Scouted by European clubs - The unlikely rise of St. Louis CITY star Samuel Adeniran

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It was a spectacular performance by Samuel Adeniran. The 24-year-old scored two spectacular goals in St. Louis CITY SC’s 6-3 victory over Austin FC on the weekend. Both goals were spectacular and marked his goals four and five in just 10 Major League Soccer games this season. Not surprisingly, Adeniran has seen his market value significantly increase from €200,000 to €600,000 in this week’s MLS market value update. 

Adeniran’s recent update was just an in-between step. After all, Transfermarkt understands that several European clubs are now keeping an eye on the 196cm (6'5 feet) tall US striker with Nigerian roots, who, despite his height, has an incredible touch and the ability to score from small spaces—just watch his goals against Austin. Sources have told Transfermarkt that Czech club Sparta Prague, Austrian side Rapid Vienna, German club Ingolstadt, and Norwegian club Rosenborg have shown interest in signing Adeniran. 

Market Value

S. Adeniran Centre-Forward

€1.50m

It was a spectacular turn of events because the rise of Adeniran over the last few weeks has been both spectacular and unexpected. But sometimes, it is about being at the right place at the right time, and that was certainly the case for the 24-year-old striker. After all, Adeniran looked like, at best, a squad player when St. Louis CITY SC started their inaugural campaign in the fall and, after struggling for playing time, was sent out on loan to USL Championship side San Antonio FC in April. At San Antonio, Adeniran scored four goals and one assist in seven league games, and when João Klauss got injured, he was recalled by his parent club in June. Since then, Adeniran has scored five goals in six MLS games. 

Samuel Adeniran: From journeyman to MLS star 

The unexpected rise of Adeniran is very much part of the St. Louis CITY SC blueprint. In some ways, sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel has put together a team of misfits that somewhat reflect the glorious run the Las Vegas Golden Knights had in their first-ever NHL campaign. The Knights put together a team of rejects that made it all the way to the Stanley Cup finals. It was an unheard-of success in North American sports but one that could be replicated by this St. Louis team that now sits comfortably first in the Western Conference. 

Stats

S. Adeniran Centre-Forward

St. Louis CITY SC

Career stats–
All competitions

Games

31

Goals

10

Assists

2

In fact, despite another 29.3% increase in market value, are still only 19th in the squad value standings. That is, of course, a big step up from the start of the season when the club was last, and the club is set to continue to rush up the standings thanks to players like Adeniran. Adeniran, who was on track for a typical journeyman career, was acquired for just $100,000 in GAM from the Seattle Sounders ahead of the season. A potential transfer is now set to net at least €1m, should St. Louis opt to sell. 

But why are clubs interested in Adeniran? As mentioned earlier, despite his size, Adeniran is incredibly mobile and has a fantastic set of feet, which gives him the ability to score from almost any situation. But Adeniran also comes up at crucial moments, with three of his five goals being game-winners, which, according to Opta, ranks sixth in MLS, despite spending a part of the season on loan in the USL Championship. In other words, Adeniran is not only one for the spectacular but also a striker who scores when it matters, and that makes him a valuable commodity.