Christantus Uche’s rapid ascent through Spanish football has been nothing short of remarkable, agreeing a deal to join Getafe at the start of the 2023-24 campaign after barely half a season at third-tier side Ceuta. Although a defensive midfielder, the Nigerian started as a centre-forward on his La Liga debut away at Athletic Club, dragging his new side back into the game with a powerful header on the hour mark, and has been leading from the front ever since.
The first thing that stands out about Uche is his physical stature, a tall player at 6ft 3in (190cm), but also bulky and strong, with a relentless box-to-box midfield engine to boot. Those attributes allow him to play his unique role at the top of Jose Bordalas’ ultra-direct Getafe side; challenging in the air, chasing down hopeful balls and working tirelessly without the ball to maintain a compact defensive shape. Only three players competed for more aerial duels in La Liga last season, while he successfully received 29 long passes from goal kicks last season, at an average of over one per game.
Though his attacking numbers don’t jump off the page — with five goals in close to 30 full games in the Spanish top flight — context is crucial in assessing Uche’s role. As Getafe’s one-man battering ram up top, he is starved of consistent support and often tasked with generating opportunities himself. But between the battling, there have been glimpses of Uche’s technical quality and clarity of thought in the final third, single-handedly winning the game at Celta Vigo on August 17 with a goal and an assist that left defenders floored in his wake.
The reaction to his imminent departure from Getafe says plenty about the impact Uche has made in his 12 months at the club. President Angel Torres lamented that they had “no choice” but to sell Uche to comply with La Liga’s financial restrictions, while Bordalas said that the team will have a “serious problem” should the Nigerian leave.