Levante Reject €30m Offer from Surprise Club as Barcelona and Chelsea Face Competition for Young Forward

Etta Eyong Becomes Europe’s New Obsession

It’s not often that a newly promoted side in La Liga finds itself in the centre of a major European transfer storm, but Levante have done just that. Their young Cameroonian striker Etta Eyong, barely a year into his top-flight breakthrough, has become one of the most talked-about names across Europe — the kind of player scouts whisper about and analytics departments obsess over.

At just 22 years old, Eyong has taken Spain’s top division by storm, combining raw athleticism with an elegant touch and an instinct for goal that has drawn comparisons to the likes of Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o, two of his childhood idols. His rise has been both rapid and relentless, and now, Europe’s elite are circling.

Barcelona, Chelsea, and Real Madrid are all closely monitoring his progress, while a shock €30 million bid from CSKA Moscow — rejected out of hand — has confirmed that Levante’s starlet is no longer a hidden gem.

Levante UD v Rayo Vallecano de Madrid – LaLiga EA Sports

The €30 Million That Wasn’t Enough

CSKA’s offer came last week, catching many in Spain off guard. The Russian giants, desperate to add firepower, reportedly put €30 million on the table — a staggering figure for a player who was plying his trade in Spain’s third tier just 18 months ago.

But both the club and the player made it clear: now was not the time.

According to reports from Marca, the Cameroonian forward showed no interest in leaving Spain, despite the salary package proposed being among the most lucrative ever offered by a Russian club. Eyong’s focus, for now, is simple — keep scoring, keep developing, and help Levante survive their brutal return to La Liga.

Levante’s hierarchy, led by club owner Jose Danvila, was equally unwavering.

“We receive offers for him every day,” Danvila told reporters. “But the player isn’t going to be sold. Our priority is staying up, not cashing out.”

That statement alone tells the story of a club determined to resist the financial temptation that so often follows a breakout star.

A Meteoric Rise Through the Spanish Ranks

Eyong’s story reads like a footballing fairytale. Born in Douala, Cameroon, he moved to Spain as a teenager, where he was spotted by lower-league scouts and brought into the Cadiz B setup. At first, he struggled with consistency and adaptation — a raw, energetic forward still learning the European game.

But even then, there were flashes: the bursts of pace, the strength to shrug off defenders, the audacity to try the impossible.

In 2024, Villarreal took a chance on him, signing him to a three-year deal worth around €520,000 per season. It seemed a modest move, one for the future. Yet despite showing flashes of potential in training, opportunities were limited — minutes came sporadically, and the yellow submarine’s crowded attacking lineup meant Eyong was often on the bench.

That’s when Levante stepped in.

After scouting him for months, Levante secured his signature in September 2025 for just €3 million. It was a gamble for a club fighting relegation — but one that’s paid off spectacularly.

In his first 12 La Liga appearances, Eyong has scored six goals and provided three assists, making him one of the division’s most efficient attackers. His numbers put him in elite company, trailing only the likes of Kylian Mbappé, Julian Álvarez, and Robert Lewandowski.

Behind the Scenes: The Villarreal Contract Puzzle

Yet beneath the surface of this transfer saga lies a fascinating web of contractual clauses and financial intricacies.

Eyong’s initial deal with Villarreal included a multi-tiered sell-on clause, ensuring that the Yellow Submarine would continue to benefit from any future transfer. According to sources close to both clubs, the structure looks like this:

• For any sale under €7.5 million, Villarreal receive 80% of the fee.

• For sales between €7.5m and €15m, the profits are split 50/50.

• For anything above €15 million, Levante keep 80%, while Villarreal pocket 20%.

That alone complicates things. But there’s more — a “compensation clause” that activates if Levante reject an offer above €15 million. It essentially means Villarreal must still be paid a percentage of the profit they would have made, even if no sale occurs.

To add another layer, Villarreal also hold a right of first refusal, giving them the chance to match any bid from another club before a sale goes through.

This complex legal web means that any move involving Eyong will inevitably involve multiple parties, making transfer negotiations both politically and financially tricky.

For now, however, Levante aren’t entertaining discussions. With survival hanging in the balance, the player’s value to the team — both on and off the pitch — far outweighs the potential profit of a mid-season sale.

Eyong’s Mentality: “Hard Work is Everything”

For all the noise surrounding his future, Etta Eyong himself remains refreshingly grounded. After scoring twice in Levante’s recent 3-2 win over Alaves, he was asked about the speculation.

“I came here to play regularly and to help keep Levante in La Liga,” he said with a calm smile. “The key to my scoring streak this season is simply hard work. Nothing else.”

It’s that humility — that tunnel vision — that’s endeared him to both fans and teammates.

Levante head coach Julian Calero has often praised the forward’s attitude.

“He’s still adjusting, but his impact is undeniable,” Calero said after a training session last week. “He gives us belief. Every time he touches the ball, something happens. You can’t coach that kind of instinct.”

For a team that’s spent most of the season battling near the bottom of the table, Eyong’s goals have been a lifeline. He’s not just scoring — he’s inspiring.

Levante’s Survival Battle

Elche CF v Levante UD – LaLiga EA Sports

Make no mistake: Levante are fighting for their La Liga lives. After 12 matches, they sit 19th in the table, just one point from safety.

Selling their best player in the middle of such a campaign would be unthinkable. As CEO Danvila put it:

“It doesn’t make sense to sell your best player while fighting to stay in the top flight.”

That clarity of purpose has kept the dressing room focused, even amid constant rumours. Calero, too, has emphasized unity and patience.

“We’re building something here,” he told reporters after Levante’s draw with Girona. “Etta is at the heart of it. We know clubs are watching him, but right now, we need him — and he knows that.”

Interest from Europe’s Giants

Still, interest continues to grow. Scouts from Chelsea, Barcelona, and Real Madrid have all been spotted at Levante matches in recent weeks. Arsenal and Manchester United have reportedly added him to their long-term watchlists, while Paris Saint-Germain are rumoured to be considering a move if Kylian Mbappé departs next summer.

For Barcelona, Eyong represents the kind of young, dynamic striker the club has lacked since the decline of Luis Suárez — a powerful presence who can stretch defences and press from the front. Chelsea, meanwhile, see him as a potential successor to Nicolas Jackson, whose inconsistency has left them searching for more clinical options.

However, none of those suitors will have an easy path. With a €30 million release clause and Levante unwilling to negotiate until the summer, it would take a bid significantly above that figure — and perhaps the player’s own insistence — to trigger a move in January.

Looking Ahead: Cameroon and Beyond

Before any transfer drama resumes, Eyong will shift his attention to international duty. He’s expected to join Cameroon’s squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers, where he’ll likely lead the line alongside Karl Toko Ekambi.

For a player who just a year ago was struggling for minutes in Spain’s Segunda División, the speed of his ascent is staggering. But those close to him insist he’s built for this — that his mental resilience is his greatest strength.

And that’s perhaps what makes him so appealing to Europe’s elite: not just his goals, but his composure amid chaos.

The Final Word: Levante’s Gamble

Levante’s refusal to sell Etta Eyong is both a statement of ambition and an act of defiance. In a league where smaller clubs are often forced to sell their brightest talents at the first opportunity, their stance feels almost romantic.

But it’s also a gamble. Should they fail to stay up, that €30 million offer could begin to look like a missed opportunity. Yet for now, Levante are betting on belief — belief in their young striker, in their coach, and in the possibility of writing a different kind of story.

As one fan banner at the Ciutat de València read last week:

“Don’t sell the dream — let him finish it.”

And maybe, just maybe, that’s exactly what Etta Eyong will do.