Chelsea Loanee Omeruo In Line To Overtake Finidi As 22nd Youngest Nigerian To Debut In La Liga

Chelsea loanee Kenneth Omeruo is poised to make his La Liga debut this evening in CD Leganés' clash with Athletic Club at the  San Mamés Barria (Bilbao).

Manager of Los Pepineros, ‎Mauricio Pellegrino, named Omeruo in a 20-man traveling party to Bilbao on Sunday, four days after his season-long loan signing was confirmed by the club.

If the central defender is given a run-out, he will overtake ex-Real Betis winger Finidi George as the 22nd youngest Nigerian player to debut in the Spanish topflight, aged 24 years 10 months 3 days.

Finidi was 25 years 4 months 17 days when he made his maiden league appearance in Spain for Betis in their 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on September 1, 1996, in which he opened his account after 13 minutes.

Nigeria's youngest ever player to feature in the Spanish top-flight, Isaac Success, was 18 years 7 months 24 days when he made his La Liga debut against Elche on August 31, 2014.

Youngest Nigerian Debutants In La Liga (Top 22)

1) Isaac Success - Granada v Elche 2014 - 18 years 7 months 24 days
2) Sunday Stephen - Valencia vs Villarreal 2007 - 18 years 11 months 9 days
3) Francis Uzoho - Deportivo de La Coruña v Eibar 2017 - 18 years 11 months 17 days
4) Uche Agbo - Granada v Levante 2015 - 19 years 2 months 19 days
5) Gbenga Okunowo - Barcelona v Racing Santander 1998 - 19 years 6 months 1 day
6) Nduka Ugbade - CD Castellón v Sevilla 1989 - 20 years 3 months 4 days
7) Ramon Azeez - Almeria v Elche 2013- 20 years 8 months 18 days
8) Festus Agu - SD Compostela v Celta Vigo 1996 - 20 years 9 months 22 days
9) Nosa Igiebor - Betis v Real Valladolid CF 2012 - 21 years 10 months  8 days
10) Christopher Kanu - Deportivo Alavés v Espanyol 2001 - 21 years 11 months 7 days
11) Odion Ighalo - Granada v Betis 2011- 22 years 2 months 11 days
12) Oghenekaro Etebo - Las Palmas v Malaga 2018 - 22 years 2 months 27 days
13) Victor Obinna - Malaga v Deportivo de La Coruña 2009 - 22 years 5 months 19 days
14) Mutiu Adepoju - Racing Santander v Rayo Vallecano 1993 - 22 years 8 months 14 days
15) Ikechukwu Uche - Recreativo Huelva v Getafe 2006 - 22 years 9 months 17 days
16) Bartholomew Ogbeche - Espanyol v Real Valladolid CF - 22 years 10 months 26 days
17) Abass Lawal - Albacete Balompié v Osasuna - 22 years 11 months 17 days
18) Christopher Ohenhen - SD Compostela v Real Sociedad - 23 years 10 months 21 days
19) Olarenwaju Kayode- Girona v Atlético Madrid - 24 years 3 months 11 days
20) Imoh Ezekiel - Las Palmas v Sevilla - 24 years 3 months 24 days
21) Kalu Uche - Deportivo de La Coruña v Almeria - 24 years 9 months 11 days
22) Finidi George - Real Betis v Athletic Bilbao - 25 years 4 months 17 days

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : instagram.com/omeruo