Samu Omorodion looked all-but-set to complete a high-profile move to Chelsea from Atlético Madrid this summer, however the deal fell through in the closing stages. Instead, the striker sealed a switch to FC Porto and has quickly hit the ground running at the Estádio do Dragão.
By Luke Bissett
Born in Melilla, an autonomous city of Spain that sits, surrounded by Morocco, on the north African coast, Omorodion relocated to Andalusia at a young age. During his childhood, he turned out for local amateur side AD Nervion, before joining Granada’s youth set-up at 17.
After excelling in the Granada B team, scoring 18 goals across 33 appearances in Spain’s fourth tier, Omorodion soon received his big break. The striker made his debut in LaLiga on the opening day of last season, against Atlético Madrid, netting Granada’s only goal in a 3-1 defeat. And it would prove to be Omorodion’s only appearance for the Andalusian side.
The forward had made an almighty impression on his opponents, with Atlético moving quickly to sign Omorodion just days after their league meeting. The Spanish giants immediately loaned the striker out to fellow top-flight side Alavés, with neither party looking back since.
Omorodion finished last season as Alavés’ top scorer, notching nine goals in 35 league appearances for the Babazorros. The 20-year-old was a revelation for Luis García’s side, as he spearheaded the newly-promoted side to a tenth place finish last term – Alaves’ highest in LaLiga since 2016-17 under Mauricio Pellegrino.
It was a remarkable breakout campaign at the Mendizorroza for Omorodion – who wasted little time in acclimatising to the rigours of the Spanish top-flight. The Spain Under-21 international’s first eight strikes came in his first 22 LaLiga appearances for Alavés, the third-highest tally for an Alavés player at that stage of the season, in the competition, since the turn of the century.
Standing at 6ft 4in, Omorodion offers a unique profile, with his physically imposing stature perfectly suited to being a modern No. 9. The 20-year-old poses a constant threat in the final third and is a constant handful for defenders. This is because the forward is able to mix it up, either utilising his frame to act as a target man or play on the last defender and run in behind.
It is in transition that Omorodion is particularly ruthless, as he thrives when there is vast spaces to exploit. He scored more goals from fast breaks than any other player in LaLiga last term (four). Despite his size, the forward is extremely mobile and is always seeking to stretch play – more often leaving opposition defences at sixes and sevens.
The youngster’s physicality is also perfect when providing his side with an out-ball. Alavés had the lowest average possession in LaLiga across 2023-24 (41.4%), and Omorodion’s hold-up play was integral when acting as a reference point for relieving pressure for García’s side.
Omorodion has quickly developed a knack for arriving in the right place at the right time, and his perfectly timed runs across the face of the box allow him to be the ultimate penalty box poacher. He averaged 0.52 non-penalty xG per 90 in the Spanish top-flight last term – the fifth highest of any player in the competition.
The 20-year-old’s ascent to becoming one of the most promising strikers in Europe has been breathtaking. Only Jude Bellingham (19) scored more goals across the big five European leagues last season among players aged 20 or under, while he became the youngest player this century to score home and away against Barcelona in the same season (19 years old).
Following his spectacular campaign in northern Spain, Omorodion seemed destined to return to parent club Atlético this summer, with a view of challenging for a spot in the first team squad. Atlético, meanwhile, had other ideas. Diego Simeone’s side made huge outlays for forwards Alexander Sørloth and Julián Álvarez in the summer window – leaving Omorodion as a sellable asset just 12 months after his signing.
Yet after a summer of speculation regarding a potential move for the 20-year-old to Chelsea, the deal collapsed at the final hurdle. Atlético were then forced to seek other potential suitors for Omorodion, which ultimately led to his switch to FC Porto. The Portuguese giants were in the market for a new No. 9 following the departures of both Medhi Taremi and Evanilson – to Inter and AFC Bournemouth respectively – earlier in the window, identifying Omorodion as their replacement.
And the young striker has taken to his new found home like a duck to water, scoring five goals in his first five appearances for the Dragons – breaking records in the process. In fact, the striker’s quickfire start has made him the first player to score 3+ goals in his first three matches for Porto in the Liga Portugal since Tiquinho Soares in 2017.
The 20-year-old has enjoyed an equally terrific start to life in European football, notching the opening goal in Porto’s Europa League defeat to Bodø/Glimt on Matchday 1. And he will hope to continue in the same fashion when Porto host Manchester United in the same competition tonight.
While he may have missed out on a summer move to Chelsea, you can be certain that Omorodion is relishing the chance to torment a Premier League defence at the first time of asking.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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