Hercules announced this Thursday that the striker’s contract has been terminated, ending the chapter of Ander Victory at the Alicante club. He arrived with expectations last summer, a move the coaching staff treated as a significant bet aimed at solidifying the team’s offensive core. The decision comes after a season where the forward’s contributions fell short of the ambitions set for him, and the overall performance of his side did not translate into the style of play or results that the project envisioned. As the season unfolded, it became clear that the striker struggled to establish himself as a consistent source of goals and impact, which weighed heavily on the team’s plans for balancing the attack and maintaining momentum in pivotal fixtures. The club’s leadership likely weighed the potential benefits of continuity against the realities on the pitch, ultimately deciding to move in a different direction in the attacking department. The outcome marks a notable shift for Hercules and leaves the squad to recalibrate its forward options ahead of the next phase of the campaign. The termination underscores the rigorous evaluation process that determines which players best fit the club’s tactical identity and long-term goals, even when the signing was viewed as a bold strategic investment at the time of arrival.
The Basque forward joined and appeared in 22 matches, but only six of them as a starter. As coach Lolo Escobar explains, he will be out of the squad for most of the season due to inconsistency in form and a struggle to translate training performances into decisive contributions during matches. This pattern constrained his role within the attack and limited the variety of options available to the coach when constructing offensive lineups. In a season where every decision at the front end carried weight, the participant’s inability to sustain a high level of effectiveness reduced his value to the squad and complicated the coaching staff’s attempts to build reliable attacking structures. The dynamic within the forward department, already under pressure to deliver, now shifts as the team looks to other players to fill the void, while reassessing how to maximize the strengths of its remaining forwards. The coaching staff, players, and supporters will be watching closely as this transition unfolds, with the aim of maintaining competitiveness and continuity on the field.
The Alicante club issued a statement expressing appreciation for the Basque striker’s work and wishing him the best of luck in both his professional and personal future. The decision to part ways with Ander Vitoria adds to a series of departures previously announced by the club, including Sergio Marcos, Felipe Chacartegui and Mario Gomez. The message from Hercules highlighted respect for the contributor’s efforts during his tenure and signaled a clear understanding of the need to realign personnel to meet the club’s evolving objectives. In reflecting on the changes, the organization stressed the importance of strategic clarity and the pursuit of a roster capable of sustaining momentum across the season. While these exits mark a period of transition, they also open opportunities for emerging talents and for the coaching staff to experiment with different configurations in attack, always with an eye toward maintaining a competitive edge in the league and cup competitions. The club’s stance emphasizes forward-looking planning and a commitment to building a squad that can consistently compete at a high level over the remaining fixtures and future campaigns.