Former Olympique Marseille, Nice, and Nigeria Super Eagles forward Victor Agali has backed Adams Akor’s decision to leave French Ligue 1 side Montpellier HSC for Spanish La Liga outfit Sevilla.
The 24-year-old has been in Spain for two days, having landed at Seville’s San Pablo Airport on Saturday afternoon. He was received by Sevilla FC’s Sporting Director, Victor Orta, ahead of a medical and contract signing. Akor was also in attendance as Sevilla drew 1-1 with Espanyol on Saturday.
Although Akor has yet to be formally announced at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, reports suggest the signing is close and imminent. His compatriot Agali has expressed satisfaction with the move, describing it as a “step in the right direction.”
“I’ll be pleased if he (Akor) joins Sevilla, in all honesty,” Agali said in an exclusive interview with Kick Off Nigeria. “It’s a deal he needed to reignite and re-spark his career to the levels and standards initially anticipated.”
“His time in France can’t be considered a failure; he’s not been a flop at Montpellier by any standards. But it’s been far from what everyone expected when he signed. He’s an undoubtedly huge talent with a lot of expectations,” Agali added.
“The French league is a bit too physical, yet the football there is not as free-flowing as it is in Spain, Germany, or England. So, a change in teams also comes with a shift in style of play, which is crucial for every football player.”
In one-and-a-half seasons with Montpellier, Akor has made 49 appearances, scoring 13 goals and providing three assists. This season, he has scored three goals in 16 games but has not found the net since September last year, when he scored a brace against Auxerre.
“This is a move that I’m convinced will work for him on all levels, especially in rebuilding his confidence. He needs that confidence to start enjoying his football again and scoring goals. For me, there’s no doubt—it’s the right move for the player,” Agali reiterated.
Before moving to Montpellier, Akor featured for Lillestrom SK in Norway, where he scored 28 goals and provided six assists in 50 games across all competitions in two-and-a-half seasons. He also previously played for Sogndal in Norway.
Adams’ move to Sevilla FC will see him become the third Nigerian player to join the club in the 2024-2025 season, following compatriots Chidera Ejuke and Kelechi Iheanacho.
