Chidera Ejuke has spent most of his career as the player fans remember from one moment: a burst past a full back, a cut inside, a stadium suddenly on its feet. He has also spent it moving. Nigeria, Norway, the Netherlands, Russia, Germany, Belgium, Spain. That is six European leagues before his 29th birthday, and the reasons behind each move tell you more about him than any highlight reel.
At 28, he is at Sevilla on a contract that runs to June 30, 2027. That date matters. It shapes his transfer value, his bargaining power and probably where he plays his peak years.
The key facts
| Full name | Chidera Ejuke |
|---|---|
| Born | January 2, 1998, in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria |
| Age | 28 |
| Roots | Isuikwuato, Abia State (Igbo descent) |
| Height and weight | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in), about 72 kg |
| Position | Left winger, right footed |
| Club | Sevilla FC, La Liga (shirt number 21) |
| Contract ends | June 30, 2027 |
| Country | Nigeria (Super Eagles) |
| Estimated salary | About €1.8 million a year (Icon Polls estimate) |
| Estimated net worth | $6 million to $9 million (Icon Polls estimate) |
A trader's son from Zaria
Ejuke was born in the north of Nigeria, in Zaria, though his family's roots are in Isuikwuato in Abia State. His parents worked as traders, and the household was modest. Football was the constant. He came through the youth side at Supreme Court FC and got his first professional contract with Gombe United in 2016.
That spell was short. Within a year he was on his way to Europe, which is the route so many Nigerian wingers take and far fewer manage to turn into a decade abroad.
Norway was the door, Heerenveen was the window
Vålerenga signed him in 2017 on a three year deal. Norway is rarely glamorous, but it is a proven shop window, and Ejuke used it well enough that SC Heerenveen paid a reported fee of around €2 million for him in 2019.
The Eredivisie suited him. Dutch football gives wide players space to run at defenders, and that is exactly what he does best. Bigger clubs noticed quickly.
The CSKA years and an exit nobody planned
In August 2020, CSKA Moscow paid a fee reported at around €11.5 million. For a player who had left Gombe only three years earlier, that was a serious jump, and he made an early mark, including a goal in a 3 to 1 derby win over Spartak Moscow.
Then 2022 changed everything. Following FIFA's ruling linked to the war in Ukraine, Ejuke suspended his contract with CSKA. What followed was a career in temporary accommodation:
- 2022 to 2023: on loan at Hertha BSC in the Bundesliga
- 2023 to 2024: on loan at Royal Antwerp, where he managed 4 goals and 4 assists in 29 league games
- 2024: signed by Sevilla as a free agent
The Antwerp season is the one worth underlining. After a stop start year in Germany, it showed he could still produce over a full campaign, and it is a big reason a club of Sevilla's standing took him on.
What he brings to a pitch
At 5 ft 9 in, Ejuke is not built to win headers. His game is low centre of gravity, quick feet and acceleration over the first few yards. He is right footed but plays mostly on the left, which lets him drive inside onto his stronger side. He can also operate on the right or as an attacking midfielder.
The honest criticism is end product. Reported figures put him at roughly 249 senior appearances with 42 goals and 21 assists across all competitions. That is respectable rather than prolific for a winger, and it explains why his market value has never quite matched the excitement he generates.
Money: estimates, not receipts
No official figure exists for Ejuke's wealth, so treat these numbers as informed estimates. Icon Polls estimates his net worth at between $6 million and $9 million, built on wages from CSKA, Hertha, Antwerp and Sevilla, plus whatever endorsement and investment income he has.
His Sevilla salary is estimated at about €1.8 million a year, or roughly €35,000 a week. Joining on a free transfer usually means a stronger personal package, since the club saves on a fee. His CSKA period, after the big move to Moscow, is likely to have been his best paid stretch.
Why June 2027 is the date to watch
Analytics platforms valued Ejuke at around €3.9 million in mid 2026. Sevilla reportedly wanted closer to €6 million when talks came up during the summer window. Anderlecht were said to have offered about €3.5 million, and clubs in the Saudi Pro League and the Premier League were also linked.
That gap is the story. With his contract ending in June 2027, Sevilla's leverage shrinks every month. If no extension is agreed, the January window becomes the club's last realistic chance to collect a fee, and Ejuke could again find himself choosing his next club as a free agent, a position that worked out well for him in 2024.
The Super Eagles, still waiting for a goal
Ejuke played for Nigeria at youth level before his senior call up in October 2020. He made his debut in a 1 to 1 friendly against Tunisia. As of 2026 he has around 8 caps across friendlies, Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and World Cup qualifiers, but no senior international goal yet.
Nigeria has never lacked wide attackers, which makes regular selection hard. A strong club season is his best argument. If you have a view on where Nigeria's wingers sit among the greats, you can have your say in our vote for the best Black football players of all time.
Family, and the parts he keeps to himself
Ejuke keeps his private life private. There is no confirmed public information about a wife or partner, and he has made no announcements on the subject, so we will not speculate.
His two publicly known brothers are Bobby Ejuke Jnr, who goes by Ryno, and Chinedu Ejuke. Bobby has turned up in social media posts and appears close to Chidera. Beyond that, the family has stayed out of the spotlight.
Three quick answers
How old is Chidera Ejuke?
He is 28. He was born on January 2, 1998.
Did Sevilla pay a fee for him?
No. Sevilla signed him as a free agent in 2024, after his situation with CSKA Moscow was resolved.
How much did CSKA Moscow pay for him?
CSKA reportedly paid around €11.5 million to sign him from SC Heerenveen in August 2020.
