The Leading Nigerian Players In The Premier League

Following Leicester City’s relegation from the Premier League, there are few Nigerian internationals currently plying their trade in the English top flight.

Historically, the league has provided a platform for some of the nation’s greatest-ever players to excel. The likes of Nwankwo Kanu and Jay-Jay Okocha have torn the Premier League apart in the past.

But now with many of the biggest names retired, and some of the most experienced internationals suffering relegation last term, who are the top Nigerians that remain present in the modern-day Premier League?

Alex Iwobi

Alex Iwobi is well known as the nephew of the great Jay-Jay Okocha. Living up to his uncle’s name was always going to be an impossible task. However, he has still shone for club and country and has expressed an excellent ability to play in a variety of positions.

🇳🇬 @alexiwobi 😁 pic.twitter.com/do9DL6HuKO

— Everton (@Everton) August 19, 2023

Iwobi has established himself as one of the standout players for relegation-threatened Everton. The team is predicted to face another battle against the drop this year. At Premier Bet, they are offered at +170 to be relegated to the Championship in the 2023/24 season.

The experienced Nigeria international has been one of the key reasons for Everton’s Premier League survival over the past few seasons. His enormous work rate and willingness to relentlessly press the opposition have helped Everton to navigate tough fixtures and subsequently beat the drop on successive occasions over the past few years.

Ahead of the African Cup of Nations, Iwobi will be looking to come back from injury, as reported at Complete Sports, and help set his team up in a strong position to survive relegation. With Iwobi, they have consistently defied the odds to remain a Premier League outfit, but in his absence, they could struggle to record enough points to remain on track to stay in the league.

No other player for the Toffees has the unique blend of technical ability and work rate that the Nigerian midfielder possesses. Iwobi is vital to his club side and is undoubtedly the standout Nigerian in the Premier League at present.

Related: The Top 10 Most Valuable Nigerian Footballers In 2023

Taiwo Awoniyi

Taiwo Awoniyi was once on the books of Everton’s Merseyside rivals Liverpool. However, now he is well into a fresh Premier League chapter with Nottingham Forest.

Awoniyi has recorded just six caps for the national team, but he will surely feature in the AFCON squad following his impressive performances for Forest ever since he joined. He has averaged a goal every 126 minutes in his opening 29 appearances for the club, making him one of the most prolific forwards in the league.

🇳🇬 Taiwo Awoniyi is one of the most underrated forwards in the game right now.

8️⃣ goals in his last 6️⃣ Premier League games.

If he scores next weekend he will join Mohamed Salah and Emmanuel Adebayor who hold the African record of scoring in 7️⃣ consecutive Premier League… pic.twitter.com/lGyBzFpmqP

— Bence Bocsák (@BenBocsak) August 20, 2023

Awoniyi has not established himself in the league to the level of Iwobi yet, however, he is not only flying the flag for Nigerian frontmen, but he is one of the most consistent goalscorers of all nationalities in the league.

The Premier League is currently deprived of a wide range of excellent Nigerian footballers compared to the legends it hosted in the past.

However, Iwobi and Awoniyi are both examples of impressive footballers who are well deserving of a place in the biggest league in the world. Given time, they could perhaps earn themselves the title of Premier League legends who hail from Nigeria.