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Umar Sadiq has recovered from the hamstring injury that kept him out of Valencia’s pre-season tour of England and is set to be available when the new La Liga season starts, Footynaija reports.
The Nigeria international is expected to be in contention for Valencia’s opening match against Celta Vigo at Mestalla on Saturday, 22 August, as per OneFootball. The game is scheduled to kick off at 17:30 local time.
Sadiq suffered the injury during Valencia’s 2-1 defeat by Castellón in a pre-season match on 25 July. The muscle problem forced him to miss the club’s trip to England, where Valencia continued their preparations against Derby County and Stoke City.
His recovery is a boost for coach Carlos Corberán. Sadiq had worked separately from the main group as he built up his fitness, with reports earlier in August saying he was progressing well and could be ready for the league opener.
The 29-year-old now has a chance to start his first full season at Valencia after making his move from Real Sociedad permanent in January 2026. He signed a contract until June 2028 after the club agreed a deal worth about €4m, including bonuses.
Sadiq already knows what it takes to make an impact at Mestalla. He first joined Valencia on loan in January 2025 and scored six goals in 19 matches across La Liga and the Copa del Rey. His performances helped convince the club to bring him back on a permanent deal.
His first half of the 2025-26 season at Real Sociedad was less productive. He played seven matches in La Liga and the Copa del Rey before moving back to Valencia, where he became a more regular part of Corberán’s attack.
Sadiq finished the 2025-26 La Liga campaign with Valencia with four goals and two assists in 20 appearances. He played 903 minutes and started eight of those matches.
That record gives him a clear target for the new campaign. Valencia kept Sadiq because they expect more from the striker who had already shown that he can affect important matches.
His return also comes at a useful time. Valencia have Celta Vigo at home on 22 August, followed by another Mestalla match against Real Betis on 25 August. A fit Sadiq gives Corberán another attacking option at the start of a season in which the club will want a stronger campaign than the previous one.
The Nigerian striker also started pre-season in good form. During Valencia’s training camp in Girona on 18 July, he scored the club’s only goal in a 3-1 practice-game defeat by Angolan champions Petro de Luanda.
Now that the hamstring problem has cleared, Sadiq can focus on the task of turning his improved fitness into goals and helping Valencia make a positive start against Celta.
