Nwaiwu moves above Rangers’ Fernandez in Super Eagles defender rankings

Chibuike Nwaiwu has overtaken Rangers defender Emmanuel Fernandez in the latest valuation of Nigeria’s defenders, with only Calvin Bassey ranked above the Trabzonspor centre-back, Soccernet.ng reports.

Transfermarkt’s updated figures value Nwaiwu at €18m, putting the 23-year-old level with Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina and €2m ahead of Fernandez, whose valuation stands at €16m.

Bassey remains the most valuable Nigerian defender at €28m, meaning Nwaiwu would need to add €10m to his current valuation to move into first place.

Nwaiwu’s rise is notable given that he only moved from Wolfsberger to Trabzonspor in January 2026 for a reported €5.5m fee. The Port Harcourt-born defender has quickly established himself in Turkey, starting each of Trabzonspor’s first six Super Lig matches of the 2026/27 season and recording 533 minutes.

He produced one of the standout displays of his campaign in Trabzonspor’s 4-0 win against Galatasaray on September 19. His contract with the Turkish club runs until June 2030.

A move to the Premier League was also close in the summer, with Fulham and Crystal Palace both nearing agreements to sign him.

Fernandez continues his rise at Rangers

Fernandez’s €16m valuation represents a significant increase of its own. The London-born centre-back joined Rangers from Peterborough United in July 2025 and has since become an established player at Ibrox.

He started all seven of Rangers’ Premiership matches at the latest statistical update, playing every minute. Fernandez also helped Derek McInnes’ side secure a 1-0 victory over Celtic on September 20.

The two defenders share the same international milestone, having both made their Nigeria debuts on 27 March 2026. Fernandez scored once in his first two appearances for the Super Eagles, while Nwaiwu has won three caps without scoring.

Bassey remains at the top of the rankings and is Nigeria’s most expensive defensive transfer signing. The Fulham player, now established as one of the Premier League’s finest defenders, has made six appearances and played 478 minutes this season.

He has recorded 17 clearances and won 20 duels during that run. Bassey has also captained Fulham on several occasions and was a key figure for the Super Eagles in their September Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.