Etta Eyong: Cameroon’s new star shining in Spain | OneFootball

The 2025/26 season has revealed a new African gem. Lighting up La Liga, Etta Eyong has become one of the league’s most productive players in front of goal.

The Cameroonian striker is proving a rare bright spot in an otherwise gloomy campaign for Levante - and now carries the hopes of the Indomitable Lions in their push for a World Cup place.

Eyong joined Levante this season on loan from Villarreal and wasted no time settling in. He had already made his mark with the Yellow Submarine, scoring once and setting up two in three La Liga appearances, but his move to Valencia has seen his influence soar.

Since pulling on the Levante shirt, the 22-year-old has bagged five goals and provided one assist in just nine matches. That tally makes him the league’s second-most decisive player when it comes to goal involvement - trailing only Kylian Mbappé and level with Vinícius Júnior, Marcus Rashford and Julián Álvarez.

Despite his personal heroics, Eyong hasn’t been able to lift Levante out of trouble. While he competes with Europe’s elite for top-scorer honours, his team are fighting for survival — sitting second-bottom on nine points, with just two wins all season. Both victories, unsurprisingly, came courtesy of their in-form striker.

At only 22, this is Eyong’s first consistent run at senior level, but his attacking instincts are no surprise. They were the same traits that made him a standout in youth football across every club he’s passed through.

Following in the Footsteps of a Legend

Etta Eyong’s story echoes that of a national hero - Samuel Eto’o. Like the legendary forward, Eyong was born in Douala, Cameroon’s footballing heartland, and grew up dreaming of Europe’s big stages.

At 17, he was still playing locally for Galactique FC. Two years later, he was spotted by scouts from Cádiz, who offered him his first chance in Spanish football - just as Mallorca once did for Eto’o.

Eyong made an instant impact in Andalusia, scoring 12 times in 25 games for Cádiz’s B team in the third tier. That earned him a move to Villarreal, where he continued to impress, netting 19 goals in 30 matches for their reserves.

His second prolific season prompted Villarreal to keep him around for the 2025/26 campaign, but his stay was brief. After a bright start, Levante swooped in with a £3.8 million bid - double what Villarreal had paid.

It didn’t take long for them to realise what they’d let go. Eyong’s performances this year have seen his value skyrocket, with several European giants now circling. Barcelona, Manchester City and Arsenal have all been linked with the forward, who’s tied to Levante until 2028. His release clause currently stands at €30 million for foreign clubs and €40 million within Spain.

World Cup Mission

Eyong’s rise has also caught the eye of his national team. He earned his first senior call-up during the last international break and immediately started both crucial World Cup qualifiers - ahead of the experienced Vincent Aboubakar.

He led the line in matches against Mauritius and Angola, helping Cameroon secure a draw and a win to keep their hopes alive. The Indomitable Lions narrowly missed out on automatic qualification to Cape Verde, but remain in contention through the play-offs.

This Thursday, Cameroon face the Democratic Republic of Congo in the semi-finals of the African play-offs. In the other tie, Nigeria meet Gabon. The four sides are fighting for one final spot in the intercontinental play-offs - and Cameroon’s faith rests heavily on their new star, Etta Eyong.