When you think of Nigerian footballers doing well in Europe, names like Victor Boniface, Ademola Lookman, and Alex Iwobi might come to mind first.
But there’s another tall player whose story is just as interesting, though it has had more ups and downs.
Currently playing for Real Sociedad in Spain’s top league, his story is one of grit and will.
A key part of that story that SportsBuddy will be taking you through is the growth of Sadiq Umar net worth.
Early Life, Background and Education
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Umar Sadiq Mesbah |
| Date of Birth | February 2, 1997 |
| Age | 28 |
| Place of Birth | Kaduna, Nigeria |
| Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) |
| Wife/Partner | Judy Memini |
| Children | Has a daughter named Aisha Umar |
| Religion | Islam |
Sadiq Umar was born on February 2, 1997, in Kaduna, Nigeria. He is the son of Umar Abubakar, a former footballer known as ‘Mega’ who played as a striker for Ranchers Bees.
His father was a major influence in his decision to pursue football as a career. As a child, Sadiq Umar great height and speed made him stand out among his friends.
This raw skill got more refined when he joined Kusa Boys, a local grassroots club where his goal-scoring talent began to really get attention.
His skill did not go unseen for long. Sadiq moved to the Future of Africa Football Academy, a development program made to help the next generation of Nigerian stars. This led him to the Football College Abuja (FCA), a special school that mixed normal education with hard football training.
At FCA, Sadiq balanced school work with tough daily practice, learning the discipline and game smarts needed for a professional career. The key moment in his youth career came in June 2013.
At just 16 years old, he traveled with FCA to the Kvarnerska Rivijera youth tournament in Croatia. He did not just take part, he was the best, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer and leading his team to win, a performance that quickly put European scouts on high alert.
Professional Career
| Club (Years) | Apps (Gls) | Key Notes & Achievements |
|---|---|---|
| Roma (Loan from Spezia) (2015–2016) | 6 (2) | Scored first senior goals for a top Serie A club. |
| Roma (2016–2020) | 0 (0) | Officially signed by the Serie A giants. |
| Bologna (Loan from Roma) (2016–2017) | 7 (0) | Gained more Serie A experience. |
| Torino (Loan from Roma) (2017) | 3 (0) | Another loan spell in the Italian top flight. |
| NAC Breda (Loan from Roma) (2018) | 12 (5) | First experience abroad in the Dutch Eredivisie. |
| Rangers (Loan from Roma) (2018) | 1 (0) | Brief stint in the Scottish Premiership. |
| Perugia (Loan from Roma) (2019) | 17 (3) | Regular playing time in the Italian Serie B. |
| Partizan (Loan & Permanent) (2019–2020) | 34 (18) | Breakthrough season; qualified for Europa League Group Stage. |
| Almería (2020–2022) | 79 (40) | Prolific goalscorer; key in club’s promotion push. |
| Real Sociedad (2022–Present) | 38 (4) | Playing in La Liga; qualified for UEFA Champions League. |
| Valencia (Loan from Real Sociedad) (2025) | 16 (5) | Productive loan spell at another top Spanish club. |
Umar’s professional journey began in 2014 with Italian club Spezia. Signing from FCA after his great show in Croatia, he was first placed in the youth team. He was a star there, scoring an amazing 26 goals in just 24 games in the Primavera league.
AS Roma
This form got him a move to the giants of AS Roma in 2015, first on loan. He made a great start, scoring on his Serie A debut and again in his next game, hinting at a bright future.
However, regular playing time was hard to get, leading to a number of loan spells across Italy, the Netherlands, and even a short, bad time in Scotland with Rangers.
Partizan Belgrade
It was a move to Serbia with Partizan Belgrade in 2019 that got his career going again. He found his scoring touch again, netting 18 goals in 34 games and reminding everyone of his quality.
UD Almería
This good spell in Serbia made the way for a big transfer to UD Almería in Spain’s second division in 2020. In Andalusia, Sadiq Umar became a superstar.
Over two seasons, he was almost unstoppable, scoring 40 goals in 79 games and pushing Almería to move up to La Liga.
Real Sociedad
His performance got the attention of Real Sociedad, who signed him in September 2022 for a fee of €20 million, with a €2 million annual salary, which greatly affected Sadiq Umar net worth positively.
Sadly, just days after scoring on his debut, he suffered a terrible ACL tear that kept him out for the whole 2022-23 season.
His strength saw him return to play in 2023, and a loan to Valencia in the first half of 2025 helped him get back match fitness and confidence, where he scored 5 goals in 16 games.
Now back at Real Sociedad, he continues to fight for his place, a sign of his strong spirit.
International Career
On the world stage, Sadiq Umar has proudly played for Nigeria. His first big part came with the U23 team at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
He was a key player, scoring four goals in the tournament, including two in the bronze medal match to help Nigeria win a medal.
He made his senior debut for the Super Eagles in 2022 and scored in his first big tournament at the Africa Cup of Nations.
While injuries have greatly affected his international career, he remains a part of the national team.
Sadiq Umar Net Worth
As of 2025, Sadiq Umar net worth is estimated at $1.5 million. This number shows a big increase from just a few years before, pushed by his high-profile transfer to Real Sociedad and steady earnings in La Liga.
The building of Sadiq Umar net worth is not from one source but a mix of football salaries, endorsement deals, and smart money moves.
Salary and Contracts
The foundation of Sadiq Umar net worth is clearly his football salary. His current contract with Real Sociedad, which goes until 2028, gets him a yearly salary of about €2 million, which is about €38,000 per week.
During his good loan time at Valencia in 2025, he earned an extra €1.2 million for the half-season. Looking back, his earnings have seen a steady rise.
At Almería, he was earning a massive €1-1.5 million per year, while his earlier times at Roma and Partizan Belgrade were in the range of €500,000 to €800,000 each year.
The large transfer fees involved in his moves, especially the €20 million paid by Real Sociedad, have also greatly helped his money standing, directly impacting Sadiq Umar net worth.
Endorsement Deals
Beyond his club salary, endorsement deals form an important second income stream that makes Sadiq Umar net worth bigger.
He has a boot sponsorship deal with world sportswear giant Nike, which is estimated to bring in between €300,000 and €500,000 per year. He also uses his fame in Nigeria, with over 150,000 Instagram followers, to work with local brands in areas like phone networks and betting companies.
These partnerships, while smaller than his Nike deal, together add a good amount to Sadiq Umar net worth and help make his brand stronger off the field.
Business Ventures
While Sadiq Umar is mainly focused on his football career, he has shown he knows the need for financial planning and investment.
While there are no publicly known big business ventures, one he has invested in is a real estate in his hometown in Kaduna.
Personal Life
Sadiq Umar lives a life that is very private and family-focused. He is in a long-term relationship with Judy Memini, who is of Italian and Spanish background.
The couple, said to have married in a private event, had a daughter in 2022.
Sadiq is a dedicated family man, often sharing small looks of his life as a father on social media. Judy has been a steady source of support, especially during his hard recovery from the ACL injury in 2022.
Even with his success in Europe, he stays deeply linked to his roots in Kaduna. He often returns home to visit family and likes the local food, often saying he likes Nigerian dishes like jollof rice and afang soup.
A strong Muslim, his faith plays a central role in his life. His hobbies include collecting cars, with a reported liking for the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
He also does charity work, quietly giving money to youth academies and street football programs in Kaduna, making sure the next generation has chances like the ones he had.
This down-to-earth personality solidifies Sadiq Umar net worth, showing a man who values his roots as much as his success.
