The rise of Nigerian footballers in European Leagues: Success stories and future prospects

Nigeria has a great history of producing some of football’s best talent, and this is a trend that has intensified in recent years. Nigerian footballers, much like NZ players benefiting from $200 no deposit bonuses and 200 free spins promos listed here, have taken advantage of opportunities in all major European leagues. Let’s take a look at some success stories and the bright future for young Nigerian prospects.

Nigerian Businessmen Investing in European Clubs

In the past few years, several Nigerian businessmen have invested in or tried to invest in European football clubs. Kunle Soname was the first one when he purchased 70% of the Portuguese side CD Feirense in 2015.

That acquisition proved to be the trendsetter. Just last year, Aliko Dangote was very close to purchasing a 100% stake in Valenciennes, and he even touted the idea of investing in Premier League giants Arsenal.

Another example is Dozu Mmobuosi, a Nigerian businessman who sought to take over Sheffield United but couldn't meet the Premier League requirements.

Overall, seeing Nigerian business people turn their attention towards Europe should be a no-brainer. After all, Nigeria is the African country with arguably the most talent football-wise in Europe.

So far, players in the country needed to rely on European scouts to come looking for them, but Nigerian businessmen seek to cut out the middleman. This way, they will make the whole journey for Nigerian footballers much easier and smoother.

Success Stories from the Past

History is full of Nigerian footballers who have made their mark in Europe with their skill, ambition, and persistence to win accolades – regardless of their league. Of course, we don’t have time and space for them all here, but here are some of the most notable players who have made a great name for themselves in Europe in the past:

• Jay-Jay Okocha – For many, the most talented Nigerian footballer of all time. His fame was so great that fans jokingly kept saying – So good, they named him twice! He made his debut in 1993 and went on to have a stunning career in the English Premier League.
• John Obi Mikel – Both Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho wanted to sign him, with the latter eventually winning the battle. Mikel was a great midfielder with an excellent mix of balance, strength, timing, and pace. He made 249 Premier League appearances and won numerous trophies along the way, including both the Premier League and the Champions League with Chelsea.
• Vincent Enyeama – One of the longest-serving Nigerian footballers in European football, Enyeama made his name as a stalwart in Lille. He played for his nation in three world cups and won one African Cup of Nations.
• Aiyegbeni Yakubu – Another striker who made a name for himself by playing for Portsmouth, Everton, Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers. His stellar Premier League career made him the fourth-highest African goalscorer in the league, with 96 goals to his name.
• Nwankwo Kanu — One of Arsenal's greats, Kany has an impressive portfolio. He is also one of the first Nigerians to gain international fame. He won the Champions League with Ajax in 1995 and the UEFA Cup with Inter the next year. Then, he joined Arsenal and enjoyed a stellar career in England’s top flight.

The Current Wave of Top-Class Nigerian Footballers

Today’s generation of world-class Nigerian footballers continues to make waves across Europe. By playing for the best teams on the continent and making great strides in their careers, such footballers continue to inspire young Nigerians watching them on TV.

First, we have to mention Victor Osimhen, who set Serie A on fire with his stunning goal-scoring ability for Napoli. He is the best example of what a strong, fast, and naturally gifted finisher should look like.

It is no surprise that he was one of the media stars throughout the entire summer transfer window. Even though Chelsea, PSG, and Arsenal expressed interest, Osimhen ended up on loan at Galatasaray.

Moving on from Osimhen, Wilfried Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho were key to Leicester’s return to the Premier League. The former scored 5 goals and recorded 5 assists, while the latter scored 5 times as well but didn’t feature as often as he would like.

Samuel Chukwueze is not to be neglected as well. His lightning pace, frightening skills and creativity led to AC Milan buying him from Villarreal. He is still developing at San Siro, but big things are expected of him in the coming years.

Up next, we have all been stunned by Leverkusen’s success in 2023/24, and as you can imagine – Nigerians were at the heart of the success. Both Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella were instrumental in Xabi Alonso’s record-breaking debut entire season in the Bundesliga. The club narrowly missed out on the perfect season, as they lost the Europa League final against Atalanta.

Speaking of Atalanta, Ademola Lookman’s stunning form led the Italian side to unprecedented success in Europe. He scored a hat-trick in the final against Leverkusen and 10 goals in Italy, thus helping his side finish fourth in Serie A.

Five-Star Pool of Players with Nigerian Origins

You might be surprised by some of the names we will mention. Still, European football is flooded with Nigerian talent – even though these players don’t represent the Nigerian national team.

Firstly, we have Bukayo Saka, the versatile Arsenal winger with Nigerian parents. He chose to play his trade in England, where he made his debut in 2020. He seems to get better with each passing year, and if this Arsenal generation is to have any success, the chances of that rely greatly on Saka.

Let’s not forget Jamal Musiala, the Bayern Munich winger selected to represent Germany. He was born there, but he has a Nigerian father. Just recently, he acknowledged that he was tempted by the idea of playing for Nigeria, but he eventually opted for Germany.

Last season we also saw the incredible rise of Eberechi Eze, the Crystal Palace winger who gained attention with his ability to navigate tight spaces and score some stunning and important goals along the way.

Manuel Akanji is another example: a player born to a Swiss mother and a Nigerian father. He is a key figure in Manchester City’s trophy-laden generation, and his ball-playing skills and leadership make him a valuable member of the Swiss national team and his club.

Noah Okafor is also of African descent. He joined AC Milan after a successful career at RB Salzburg. Okafor seems to have a knack for decisive goals, and he adds unpredictability to both his team and his nation.

Finally, a word of mention for Manchester United’s new striker – Joshua Zirkzee. He was born to a Dutch father and a Nigerian mother, but he opted to play for the Netherlands national team. He advanced from Bayern's academy before making his trade in Bologna and finally ending up on the red side of Manchester this summer.

What Lies Ahead?

All in all, we can safely say that the pool of Nigerian talent in European football is now stronger than ever, and it looks like that trend will continue its upward trajectory in the coming years.

The Nigerian Professional Football League can receive some of the plaudits for that, but we cannot neglect the importance of Nigerian businessmen investing heavily in European football. That makes the transition from Nigeria to Europe’s strongest teams much easier.

Players like Osimhen and Lookman are great examples of Nigerian talents who have transitioned from local leagues to the pinnacle of European football. More young players from Nigeria are scouted and signed by European teams, so it seems like the legacy of top-class footballers from the African country is as safe as ever.

The anticipation for the next world-class Nigerian footballer continues to build, and all parameters show that it won’t be long before he emerges onto the big scene!