Umar Sadiq is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for La Liga side Valencia, on loan from Real Sociedad, and represents the Nigeria national team.
From playing football in the streets of his hometown in Kaduna to helping Nigeria’s U-23 team to a third-placed finish in the 2016 Summer Olympics, Sadiq has made a name for himself as one of the more reliable strikers in Europe.
In this article, Footynaija.com brings you everything you need to know about the towering center forward.
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Biography
Born on February 2, 1997, in Kaduna, Nigeria, Umar Sadiq began his football journey playing on the streets before joining local side Kusa Boys. He later advanced through the Future of Africa Football Academy and Football College Abuja. His big break came in 2013 when he traveled to Croatia with FCA and finished as the top scorer in the Kvarnerska Rivijera youth tournament, helping his team clinch the title.
His performances caught the attention of Italian club Spezia, where he excelled in the youth system, finishing as the top scorer in the 2014–15 Campionato Primavera with 26 goals in 24 games. He briefly featured in senior football with a loan spell at Serie D club Lavagnese.
In 2015, Umar Sadiq joined AS Roma on loan and impressed with two goals in six Serie A appearances, earning a permanent move. However, limited playing time led to several loan spells across Europe, including stints at Bologna, Torino, NAC Breda, Rangers, and Perugia. His breakthrough came at Partizan, where standout performances in both the league and Europa League raised his profile.
This earned him a move to UD Almería in 2020, where he became a key player before transferring to Real Sociedad in 2022. Though an ACL injury sidelined him early on, he returned in the 2023–24 season, making his Champions League debut and scoring his first goal of the campaign against Sevilla.
Looking for more consistent minutes, Sadiq joined Valencia on loan from Real Sociedad on January 4, 2025 where he is now reigniting his form and contributing to Valencia’s ambitions.
On the international scene Sadiq was part of Nigeria’s squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics, playing in all six matches and scoring four goals, including a brace in the bronze medal win over Honduras. Following strong performances at Partizan and Almería, he earned a senior national team call-up for the 2021 AFCON qualifiers against Benin and Lesotho.
Umar Sadiq’s Stats
After initially struggling to find his feet at several different clubs across Europe, the Nigeria international finally got his big break at Serbian Super Liga side Partizan Belgrade. With a total career record of 80 goals and 21 assists for club and country, below is a breakdown of his numbers.
Lavagnese (loan) – 1 app (0G, 0A)
Roma (loan) – 6 apps (2G, 0A)
Bologna (loan) – 7 apps (0G, 1A)
Torino (loan) – 3 apps (0G, 0A)
NAC Breda (loan) – 12 apps (5G, 1A)
Rangers (loan) – 4 apps (0G, 0A)
Perugia (loan) – 18 apps (3G, 3A)
Partizan – 39 apps (17G, 1A)
Almería – 84 apps (43G, 13A)
Real Sociedad – 50 apps (4G, 2A)
Valencia (loan) – 14 apps (5G, 0A)
Nigeria – 11 apps (1G, 0A)
Umar Sadiq’s Salary and Net Worth
According to Capology, Sadiq’s current salary at Valencia stands at just over €23,000 per week. His weekly wages add up to €92,000 monthly and then stack up to €1,200,000 in yearly earnings.
The Nigerian striker’s net worth is estimated to be approximately $1.5 million. This mainly takes into account his earnings from football.
Umar Sadiq’s Girlfriend and Daughter
Sadiq has a partner, who goes by the name of Judy Memini as well as a daughter named Aisha. Judy is of Spanish and Italian descent and has been a strong and supportive presence in the footballer’s life since their relationship began during his time in Italy.
Umar Sadiq’s transfer news
Sadiq is currently on loan at Valencia where he is currently trying to get his career back on track. With five goals in 11 appearances so far, the 28-year-old striker appears to be hitting his best levels again. At the time of writing, it remains uncertain whether Sadiq will return to his parent club Real Sociedad or seal a permanent move to Valencia.
FC 25 Ratings
Sadiq’s EA SPORTS FC™ 25 player ratings reflect his role as a powerful and athletic player. At 6’4″ (192 cm) and 172 lbs (78 kg), his physical attributes are particularly notable.
Key Attributes
Pace:83
Acceleration: 80
Sprint Speed: 86
Shooting: 76
Finishing: 80
Shot Power: 81
Dribbling: 72
Ball Control: 75
Dribbling: 76
Physicality: 76
Strength: 90
Jumping: 92
