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Analyzing Sevilla’s Summer 2024 Transfer Business

September 27, 2024
Transfer Analysis, La Liga Analysis

Sevilla are following two consecutive seasons ending outside of the top 7 in the league and an array of managers such as Quique Sánchez Flores, or Jorge Sampaoli have passed through the club. This season, they are looking to make a new start with younger players and a younger manager who wants to play attacking football. The question is what have they done in the transfer market to succeed this season? In this article, we will be analyzing Sevilla’s summer business position by position.

 

For each position, there will be a ranking in which we put a color for each player considering the level of each player, taking into account the manager’s system and their role. The ranking will go: red for bad, yellow for average, and green for good.

 

Manager

 

After having 3 managers last season with José Luis Mendilibar, Diego Alonso, and Quique Sánchez Flores, they have appointed Xavier García Pimienta as the new manager. García Pimienta began in FC Barcelona’s youth as manager and there he won the UEFA Youth League. In 2022, he joined Las Palmas and there he was able to earn promotion and maintain the division for one season.

 

 

He is a manager with just one year of experience in La Liga, however, he shows promise when given the right type of players to play possession-based football. He is a good appointment and someone who can grow along with the rest of the team and his first challenge as a manager to qualify for European competitions.

 

Goalkeepers

 

Sevilla sold Bono last season, and this year they have let 32-year-old Marko Dmitrovic leave on a free transfer, which is a good operation for an old player that was never able to have continuity as the first-choice. The only goalkeepers left are 33-year-old Orjan Nyland, and the newly signed 26-year-old Álvaro Fernández on a one-year deal for free from second division team Huesca. 

 

Álvaro is destined to be the backup goalkeeper with Nyland as the first-choice. This is a position that most certainly could have been improved as although Nyland did play well last season, he is not a ball-playing goalkeeper like García Pimienta would like.

 

 

Defenders

 

García Pimienta usually plays with a back-four and prefers that his players are comfortable on the ball, with the full-backs able to move up the pitch as well.

 

Center-Backs

 

When looking at the center-backs we can observe that Sevilla has not made a great change, with no incomings. However, there have been two departures who are 38-year-old Sergio Ramos as a free agent, which was expected, and Federico Gattoni who has left on loan to River Plate and hasn’t been able to perform in Spain.

 

That leaves 24-year-old Loic Badé who will most likely be a starter, 22-year-old Kike Salas who showed a great level last season with Quique Sánchez Flores. In addition, 28-year-old Marcão who has been plagued with injuries since his arrival from Galatasaray, 22-year-old Nianzou who has shown poor form since arriving from Germany, and finally, 32-year-old Nemanja Gudelj who can play there, and shows a great level in this position. 

 

 

In this position, Sevilla could have improved their back-line as both Marcão and Nianzou have not shown a great level at Sevilla and with the slightest injury to Salas or Badé, they could have issues at the back. 

 

Nonetheless, the departure of Gattoni is a great operation to see if he can recover his form and come back stronger, meanwhile, another year for Sergio Ramos at the club would not hurt as he is still an excellent player. Also, seeing Nianzou and Marcao, one of them could have seen the back door this summer either as a transfer or a loan. Moreover, neither of the center-backs Sevilla have are known for their ball-playing ability so this is a position that could have had an improvement in that respect.

 

 

Right-Backs

 

When looking at the right-back position we can see that Sevilla have 38-year-old Jesus Navas who is retiring in December, as well as 21-year-old Juanlu Sánchez who has shown promise and can cover there. Furthermore, 22-year-old José Ángel Carmona has come back from a loan at Getafe and can be useful for García Pimienta. Also coming back from a loan is 27-year-old Gonzalo Montiel from Nottingham Forest who is a player I doubt will get much game time seeing their other full-backs and is someone that could have been sold.

 

 

Left-Backs

 

In the left-back position, Sevilla have signed the promising Valentín Barco on loan from Brighton who is one of the hottest Argentinian prospects and saw Brighton spend €9 million. He is an excellent addition to the squad who can add a lot of quality to that position along with 26-year-old Adriá Pedrosa who is also someone that suits García Pimienta’s style.

 

 

Furthermore, they have let go of Ludwig Augustinsson which was necessary, nonetheless, they could have gotten perhaps a quantity of money. Also, Marcos Acuña is leaving the club for €1 million to join River Plate, a player who lost protagonism since Julen Lopetegui left the club.

 

 

Midfielders

 

García Pimienta usually plays with two more positional midfielders and another that has more freedom as the attacking midfielder. His midfielders are usually comfortable on the ball with the ability to break lines through their passing.

 

Positional Midfielders

 

In the holding midfielder position, Sevilla have added 22-year-old Lucien Agoumé from Inter for €4 million after a loan spell at the club. Furthermore, Albert Sambi Lokonga has arrived on loan from Arsenal as well as Saúl Ñíguez from Atlético Madrid.

 

Along with these players, 27-year-old Djibril Sow remains at the club who did not have a great first season at the club. Moreover, they have 32-year-old Nemanja Gudelj who is an experienced player who is effective with the ball in his feet, though his principal role is in his defensive duties.

 

 

Apart from Lokonga, none of these players are very technical as Saúl is a hard-working player along with Sow, and Agoumé is better for defensive duties. This means that another player with the ability to break lines would have been welcomed with open arms as if Lokonga faces injuries, the team may face issues with the game creation from deep.

 

Leaving the club, we find Boubakary Soumaré with the end of his loan, Joan Jordán is heading on loan to Alavés after losing game time since Lopetegui left, which maybe could have had more game time in Sevilla as he is a ball-playing midfielder. 

 

Nonetheless, if the loan spell is successful, next season they could have a great player on their hands once again. In addition, they have let go of Delaney which is good as he has not had a great time in Spain, and Óliver Torres which is a bad operation as he is an excellent player and would have succeeded under García Pimienta as he is great on the ball and would have added quality.

 

 

Attacking Midfielders

 

In the attacking midfielder position, Sevilla have added 21-year-old Peque Fernández from Racing Santander for €4 million after an excellent season in the second division that saw him score 19 goals. Leaving the club is 26-year-old Óscar Rodríguez which is an awful operation as he is leaving for free and still has much to say about himself, possibly at Sevilla where they are short. In addition, Hannibal Mejbri is heading back to Manchester United after his loan spell.

 

 

Another player in this position would have been great as they lack players who can play here, and although Peque is a great signing who suits García Pimienta’s style of play, more players are needed.

 

 

Forwards

 

García Pimienta likes that his wingers can either come inside to let the full-back run the wing or for them to be effective in 1vs1 situations. For the center forwards, it is important to be able to attack the box and score many goals, and be comfortable on the ball to help progression.

 

Right-Wingers

 

Sevilla have not made any signings for this position, however, leaving the club are 32-year-old Erik Lamela for free which is a good operation seen as he is old and has a high salary. Also, Luismi Cruz is heading to Tenerife for €300 thousand, a player who does not have the level to play there, and Adnan Januzaj who is heading on loan to Las Palmas. This operation is excellent as Las Palmas can be the best environment for him to succeed and maximize his strengths, with him being the star.

 

 

This leaves 26-year-old Dodi Lukébakio, and 30-year-old Suso. Keeping Suso at the club is excellent as he has the most quality of any player currently at the club and can succeed under García Pimienta as a winger.

 

 

Left-Wingers

 

Sevilla currently have just one left-winger at the club with 26-year-old Chidera Ejuke coming on a free transfer from CSKA Moscow. He is a player that has an excellent 1v1 ability and has all the tools to shine in Spain at Sevilla if he can mirror his level from last season on loan in Belgium.

 

 

Leaving the club is 30-year-old Lucas Ocampos for more than €7 million, this operation is awful as just like Suso, he is an excellent player and would be a huge asset for Sevilla. Nonetheless, it is true that he has a high salary and it may be the last time that the club receives an offer with that amount of money for him.

 

 

Center-Forwards

 

Sevilla have seen 27-year-old Youssef En-Nesyri leave the club for almost €20 million which is a huge loss as he was a goal threat and has been scoring many goals for Sevilla for a long time. Nonetheless, it is a big sum of money and with 24-year-old graduate Isaac Romero the club is fine as he had an outstanding season last year and showed that he has the level necessary to start for Sevilla.

 

 

In addition, Sevilla have also signed 27-year-old Kelechi Iheanacho on a free transfer from Leicester City that can be a great addition to the club as he has all the tools necessary to succeed. 

 

Also, leaving the club are Rafa Mir on loan to Valencia which is an excellent operation as he had lost protagonism since Lopetegui’s departure, and Alejo Véliz has left due to the end of his loan spell.

 

 

Conclusion

 

In conclusion, Sevilla’s summer market could have improved substantially in the defense and in goal with players that would suit the manager’s playing style better. In addition, in attack, they may end up short of players with just one left-winger and one attacking midfielder. Furthermore, in midfield, they should have added more players comfortable on the ball as well as in the center-back position and the goalkeeper position. 

 

This should have been top of their priorities when the market began as their manager wants to play possession-based football and these positions are essential to make that happen. However, they have gotten rid of a lot of high salaries and old players that don’t count for the manager which was necessary to begin a new era at the club. However, the objective should not be top 7, not in the first season.

 

By: Juan Fernandez Valencia / @ScoutLaLiga

Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Quality Sport Images / Getty Images 

 

 

 

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