Can a hometown debut spark something special? This Wednesday, Samu Aghehowa will step onto La Cartuja for a Champions League night that feels personal. The 22‑year‑old Porto forward faces Real Betis just miles from the streets where his football journey began.
He told the press that returning to Sevilla is always meaningful, and debuting in Europe here is life’s coincidence. Yet his focus is simple: win the match and help the side, whether by scoring or by hard work.
Family and friends will fill the stands, many of them Betis supporters. Aghehowa laughed, noting that most of his mates back the Andalusian club and warned them of a restless night. He even secured tickets so loved ones can share the moment.
From AD Nervión to Portuguese football
Born in a Melilla immigrant centre to a Nigerian‑born mother, Samu grew up in Seville’s El Cerezo district near the Macarena. He cut his teeth at Sevilla FC’s academy before moving to AD Nervión, then jumped to Granada’s youth set‑up and debuted in La Liga. Atlético Madrid exercised a €6 million purchase option, later loaning him to Alavés where his scoring flair shone, before Porto signed him in summer 2024 for €32 million. In my view, his rise proves perseverance beats pedigree.
A serious knee injury in February halted his progress and cost him a chance to represent Spain at the World Cup. The striker admits the rehab was tough but insists he’s ready to hit top form again. “I’ve sacrificed a lot over the summer. I feel better than before. No fear left. The injury is history,” he said.
Missing the World Cup was heartbreaking; “Seeing your nation crowned is the ultimate dream, but not being there was a real blow,” he admitted. Now he’s zeroing in on the present, eager to find the net again.
Ahead lies a Betis side he respects, featuring the likes of Isco, a former teammate from the Spanish national squad. Still, Aghehowa made clear his loyalty lies with Porto: “Whether it’s Betis or Sevilla, it’s the same to me. I fight for Porto—that’s where I belong.”