How is Samu Omorodion doing after failed Chelsea transfer?

Tom Weber

29 Sept 2024 21:37 BST
3 min read

Enzo Maresca, Samu Omorodion, Chelsea — © IMAGO

Samu Omorodion has been prolific for Porto since his failed Chelsea transfer.

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The Spanish striker was caught in the middle of one of the strangest and most drawn-out transfer sagas of the previous summer window. Chelsea chased the 20-year-old for months and eventually looked to be close to securing his signature.

They had reached an agreement with Atletico Madrid for a €42 million transfer that would have seen Conor Gallagher head the other way for the same fee. However, the deal collapsed at the final hurdle despite Omorodion completing his medical.

The youngster did not head to Stamford Bridge and it was instead Joao Felix who was (re-)signed by Chelsea for a little over €50m. Omorodion, meanwhile, made a shock move to FC Porto for just €15m upfront with the deal potentially rising to €25m, a significantly lower fee than the one Chelsea would have had to pay.

How Omorodion is doing at Porto

To be fair to Chelsea, they haven't yet looked like they need Omorodion. Nicolas Jackson, Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke and Christopher Nkunku have made the Blues' attack one of the most potent in the Premier League.

As for Omorodion, he has been prolific for his new employer. The 20-year-old, who won gold at the Olympics with Spain late in the summer, has only played five times to date for Porto but he is currently netting at a rate of one goal per game.

The striker has scored five times and his performances have not gone unnoticed by senior Spain boss Luis de la Fuente. Omorodion is set to feature on La Roja's preliminary squad list for the upcoming international break and has every chance of making the final cut.

His five goals for Porto have come in just 298 minutes of football. After a scoreless 17-minute debut cameo against Sporting CP, he netted versus Farense before scoring a brace on his first start against Vitoria Guimaraes.

He also scored - and played the full 90 minutes - against Bodo/Glimt midweek, with Porto succumbing to a surprising 3-2 loss in the Europa League, and then again in a 4-0 demolition of Aarouca on Sunday.