By Olatunbosun Obafemi
Real Oviedo may have suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid on Sunday night, but the club – and Nigerian football – found a silver lining in the long-awaited return of Ovie Ejaria.
The 27-year-old midfielder, once considered one of England’s brightest prospects at Liverpool and Arsenal, made his La Liga debut at the Nuevo Carlos Tartiere after nearly three years away from competitive football.
Madrid, managed by Xabi Alonso, were clinical as Kylian Mbappé netted twice before Vinicius Junior sealed the victory late on. But for Oviedo head coach Veljko Paunovic, Ejaria’s return was a positive takeaway.
Introduced in the 72nd minute for Luka Ilic, the former England youth international showed glimpses of his talent. Despite his side being under constant pressure, Ejaria completed all 10 of his passes, won three of four duels, created a key chance, and contributed defensively with a tackle and a clearance – all without conceding possession.
Paunovic, who previously coached Ejaria at Reading, praised his comeback:
“He’s a star, you’re going to love him here,” the Serbian coach said, according to Eldersmarque.
“We have to be cautious with his physique; he’s been out for a long time. Little by little, he’s getting back into shape. He feels the affection of the fans and the people around him. He’s an important player for us who’s adding value.”
Ejaria’s return to the professional stage has been far from straightforward. His last competitive appearance came in November 2022 for Reading in a Championship match against Watford. A series of injuries sidelined him before he left the Royals in December 2023.
The midfielder endured trials with Plymouth Argyle in England and Egyptian giants Zamalek, under former coach José Gomes, before finally reuniting with Paunovic at Real Oviedo in July 2025. He signed a two-year deal after impressing in training and was an unused substitute in Oviedo’s opening-day loss to Villarreal.
Born in London to Nigerian parents, Ejaria has long been a subject of international debate. He trained with Nigeria’s U-17 squad in 2013 but later represented England at youth level, featuring in the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup triumph. Former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr had sought his switch as early as 2019, but it never materialised.
With Ejaria now back to full fitness and playing top-flight football in Spain, the debate may resurface. Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle currently leans on Alex Iwobi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, and Christantus Uche in creative midfield roles. Ejaria’s vision and composure could offer fresh options ahead of Nigeria’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa next month.
For both Real Oviedo and Nigeria, Ejaria’s return represents not just a comeback, but the possibility of a new chapter finally unfolding.
