Nigeria international Akor Adams has officially completed a permanent move from Spanish club Sevilla to Serie A side Venezia, signing a four-year contract in what becomes the most expensive transfer in the Italian club’s history.
Venezia confirmed the signing this week after reaching an agreement with Sevilla for the 26-year-old striker. The transfer is understood to be worth €16 million guaranteed, with performance-related bonuses that could raise the total package to around €23 million, while Sevilla also secured favourable financial terms that will help ease the club’s ongoing economic constraints.
The deal marks another significant chapter in Adams’ steady rise through European football, having progressed from Norway with Sogndal and Lillestrøm before spells at Montpellier in France and Sevilla in Spain.
Speaking after completing the move, the Super Eagles forward explained that Venezia’s sporting project convinced him to embrace a new challenge in Italy.
“I want to write a chapter in Venezia’s history. The club showed me a clear vision and ambition, and I felt this was the right place to continue my development and help the team achieve its goals.”
Venezia president Duncan Niederauer described Adams as one of the club’s primary transfer targets, praising his qualities as a proven goalscorer capable of making an immediate impact in Serie A. Sporting director Filippo Antonelli also highlighted the Nigerian’s physical presence, movement and finishing ability as key reasons behind the club’s record investment.
Adams leaves Sevilla after just one full season in Spain, where he emerged as one of the club’s brightest performers despite a difficult campaign. He finished as Sevilla’s leading scorer in La Liga with nine league goals, helping the Andalusian side avoid relegation while also contributing across domestic competitions.
His departure also represents smart business for Sevilla. Having signed the striker from Montpellier in 2025, the Spanish club more than tripled its initial investment through the sale to Venezia, with the proceeds expected to assist the registration of new signings and support the club’s financial restructuring.
For Venezia, the acquisition underlines the club’s determination to establish itself in Serie A following promotion. Adams arrives as the marquee signing of the summer and is expected to spearhead the attack as the newly promoted side targets survival and long-term stability in Italy’s top flight.
The move is also likely to benefit Nigeria.
Regular football in Serie A could enhance Adams’ prospects with the Super Eagles, particularly with the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and preparations for the next FIFA World Cup cycle on the horizon. Having already established himself in the national team setup, consistent minutes in one of Europe’s top five leagues may further strengthen his claim to become Nigeria’s first-choice striker.
While some observers questioned whether leaving Sevilla after a productive season was the right decision, the transfer appears to offer Adams something every striker values most—regular football, responsibility and the opportunity to become the focal point of a club’s ambitions.
If he reproduces the goalscoring form that made him successful in Norway, France and Spain, Venezia’s record investment could prove to be one of Serie A’s shrewdest pieces of business this summer.
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