Jerome Akor has described his transfer to La Liga club Sevilla as “an early birthday present”.
The striker clocked 25 today.
He has signed a contract until June 2029 from French Ligue 1 club Montpellier.
“For me and my family, it is an early birthday present,” he said.
He has teamed up with fellow Nigerians Chidera Ejuke, who urged him to make the move to Spain, and Kelechi Iheanacho.
He said he is delighted with the switch.
“I’m very happy to be here. It’s been a very warm reception. The past couple of days there has been a lot up to this moment but I’m happy we’ve got everything done and we’re here now,” he said.
Having landed on Saturday he was able to take in his first match at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán:
“I think it was fantastic. My first impression I will remember for a long time and I loved it from the anthem till the end. There was a very good atmosphere. The fans are really good. We should have won the game, but Espanyol were very defensive, so hopefully we can win the next one fingers crossed,” he offered.
He also said Sevilla were a club that he has always admired:
“I’ve been watching the club a long time before I even had the dream of coming here,” he said.
“Mostly the things they have done in Europe, they have conquered Europe basically. I’ve seen many of the finals.
“For me, it’s a great club and a pleasure to be in such a club.”
The club have had a number of legendary African players and Akor is hoping to follow in their footsteps:
“I think there’s been a lot of history in the club, so I’m just here to play a part in that history and try to write my own. They have made it easier for us to come through, and I want to write my own story with Sevilla as well.”
Now it is time to adjust to a new style of play as soon as possible for the striker:
“Watching the game on Saturday I could see myself fitting into the team,” he said.
“In football you never know until you start, but France is a different league from Spanish football and I want to just do my best to fit in as much as possible where the team needs me.
“It’s good to know what the coach wants. I saw the game and how they played.”
He described his playing style: “I like to play in the spaces and I can play alongside another striker or alone. I like to help take the pressure of the team and most importantly I love to score goals.”
He now wants to hit the ground running at his new club.
“The most important thing is that I am fit and mentally ready,” he said.
“I have had a very warm welcome since I arrived and I will join the group and try to adapt as quickly as possible, getting better with each game. I am ready.”
Interestingly, he had an important goal-scoring breakthrough upon his arrival in both Norwegian and French soccer:
“I hope to repeat that here. It would be great to come into a new environment and a new system and see that I continue to do what I’ve always done,” Akor said.
“In Norway I had a very good career, I was in a good team and so it was a collective achievement. In France, I also achieved the same in my first season, so I hope to repeat the same here and give my best.”
His target is now to get Sevilla back to European competitions.
“More than my goal, our goal, now that I belong to the club, is to fight for Europe, be a good teammate and bring to the team everything I can,” he vowed.
