Former Super Eagles midfielder and current Chelsea Head of Scouting, Seyi Olofinjana, has thrown his weight behind Kelechi Iheanacho following harsh criticism from Sevilla’s Sporting Director, Victor Orta.
Iheanacho, who joined Sevilla on a free transfer from Leicester City in the summer of 2023, endured a rough spell in La Liga failing to register a single league goal in his first six months.
The club loaned him to Middlesbrough in January, hoping the move would spark a turnaround in form.
But Orta didn’t mince words when assessing the signing:
“It’s clear that betting on Kelechi this season has been a mistake. We’re currently analyzing why it happened.”
Photo Credit: Imago
Olofinjana, however, believes the Nigerian striker still has plenty to offer and criticized Sevilla for not doing enough to help him settle.
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“I don’t think it’s a Kelechi problem,” he told Brila FM. “The real question is did the club do enough to help him settle and thrive?”
He continued:
“If Kelechi had the chance to tell his side, I’m sure he’d offer a different perspective. You can’t just label a player a mistake without looking at the environment you put him in. There’s still so much more to his game.”
Since his move to Middlesbrough, Iheanacho has begun finding form again, with one goal and two assists in his last three starts under manager Michael Carrick.
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Seyi Olofinjana during his time at Wolves. Photo Credit: Getty Images
Now tasked with scouting African talent for Chelsea, Olofinjana’s words serve as both a defense and a reminder: Kelechi Iheanacho’s story is far from over.
“Don’t write him off,” Olofinjana emphasized. “He’s still got a big future ahead.”
