No player made a bigger impression on the opening day of the 2024/25 La Liga season than Christantus Uche, who scored on his debut for Getafe against Athletic Bilbao.
Despite the Williams brothers, Inaki and Nico, being in action, as well as Nabil Fekir and Bryan Gil taking centre stage in the other Friday fixture between Real Betis and Girona, Uche outshone them all.
The 21-year-old cleverly directed a header into the net to earn Getafe a 1-1 draw after the Madrid-based side had fallen behind in the first half against Athletic Bilbao. Despite playing his first top-flight game, having previously lined up for lower-division sides Moralo and Ceuta, Uche wasn’t overawed by the occasion and held his own at San Mames.
Aside from his brilliant goal, the Nigerian was also a lively presence up front after being deployed as a false nine, forcing a save out of Bilbao goalkeeper Alex Padilla and keeping the defenders on their toes with his physicality and aerial presence.
It’s been a meteoric rise for Uche, who has gone from playing amateur football in Nigeria to starring under the bright lights of La Liga within just two years. It’s been a remarkable journey for the Owerri-born footballer, who has already become a fan favourite at Getafe.
Here’s all you need to know about the Getafe new boy Christantus Uche.
Christantus Uche background
Christantus Uche was born in Owerri in the Imo State of Nigeria. The 21-year-old wasn’t fortunate enough to develop in an academy, but he played amateur football on the streets of Owerri.
Uche’s route to professional football meant that he was a late bloomer and the first time he played for a professional club was in 2022 – at the age of 19 – when he joined the Spanish four-tier side Moralo Club.
Christantus Uche club career
Christantus Uche’s club career typifies an unconventional route that has demanded grit and graft. Having left Owerri as a teenager to join Moralo, he was integrated into the club’s B team in the seventh tier of Spanish football to develop.
Having impressed in the reserve team, though, he was quickly promoted to the senior team, who came very close to qualifying for the promotion playoffs. The Nigerian youngster subsequently earned a move to third-tier side Ceuta in July 2023 and made 34 appearances in the Primera Federacion last season.
Uche’s move from Moralo to Ceuta reportedly cost just €800, but his transfer value skyrocketed to €500,000 by the time Getafe came seeking his signature this summer. He will now be aiming to establish himself at the Madrid-based side, having become the third Nigerian to play for the club after Oghenekaro Peter Etebo and Ikechukwu Uche.
Christantus Uche international career
Christantus Uche is yet to be capped by Nigeria at senior level due to the tight competition for places in the Super Eagles squad. He has also not played for the country’s U17 and U20 teams, but featured for the U23s last year.
While Uche’s move to Getafe will further increase his visibility, his immediate international future seems to lie with Nigeria’s U23s rather than the Super Eagles.
Christantus Uche best position
Christantus Uche started his debut La Liga game as a striker for Getafe and performed well in the role by scoring against Athletic Bilbao. However, playing as a forward is not his favourite position, as he’s naturally a defensive midfielder.
Uche’s versatility allows him to play in a number of positions. He started his career as a defender and often played as a centre-back during his time at Moralo. He was pushed into midfield when he joined Ceuta and was signed by Getafe to play in the middle of the park.
However, the Nigerian’s attacking traits impressed Getafe manager Jose Bordalas in training and scoring in preseason against Atletico Madrid further convinced the coach to use him in an advanced role.
That said, though, Uche’s best position is in midfield.
