Champions League temptation: Everton’s Alex Iwobi drops transfer hint after award-winning campaign

Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi is contemplating a potential departure from Everton, Soccernet.ng reports.

Iwobi, who joined Everton from Arsenal in 2019 for €30 million on a five-year contract, now has just one year left on his current deal.

During his four-year stay at Goodison Park, Iwobi has transformed from a transfer disappointment into a crucial first-team member.

Despite Everton’s struggles throughout the season, the talented midfielder stood out among the Toffees’ ranks. Demonstrating his skill and resilience, he featured in every single league game, ultimately helping his team avoid relegation on the season’s final day.

Iwobi’s outstanding performances garnered recognition, as he was bestowed with the esteemed title of Everton Players’ Player of the Year.

However, with only a year remaining on his contract, Everton may consider leveraging the potential of the Super Eagles star by entertaining offers from interested clubs.

While several footballers, including French striker Karim Benzema, have recently made high-profile moves to the Saudi Arabia Pro League, Iwobi has firmly dismissed any notion of a Middle East transfer.

Instead, he has hinted at the allure of joining a club competing in the prestigious UEFA Champions League next season. It is evident that Iwobi harbours aspirations of rekindling his Champions League experiences and believes he has unfinished business in Europe’s premier club competition.

“I won’t go to Saudi Arabia,” Iwobi unequivocally stated in an interview with Brila FM. “I feel like I have a lot to prove with my football, and I would like to play in the Champions League. It has always been my dream; I have played in it before, and I want to have a taste of it again.”

As discussions regarding his potential transfer unfolds, Iwobi maintains a focused approach, entrusting such matters to his agent. Emphasizing his commitment to the Nigerian national team, he remarked, “I am here to do a job for my national team and to stay focused on football.”

Presently, Iwobi is with the Super Eagles as they prepare for their clash against Sierra Leone on the fifth matchday of the Africa Cup of Nations qualification series.

Securing a victory or draw against the Leone Stars on Sunday would guarantee Nigeria’s spot in the highly anticipated Ivory Coast 2023 tournament.

Iwobi played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s triumphant campaign at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt, where the team clinched the bronze medal.