Nigerian players have illuminated the Premier League for decades, with luminaries like Jay-Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, and John Obi-Mikel leaving an indelible mark on the English game.
Today, while the names might not be quite as famous, we still have several influential Nigerian players plying their trade in the Premier League.
Aussiebets.com.au have highlighted the top five Nigerian players playing in the Premier League today, ranking them from one to five.
- Taiwo Awoniyi – Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi, the 25-year-old Super Eagles forward, is making waves as a standout talent in the Premier League.
In last season’s PL campaign, the former Union Berlin forward finished the season as Forest’s leading scorer, finding the net ten times in 27 appearances.
Awoniyi’s exceptional form, especially during a critical late-season burst of six goals in just four games, was instrumental in securing Forest’s top-flight status.
A hugely popular presence in the Forest dressing room, the seven-time capped Nigerian international’s power, pace and ability in front of goal have quickly made him a key figure in Nottingham.
Awoniyi has already notched made his mark in the new Premier League season and is favourite with Stake, who have the promo code NEWBONUS, to top Forest’s goalscoring charts again.
- Alex Iwobi – Fulham
Our next big hitter cutting his teeth in the Premier League, Super Eagles star Alex Iwobi, made the surprise move from Everton to Fulham over the summer.
A key player in the Toffees’ midfield last season, Iwobi made 123 Premier League appearances in total at Everton. The former Arsenal youth player scored six goals and provided 11 assists before his move to South London in the summer.
Born in Lagos but raised in London, the 27-year-old Iwobi chose to represent the Super Eagles over the Three Lions, influenced in part by his legendary uncle, Jay Jay Okocha.
With 63 caps and ten goals, Iwobi remains a pivotal figure in the heart of the Nigerian midfield.
- Calvin Bassey – Fulham
The former Rangers defender made the move to Fulham this summer after a difficult season in Dutch football with Ajax.
A rapid and tough-tackling defender, Calvin Bassey joined Iwobi in switching to South London in a €21 million deal from the Dutch giants over the summer.
Before his transfer to the Netherlands, Bassey had enjoyed a fabulous breakthrough season in Glasgow, with his performances in Rangers run to the Europa League attracting attention from across the continent.
Now back on British soil, Bassey has made three appearances for the Cottagers but saw red in his first start at Arsenal.
- Frank Onyeka – Brentford
A dependable presence in Brentford’s emerging Premier League squad, Frank Onyeka played an important role in the Bees’ impressive performances last season.
Renowned for his combative midfield prowess, the 25-year-old has been a valuable asset since joining Thomas Frank’s side from Midtjylland in the summer of 2021,
Capped 12 times by the Super Eagles, Onyeka has wracked up nearly 50 Premier League appearances during his two-year spell in London.
- Ola Aina – Nottingham Forest
The versatile 26-year-old Nigerian defender made his return to the Premier League with Nottingham Forest this summer.
Ola Aina, who previously plied his trade at Fulham and Torino, brings plenty of experience with over 100 Serie A appearances at Torino and 30 caps for Nigeria.
A quick-fire and intelligent wing-back who adds undoubted defensive strength to the Forest rearguard, Aina has made five appearances at the City Ground this season.
