The history of Nigerian Premier Leauge players in England isn’t a long one, but it certainly is a rich one. There have been many who have made their mark in England. After taking readers’ responses into consideration, here is our list of the 10 top Nigerian Premier League footballers of all-time:
Click to read the Top Nigerian Premier League Footballers #10-6 first.
The 10 Top Nigerian Premier League Players of All-time
5. Osaze Odemwingie — West Brom, Crystal Palace, Stoke City —
The Nigerian winger had a successful transition from Russian club Lokomotiv to West Bromwich Albion for the 2010 season. He was a success from the start, scoring in four consecutive matches. He was given two Player of the Month awards in his first season — a feat only achieved by six others — and broke the club record, scoring 15 goals in his first season for the up-start side. In 87 appearances, he scored 30 times. Near the transfer deadline in September 2013, he signed a two-year contract with Cardiff City for just £2.25 million — a fee many felt was a bargain. He feel out of favour with Cardiff City and subsequently moved on to Stoke City on an 18-month contract. He finished his first season strongly, but picked up a leg injury that kept him out for much of the 2014-15 season returning in April almost at the season’s conclusion. Odemwingie was loaned to Bristol City, a move he welcomed as he struggled for playing time at Stoke.
4. Yakubu Aiyegbeni — Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton, Leicester City, Blackburn Rovers, Reading —
After a move from Israeli side Maccabi Haifa, Yakubu was loaned to English side Portsmouth. The loan was made official in 2003, and he remained at the club through 2005. Many Portsmouth supporters will cite the striker’s excellent goal scoring rate, which remains a record to this day. In two seasons, the Nigerian recorded 28 goals. After the 2005 season, he was transferred for a record £7.5 million fee to Middlesborough. He had a great season, helping his club get to the UEFA Cup final. He moved again, this time to Merseyside club Everton in 2007 for a £11.25 million five-year deal. He was successful, scoring 20 goals in a season for the Toffees. He will be remembered for his ability to find the net, and is currently one of the two African-born players to have scored 100 goals in English football. He was loaned to Leicester City in 2011, scoring 11 goals in 20 appearances, before being sold to Blackburn Rovers. The 2012 season was his last in England.
3. John Obi Mikel — Chelsea FC —
John Obi Mikel had a frustrating start to his career in England after Manchester United and Chelsea fought over who actually signed him first from Norwegian club Lyn. The player ended up in London, plying his trade at Stamford Bridge after a settlement was reached. Mikel was brought into Chelsea as a replacement for midfielder Claude Makalele, who left the club to play at Paris Saint Germain. Since his first season, he has become a stalwart holding midfielder with The Blues, helping his club to win most major trophies available. He is one of only a few Nigerian-born footballers to hoist the Champions League trophy. While his time on the pitch has been reduced in recent years, mostly due to Ramires who remains a first choice in most situations, he is still a valuable squad player. Mikel has 75 appearances for Nigeria, and helped his club en route to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. But John Obi Mikel will forever be remembered as an anchor in the Chelsea mid field.
2. Augustine Jay-Jay Okocha — Bolton, Hull City —
The play-making attacking midfielder from Enugu, Nigeria, is well known as one of the top African footballers of all-time. His creativity on the pitch was evident; he boasted unbelievable control of the ball with step-overs and world class dribbling. Okocha spent most of his early professional seasons outside of England, plying his trade in Germany from 1990-1996. After his club team Eintracht Frankfurt were relegated, he moved his services to Turkey to play with Fenerbahçe—he earned Turkish citizenship while there. But when behemoth Paris Saint-Germain wrestled him away for £14 million—making him the most expensive African player—his legacy was truly being cemented. From 1998 through 2002, Okocha notched 23 goals in 84 appearances for the Parisian side. Also worth noting: he met and tutored a young Ronaldinho while in Paris. Okocha arrived in England on a free transfer to Bolton Wanderers in 2002 where he spent four seasons with the club. He endeared himself to the fans early, helping his club stay alive in the Premier League despite several worrisome seasons. In 2006, he left to play a season in Qatar, but found himself back in England just a year later, this time with Championship side Hull City. Okocha will be forever remembered as a creative player with unbelievable skill at a time when very few Nigerian-born players were making names for themselves in Europe.
1. Kanu Nwankwo — Arsenal, West Brom, Portsmouth —
Kanu was the face of Nigerian football for the better part of two decades, accumulating 87 caps for his country. But it’s the mark he left in England, particularly with Arsenal, that most will remember the talented forward. He began his European career with Ajax, where his 25 goals in 54 matches served notice to many managers around Europe at a time when the club had lost goal-scoring with the exit of Dennis Bergkamp to Internazionale. Interestingly, though at different times, Kanu took the exact same route to England as his eventual teammate, Bergkamp, took. He moved to Inter Milan in 1996 and remained with the Serie A side for three seasons. In February of 1999, Arsene Wenger brought the Nigerian to Arsenal. He had many very strong years for the North London club, culminating with the magical 2003-2004 “Invincibles” team that finished without a loss. His time became overshadowed by the arrival of one of, if the the greatest players in Premier League history, Thierry Henry, but nothing can take away for his propensity of finding the net and how he endeared himself to fans the world over. Kanu was twice named “African Footballer of the Year”.
Agree with our choices? For you, who is the best Nigerian footballer of all-time?
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