Awoniyi, Aribo – who is joining the Super Eagles’ Premier League army next?

The Premier League is the preferred soccer competitors in Nigeria and that’s not an accident

On the finish of the Eighties and the early Nineties, the Belgian league grew to become a Mecca for Nigerian footballers.

Enjoying within the Jupiler league grew to become a pilgrimage for Nigerian footballers and fairly various former Tremendous Eagles stars plied their trades there. Occasions have since modified because the Premier League has develop into a second house for Nigerian footballers.

How The Premier League Turned Residence

Since Kanu Nwankwo joined Arsenal in 1999, the Premier League has develop into Nigerians’ favorite league.

Many followers wished to see their favorite gamers shine on the high degree and English soccer was starting to develop in prominence.

Kanu wasn’t the primary Tremendous Eagles star to play within the Premier League. Efan Ikoku, who represented the Tremendous Eagles on the USA 94’ World Cup had starred within the Premier League.

Celestine Babayaro was additionally one among Chelsea’s shiny lights since 1997 when he joined the Blues. Kanu’s Arsenal prominence nevertheless gave the league a correct base in Nigeria.

The previous Ajax ahead received the Premier League and FA Cup a number of instances at Arsenal and is without doubt one of the membership’s most revered heroes.

What Kanu and to an extent, Babayaro had began was solidified by Jayjay Okocha’s breathtaking showmanship at Bolton Wanderers. His theatrics with the ball grew to become one of many brightest moments within the league’s historical past and followers beloved to see him.

Okocha joined Bolton on the age of 29 however had one of many brightest intervals of his profession on the membership. Many Nigerians noticed his stardom on a extra common foundation because the Tremendous Eagles offered the most effective of that previously.

His time at Bolton additionally coincided with a interval the Premier League had begun to settle in Nigeria and the arrival of Supersport. Nigerians noticed their superstars on a extra constant foundation.

Since Okocha, many Nigerians have shone within the Premier League. Yakubu Aiyegbeni is without doubt one of the highest-scoring Africans within the historical past of the league as he starred from Portsmouth to Middlesbrough, Blackburn and Everton. He moved to the Premier League in 2003 from Israel’s Maccabi Haifa.

John Obi Mikel, is by far, probably the most profitable Nigerian to have ever performed within the Premier League contemplating his laurels at Chelsea. His switch tussle between Chelsea and Manchester United continues to be one of many coldest tales of the soccer window warfare.

Obafemi Martins additionally took on Alan Shearer’s #9 jersey when he joined Newcastle in a £10m transfer from Inter Milan in 2006.

At Everton, Joseph Yobo had develop into a family title and a cult hero on the membership, shining as David Moyes’ first signing for the membership when he joined from Olympique Marseille in 2002.

The Premier League has all the time been the place to be for Nigerian footballers and it’s the last word aim for many Nigerians.

Osaze Odemwingie additionally shone as one among Nigeria’s finest exports when he joined from Lokomotiv Moscow. The previous Lille ahead additionally represented Cardiff Metropolis within the league.

Different Tremendous Eagles gamers who additionally performed within the Premier League prior to now had been Taye Taiwo, Brown Ideye, Ahmed Musa amongst others.

A few of these strikes have been pressured, others for the attract of cash and being nearer to household however taking part in in England’s high division, regardless of the measurement of the membership, is taken into account a serious step to extra prominence for a Nigerian footballer.

The brand new technology for the evergreen need

Within the present Tremendous Eagles setup, just about each participant has had one involvement or the opposite with English soccer.

Maduka Okoye is at Watford, Ola Aina was raised in English soccer, Semi Ajayi, William Troost-Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Jamilu Collins, Leon Balogun, Oghenekaro Etebo, Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Joe Aribo, Frank Onyeka, Calvin Bassey, Emmanuel Dennis, Musa, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, and Taiwo Awoniyi have all been concerned with English soccer.

After Awoniyi accomplished a £17.5m transfer to Nottingham Forest, and Aribo additionally made a £10m plus add-ons transfer to Southampton, it’a anticipated that extra gamers will be a part of the huge military.

The most important Tremendous Eagles star of the second, Victor Osimhen has been repeatedly linked with a switch to the Premier League all window and nothing is deemed inconceivable in soccer.

Moses Simon can also be believed to be on the radar of varied Premier League golf equipment together with Newcastle and Leeds United.

It’s quick changing into the Nigerian present in England’s high division and the query on lips is, who would be the subsequent Tremendous Eagles participant to leap ships?