Edna Imade: From Refugee to Bayern Munich Star

Olorunfemi AdejuyigbeNovember 7, 20250472 views

Edna Imade’s journey from refugee to Bayern Munich star surpasses all challenges. Edna Imade’s story is one of survival. The story of Edna Imade begins not in the pristine training facilities of Europe’s elite football clubs but in the unforgiving expanse of the Sahara Desert. It is a tale that speaks to the resilience of the human spirit, the tireless pursuit of a mother’s love, and the extraordinary talent that can flourish even from the most harrowing circumstances.

In the year 2000, a pregnant Nigerian woman made a decision that would alter the path of her unborn children’s lives forever. Fleeing the violence and economic hardship that plagued Benin City, Nigeria, she embarked on a treacherous journey across the Sahara Desert, a voyage that countless migrants never complete. Pregnant with twins, she faced unimaginable challenges as she traversed one of the world’s most hostile environments, driven by the hope of providing a better future for her children. It was in Morocco, after that perilous crossing, that Edna Imade and her twin brother Paul first drew breath on 5 October 2000.

The Imade family spent just three months in Morocco before making yet another dangerous passage, this time across the Mediterranean Sea to Spain. At merely three months old, Edna Imade arrived in Algeciras, a port city in southern Spain, completing a journey that had begun in the desperation of West Africa and culminated in the promise of Europe. The family eventually settled in Seville, the capital of Andalusia, where they would rebuild their lives amidst humble circumstances, far removed from the Nigerian roots that still pulsed through their veins.

From Street Football to Spanish Stardom

Growing up in the working-class neighbourhoods of Seville, Edna Imade’s childhood bore little resemblance to that of most children with Nigerian heritage. She adopted the local Andalusian accent, absorbed Spanish culture, and learnt to navigate a world vastly different from the one her mother had known. Yet football became the universal language that would define her identity.

At the tender age of six, Edna Imade began her football journey in the small town of Carmona, joining Fútbol Base Carmona. In an era when women’s football was still fighting for recognition and resources, the young girl displayed a natural affinity for the beautiful game. What set her apart wasn’t just her talent; it was her fearlessness. Edna Imade often played on boys’ teams, holding her own against male competitors and developing the physical robustness and tactical awareness that would later become hallmarks of her playing style.

Her mother’s accounts of their harrowing journey across the Sahara and the subsequent voyage to Morocco remained etched in family lore, serving as a constant reminder of the sacrifices made for her opportunities.

During her formative years, Edna Imade gained unique insights into the game by serving as a referee, an experience that sharpened her understanding of football’s intricate rules and tactical dimensions. She also explored indoor football with Santana, where the faster pace and confined spaces honed her close control and quick decision-making. But it was her spell at AD Nervión in Seville that truly announced her arrival as a prodigious talent.

The Goal Machine Emerges

Between 2017 and 2019, Edna Imade became a scoring phenomenon at Nervión, a club competing in the second Andalusian women’s division. In just two seasons, she scored nearly 100 goals, a remarkable feat that captured the attention of Spanish football. Her combination of physical strength, aerial prowess, and clinical finishing made her virtually unstoppable at that level. Standing 179 centimetres tall, Edna Imade possessed the physicality to dominate defenders while maintaining the technical sophistication required at higher levels.

The goals attracted interest from clubs in Spain’s more competitive divisions, and in 2019, Edna Imade stepped up to Málaga CF Femenino. The move represented both a professional milestone and a personal vindication, proof that a girl born in extraordinary circumstances, raised far from her Nigerian homeland, which she had never visited, could carve out a successful career in one of Europe’s most competitive football markets.

After two seasons with Málaga, Edna Imade joined Cacereño Femenino in 2021, continuing her development and goal-scoring exploits. Each move represented another rung on the ladder, each season another chapter in a story that defied the odds. Yet the breakthrough that would truly transform her career came in April 2023 when Granada CF Femenino secured her signature.

The Granada Revolution

Wearing the number 19 jersey for Granada CF, Edna Imade didn’t just play football; she announced herself as one of Spain’s most exciting attacking talents. In the 2023-24 season, she made 29 appearances for the club, but it was the following campaign that truly elevated her status. The 2024-25 season saw Edna Imade explode onto the national stage with a remarkable 16 goals in just 29 appearances for Granada in Spain’s Liga F.

Her performances were nothing short of sensational. Edna Imade scored braces against multiple opponents, combining power and precision in a way that left defenders scrambling. She finished as the league’s second-highest scorer, level with Barcelona legend Alexia Putellas and trailing only Ewa Pajor’s 25 goals. For a player competing for Granada, a club without the resources or star power of Barcelona, Real Madrid, or Atlético Madrid, this achievement was extraordinary.

In December 2024, Edna Imade’s consistency and impact earned her the Liga F Player of the Month award, official recognition of what football purists had been observing all season: a world-class striker was emerging from relative obscurity. Her versatility proved equally valuable; comfortable operating as a centre-forward or drifting to the wings, Edna Imade offered tactical flexibility that made her an invaluable asset.

She described her own playing style with characteristic humility: “I can be deployed both in the centre and on the wings. I would describe myself as a strong header of the ball and finisher, and I’m also an absolute team player who always gives everything on the pitch.” This combination of individual quality and team-first mentality made her an irresistible prospect for Europe’s elite clubs.

The Bayern Munich Dream

In July 2025, Edna Imade achieved what might have seemed impossible just years earlier: she signed a four-year contract with Bayern Munich Women, one of the most prestigious clubs in world football. The deal, which runs until 30 June 2029, represented the culmination of years of sacrifice, persistence, and extraordinary talent.

Bianca Rech, Bayern Munich’s women’s football director, articulated why the club had pursued Edna Imade so determinedly: “Edna brings an exciting profile to the table, she’s fast, physically strong, and versatile in attack. After her impressive season in Spain, we now want to continue her positive development in the long term.”

However, as part of Bayern Munich’s strategic planning for her development, Edna Imade was immediately loaned to Real Sociedad for the 2025-26 season. The decision, made in consultation with the player and her representatives, allowed her to continue competing regularly in Spain’s top tier while remaining part of Bayern’s long-term project.

Real Sociedad: Making History

If Bayern Munich represented validation, Real Sociedad became the stage where Edna Imade truly announced herself as a world-class player. Edna Imade’s loan move to the Basque club proved inspired, as she immediately made a devastating impact.

In her opening matches for Real Sociedad, Edna Imade displayed the predatory instincts of an elite goalscorer. She scored in four consecutive games, including braces against her former club Granada and against Eibar. By early November 2025, she had netted seven goals in just seven league appearances, an extraordinary strike rate that placed her among Liga F’s top scorers.

Her performances earned Edna Imade the Liga F Player of the Month award for October 2025, her second such honour in less than a year. But it was her display on 3 November 2025 that truly captured the imagination of Spanish football.

Facing Barcelona, the reigning champions and arguably the best women’s team in the world, at the Zubieta Stadium, Real Sociedad were overwhelming underdogs. Barcelona had been unbeaten across all competitions, boasting a ten-match winning streak and an attacking force that had scored in every league game since January 2020. They dominated possession from the opening whistle, at times reaching 91% of the ball, creating wave after wave of attacks against Real Sociedad’s stubborn defence.

Yet football, as Edna Imade knows better than most, is not always about domination; sometimes it’s about moments. In the 37th minute, a long throw into Barcelona’s penalty area struck Laia Aleixandri’s arm. The referee, after a VAR review, pointed to the spot. With her team clinging to parity against the titans of Spanish football, Edna Imade stepped up. The weight of the moment, the unbeaten streak, the champions’ aura, and the 91% possession fell away as she struck the ball with calm precision, sending Barcelona’s goalkeeper the wrong way.

That single penalty proved decisive. Real Sociedad defended heroically, with Edna Imade tracking back to clear a goal-bound header from Irene Paredes in the dying moments. When the final whistle sounded, Real Sociedad had achieved a famous 1-0 victory, ending Barcelona’s unbeaten run and marking their first league defeat away from home since May 2023. More remarkably, it was Barcelona’s first goalless game in league play in nearly five years.

The victory catapulted Real Sociedad to third place in the Liga F standings, just four points behind Barcelona. For Edna Imade, it was another line added to a CV that was beginning to read like fiction.

The International Crossroads

While Edna Imade’s club career has ascended to remarkable heights, her international future remains one of Spanish football’s most intriguing stories. Born in Morocco to Nigerian parents and raised entirely in Spain, she is technically eligible to represent all three nations. Nigeria and Spain are engaged in a fierce competition to secure the services of Edna Imade because of her tri-national status.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons, Africa’s most successful women’s national team with ten continental titles, have been monitoring Edna Imade’s progress with keen interest. Coach Justine Madugu has openly acknowledged the federation’s pursuit of the striker, confirming multiple attempts to contact her through official channels and intermediaries.

“I’ve been following her progress, just like that of many of our players overseas,” Madugu revealed. “She had an excellent campaign with Granada last season and is already doing well on loan at Real Sociedad. Despite multiple attempts, including writing to her club and reaching out to some of our players in Spain last season, she has yet to make a definitive decision.

The coach’s words carry a tone of cautious optimism mixed with resignation. “I was reliably informed that she was initially keen about playing for Nigeria,” Madugu continued. “I don’t want to believe her representatives are complicating things due to speculated interest from Spain, but we truly value her talent.”

Edna Imade maintains connections with relatives in Benin City, the Nigerian city her mother fled decades ago. Her mother still dreams of returning to their homeland someday, when it’s safe, when circumstances allow. Yet Edna Imade herself has never set foot in Nigeria. Her connection to the country exists primarily through family stories, cultural heritage, and the Nigerian passport she holds.

For Nigeria, securing Edna Imade’s commitment would represent a significant coup. The Super Falcons have traditionally relied on home-based talent supplemented by players in European leagues; however, competition for dual-eligible players has intensified as other nations become more proactive in their recruitment efforts.

However, Spain presents a compelling alternative. World champions after their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup triumph, La Roja represents the pinnacle of women’s international football. Spanish national team coach Sonia Bermúdez has been refreshingly direct about her intentions, confirming in October 2025: “We’re in the process of getting her to join us; we just need to finalise some paperwork. She’s a player we want to have with Spain.”

Bermudez’s remarks imply that Spain has outperformed Nigeria in the competition for Edna Imade’s loyalty. According to reports, the striker initiated Spanish naturalisation proceedings in May 2025, signalling her apparent preference for representing the country where she has lived her entire life. Some observers have interpreted her loan move to Real Sociedad as a strategic move to fulfil residency requirements while processing her Spanish citizenship application.

For players of immigrant heritage, the situation represents a familiar dilemma: the tug of ancestral roots versus the reality of lived experience. Edna Imade grew up speaking Spanish with an Andalusian accent, trained in Spanish football academies, and built her career in Spanish leagues. Yet her identity remains inextricably linked to her mother’s harrowing journey. This includes her origins in Nigeria, the sacrifices made for her opportunities, and the Nigerian blood that courses through her veins.

Controversially, despite her scintillating form, Edna Imade was not included in Nigeria’s squad for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, a tournament the Super Falcons won for the tenth time. African football was shocked by the omission, with many questioning why a striker of her calibre remained uncapped. She was similarly overlooked for Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying double-header against the Republic of Benin in November 2025.

Some interpret these omissions as evidence that Nigeria has resigned itself to losing Edna Imade to Spain. Others suggest internal politics or communication breakdowns have hampered the recruitment process. Whatever the explanation, time is running short for the Super Falcons to secure their commitment before Spain completes the administrative formalities.

Beyond the Pitch

Away from football, Edna Imade reveals dimensions that complicate any simplistic narrative. She holds a degree in administration from a higher education institution. The journey from that three-month-old infant arriving in Algeciras to the goal scorer dismantling Barcelona’s dominance represents more than athletic success.

Her mother’s dream of one day returning to Nigeria remains unfulfilled, held back by safety concerns and circumstances. Yet through her daughter’s success, a different kind of return becomes possible, not a physical homecoming, but a symbolic one. Should Edna Imade ultimately choose to represent Nigeria internationally, she would complete a circle that began when her pregnant mother fled Benin City in 2000.

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The Road Ahead

Edna Imade, at the age of 25, is poised to achieve greatness. Her Bayern Munich contract runs until 2029, providing long-term security at one of Europe’s premier clubs. Edna Imade’s performance for Real Sociedad has been extraordinary, particularly her penalty against Barcelona, which solidified her reputation as one of the most formidable strikers in Liga F. The October 2025 Player of the Month award, her goals against the Spanish elite, and interest from two national teams all testify to a player reaching her peak.

The question of international allegiance remains unresolved, a subplot that adds intrigue to an already compelling narrative. Will Edna Imade choose Nigeria, honouring her heritage and her mother’s homeland? Or will she opt for Spain, representing the country that provided sanctuary, opportunity, and the football education that shaped her? Morocco, her birthplace, might even enter the conversation, though this seems the least likely outcome.

For Nigeria, the stakes extend beyond a single player. The Super Falcons face increasing competition from European nations in recruiting diaspora talent. Losing Edna Imade to Spain would represent a symbolic defeat in this ongoing battle, a reminder that cultural heritage alone cannot always compete with lived experience and professional considerations.

For Spain, adding Edna Imade would provide tactical versatility and proven goal-scoring to complement their existing attacking options. Following their World Cup triumph, La Roja seeks to maintain dominance, and a physical, clinical striker like Edna Imade fits perfectly into their evolving system.

A Story Still Being Written

The beauty of Edna Imade’s journey lies not in its conclusion but in its ongoing unfolding. Every goal she scores, every match she dominates, adds another chapter to a narrative that began in desperation and continues in triumph. Her story transcends football, touching on themes of migration, identity, sacrifice, and the pursuit of dreams against overwhelming odds.

When her mother crossed the Sahara Desert whilst pregnant with twins, she couldn’t have imagined that 25 years later, her daughter would be scoring penalties against Barcelona, winning player of the month awards, and signing contracts with Bayern Munich. She was simply trying to survive, to provide her unborn children with possibilities that Nigeria in 2000 could not offer.

Wherever her international allegiance ultimately lies, whatever heights she reaches in her career, Edna Imade has already achieved something extraordinary; she has transformed her mother’s desperate gamble into a story of triumph. And that story, rich with adversity overcome and dreams realised, is far from finished.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where was Edna Imade born?

Edna Imade was born in Morocco on 5 October 2000, after her mother made a perilous journey across the Sahara Desert from Benin City, Nigeria. She was born as a twin alongside her brother Paul, and the family spent just three months in Morocco before crossing the Mediterranean Sea to Spain.

2. Which club does Edna Imade play for?

Edna Imade is contracted to Bayern Munich Women until 30 June 2029, having signed a four-year deal in July 2025. However, she is currently on loan at Real Sociedad for the 2025-26 season, where she has been in sensational form with seven goals in her first six league appearances.

3. Has Edna Imade played for Nigeria?

No, Edna Imade has not yet made her international debut for any country. Despite being eligible to represent Nigeria, Spain, and Morocco, she remains uncapped. Nigeria’s Super Falcons have been actively pursuing her, whilst Spain is reportedly in the process of finalising her naturalisation paperwork. Her international future remains one of Spanish football’s most intriguing ongoing sagas.

4. How many goals did Edna Imade score for Granada?

During the 2024-25 season, Edna Imade scored an impressive 16 goals in 29 appearances for Granada CF in Spain’s Liga F. This remarkable tally placed her as the league’s second-highest scorer, level with Barcelona legend Alexia Putellas and trailing only Ewa Pajor’s 25 goals. Her performances earned her the Liga F Player of the Month award in December 2024.

5. What is Edna Imade’s playing style?

Edna Imade is a versatile forward who can operate as a centre forward or on the wings. Standing 179 centimetres tall, she combines physical strength with technological sophistication. She describes herself as “a strong header of the ball and finisher” who is also “an absolute team player who always gives everything on the pitch.” Her aerial prowess, clinical finishing, and work rate make her one of Spain’s most complete strikers.

6. Why did Edna Imade’s mother cross the Sahara Desert?

Edna Imade’s mother fled Benin City, Nigeria, in 2000 while pregnant with twins, escaping violence and economic hardship. She made the dangerous journey across the Sahara Desert, a route that claims countless migrant lives annually, driven by the hope of providing a better future for her unborn children. After reaching Morocco, where Edna and her brother were born, the family made another perilous crossing over the Mediterranean Sea to Spain, eventually settling in Seville.