Ejuke LaLiga’s 2nd most successful dribbler
Super Eagles winger Chidera Ejuke has emerged as LaLiga’s second most successful dribbler and fourth overall across Europe’s top five leagues, with an impressive 58% success rate, following his return from a three-month injury layoff, NewsNGR Sports Extra reports.
According to statistics released by Squawka after the weekend’s matches, the 27-year-old Sevilla star ranks behind only Rayo Vallecano’s Andrei Ratiu (58.2%) in LaLiga’s dribbling charts, while Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise leads Europe’s rankings with a 60.1% success rate.
The Nigeria international made his eagerly anticipated return to action on January 19, featuring in Sevilla’s spirited 2-1 victory over Girona at the Estadi Montilivi.
His presence proved influential as Los Nervionenses ended an awful run of six straight defeats against Girona and also halted a three-game losing streak on the road in LaLiga.
His return against Girona marked the start of a three-game unbeaten run that was ended by Barcelona on Sunday as they lost 4-1 at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.
Before his injury setback in Sevilla’s 5-1 defeat to Barcelona on October 21, Ejuke had established himself as one of the club’s standout performers, dazzling with his pace, technique, and ability to create chances on the left flank.
His impact was immediate upon joining the Spanish club as a free agent from CSKA Moscow in the summer.
In October, the former CSKA Moscow star had topped both LaLiga and Europe’s dribbling charts, completing 28 successful take-ons from 46 attempts for a then-leading 61% success rate. This remarkable achievement saw him outperform some of the league’s most renowned dribblers, including Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid’s star duo of Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé.
Sevilla coach Garcia Pimienta has expressed confidence in Ejuke’s ability to return to his best form following his performance against Espanyol in January’s last game.
“I think Ejuke was good. He was involved, he shot from outside. Little by little he will get to his best level,” Pimienta said.
The latest rankings demonstrate the Premier League’s dominance in terms of dribbling talent, with four representatives in the top 10.
Wolves’ Rayan Aït-Nouri sits second overall with a 60% success rate, while Manchester City boasts two players Jérémy Doku and Savinho , both with impressive success rates of 57% and 56.5%, respectively. Brentford’s Mikkel Damsgaard completes the Premier League contingent with a 57% success rate.
German giants Bayern Munich are the second club with multiple players in the top 10, as star Jamal Musiala in ninth with 56% joins teammate Olise in the rankings. Serie A’s representation comes through Lazio’s Reda Belahyane in sixth with 57% and Juventus’ promising young striker Kenan Yildiz in 10th with 55.4%, both showcasing their dribbling prowess in Italy’s top flight.
Ejuke’s exceptional dribbling ability has been a defining feature of his career since his breakout at CSKA Moscow, where he was once ranked the third-best dribbler globally by CIES Football Observatory in November 2021.
His skill in taking on opponents also earned him recognition as one of the most exciting talents in the Dutch Eredivisie in 2019.
Following successful spells in the Netherlands, Russia, and Belgium, Ejuke’s move to Sevilla has proven to be a masterstroke. His impact was immediately recognized when he was crowned the club’s Player of The Month for September, having made five league appearances and scoring a crucial goal – an 85th-minute match-winner against Real Valladolid that helped secure then-under-fire club coach Francisco Pimienta a new contract.
The Super Eagles star, who has eight caps for Nigeria and featured in the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, will be looking to maintain his impressive form as Sevilla, currently 13th in La Liga, aim to climb up the table in the coming weeks.
His successful return from injury and continued excellence in taking on opponents suggests that Ejuke’s best form may still be ahead of him.
