AFCON 2025
Nigerian footballers have long left their mark on the Premier League, dating back to the days of Efan Ekoku and Daniel Amokachi in the competition’s early years. That legacy grew through the likes of Nwankwo Kanu, whose trophy-laden spells at Arsenal and Portsmouth made him one of the most decorated African players in English football history, and Celestine Babayaro, who became a Chelsea regular during the club’s early 2000s rise.
Yakubu Aiyegbeni built a reputation as one of the league’s most clinical finishers with Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and Everton, while former Super Eagles capatin John Obi Mikel spent over a decade at Chelsea, winning virtually every major trophy the club had to offer, including the Premier League title in 2009-10. Victor Moses added to that haul in 2016-17, becoming the last Nigerian to lift the Premier League trophy, a feat no compatriot has managed since. That gap has only sharpened Nigerian football fans’ appetite for the next generation to make their mark.
As the 2026/27 season gets underway on August 22, eight Nigeria-eligible players will represent the country across the division, from established internationals holding down key roles to fresh faces arriving via newly promoted clubs. Here’s a breakdown of who to watch this season.
1. Alex Iwobi (Fulham)
At 30, Iwobi remains arguably the most recognisable Nigerian player in the Premier League, having started his career at Arsenal. Iwobi finished last season with four goals and three assists across 29 appearances for Fulham. He faces a fresh chapter this season following a significant change at Craven Cottage: long-serving manager Marco Silva departed in the summer to take charge at Benfica, with former Real Madrid interim boss Alvaro Arbeloa arriving as his replacement on a three-year deal.
Arbeloa, largely untested at this level, inherits a settled Nigerian core in Iwobi and Bassey and how quickly he builds trust with his senior players could shape how prominent a role Iwobi plays this term. Iwobi holds the record for most Premier League appearances by a Nigerian player. He surpassed Shola Ameobi’s long-standing mark of 298 appearances in October 2025, during a Fulham defeat to his former club Arsenal, and went on to become the first Nigerian to reach 300 Premier League appearances a week later against Newcastle. That milestone also made him the fifth African player overall to reach 300 appearances, joining Kolo Toure, Mohamed Salah, Wilfried Zaha and Jordan Ayew.
2. Calvin Bassey (Fulham)
Bassey has grown into one of Fulham’s most important players since arriving from Ajax in 2023, a status underlined when he was named the club’s Player of the Season for 2024/25, becoming the first Nigerian and first African to win the award in Fulham’s history. He topped the fan vote with 39.6 per cent, comfortably ahead of compatriot Alex Iwobi in second, after a campaign in which he missed just three Premier League matches and anchored the Cottagers’ defence to a record points total.
New manager Alvaro Arbeloa has already made his admiration for the defender clear heading into the new season. Bassey wore the captain’s armband in Fulham’s final two pre-season fixtures, and Arbeloa has been vocal in his praise, describing him as “a proper and top player” whose pace and composure make him ideally suited to the high defensive line the Spaniard wants his team to play. Arbeloa has gone so far as to tip Bassey to become a leader in the Fulham dressing room, citing his professionalism and work ethic in training, as well as his qualities on the pitch.
Should the Nigerian international back up that endorsement with another standout season, growing interest from clubs higher up the table would not be a surprise. His combination of pace, aerial strength and composure in possession fits the profile increasingly sought by top-six sides looking for ball-playing defenders. At 26 and entering his prime years, another impressive campaign could be the one that finally prises him away from Craven Cottage.
3. Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest)
Aina begins his fifth consecutive Premier League season, now playing under new head coach Oliver Glasner following Forest’s managerial change in the off-season. Notably, he has set himself an ambitious personal target of five goals this campaign — a bold statement considering he finished last season without a single goal or assist despite starting all 18 of his league appearances. How he adapts to Glasner’s system will be one of the more interesting subplots to track early in the season.
4. Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest)
Awoniyi produced some of the most eye-catching moments of any Nigerian player last season, including a brace in a 3-1 win away at Chelsea in May, a reminder of his quality when fit and trusted in Forest’s attack. The bigger challenge heading into 2026-27 is staying fit across a full campaign, something he hasn’t managed since 2022-23. The signs towards the end of last season were encouraging, and a fit Awoniyi could be one of the most productive Nigerian forwards in the league this year.
5. Frank Onyeka (Coventry City)
Onyeka played a genuinely important role in Coventry City’s return to the Premier League after a 25-year absence, arriving on loan from Brentford in February and instantly becoming a key figure in Frank Lampard’s midfield during the run-in. He made 14 Championship appearances for the Sky Blues, scored the winning goal against Derby County, and helped anchor a midfield that carried Coventry to the Championship title and automatic promotion.
Lampard was effusive in his praise of the Nigerian’s impact, describing him as “brilliant” and crediting him with bringing balance to Coventry’s midfield alongside the club’s more attack-minded players. Beyond his performances, Lampard also highlighted Onyeka’s humility and work ethic, noting the positive influence his professionalism had on younger players in the squad. That impact ensured Coventry moved quickly to trigger the permanent deal built into his loan agreement, confirming the transfer within days of promotion being secured.
Having been one of the more experienced heads in a newly promoted squad, Onyeka now carries added responsibility as Coventry prepare for Premier League football. His spell at Brentford had grown limited under Keith Andrews following the departures of Thomas Frank and Bryan Mbuemo, but the move to Coventry revived his career at just the right time, and he will be looking to translate that promotion form into a foothold in the top flight this season.
6. Semi Ajayi (Hull City)
Hull City’s promotion back to the top flight brings Ajayi into the Premier League fold as a key defensive figure for the newly promoted side. As Hull adjust to life back among England’s elite, his experience could prove valuable in what’s expected to be a tough season of survival football.
7. David Akintola (Hull City)
Joining Ajayi at Hull is winger David Akintola, another new face in the Premier League this season. His pace and directness out wide will be an important attacking outlet for Hull as they look to establish themselves back in the top flight.
8. Chuba Akpom (Ipswich Town)
Akpom returns to the Premier League with Ipswich Town following their promotion, bringing proven goal-scoring pedigree from the Championship. His ability to lead the line will be central to Ipswich’s hopes of avoiding an immediate return to the second tier.
