheanacho.

“I want to clarify that the first two strikers were brought in as complements, to be practically the third striker, because there was a starter like Youssef [En-Nesyri] and a striker who later appeared, like Isaac [Romero],” Orta said.

“But it’s clear that betting on Kelechi this season has been a mistake, and we will analyse why we made it – and we are doing so now.”