Nigerian footballers have been blazing a trail through Europe for decades, though players from Nigeria have always had a special affinity for the Premier League and swathes of talented performers from the country have left an indelible mark on the English game.
To honour their impact, we’re shining the spotlight on some of the best Nigerian goalscorers in Premier League history. From penalty-box poachers to explosive finishers and target men to silky playmakers, Nigeria has produced all manner of potent Premier League attackers.
Join us on a retrospective journey as we list the top five Nigerian goalscorers in Premier League history below.
5. Kelechi Iheanacho – 42 goals
Born in Owerri, Kelechi Iheanacho signed for English giants Manchester City as an 18-year-old in 2012 and made his competitive debut for the club three years later in August 2015.
Right from that first glimpse, Iheanacho showcased incredible technical talent and the youngster scored 12 times in 46 appearances before signing for Leicester in 2017.
Ironically, Iheanacho missed out on a Premier League winner’s medal during his time with regular market favourites Manchester City before signing for Leicester just months after the Foxes had defied their massive odds on soccer betting sites to clinch the title in unexpected fashion.
Still, despite missing out on silverware, Iheanacho went on to score 25 times for Leicester before moving on a free transfer to Sevilla in Spain in July this year.
4. Shola Ameobi – 43 goals
Burly centre-forward Shola Ameobi was a firm fan favourite on Tyneside during his 14-year-long association with Newcastle in England’s north east.
Ameobi notched an impressive 43 goals and 20 assists in just under 300 Premier League appearances during his time at St. James’ Park, though his efforts during the club’s campaign in the Championship following a shock relegation in 2009 earned him cult hero status in Newcastle.
The striker was born in Zaria but moved to Newcastle at the age of five and joined the club’s academy shortly after.
3. Efan Ekoku – 52 goals
History-maker Efan Ekoku became the first player in Premier League to score four goals in a single sitting when he went goal-crazy for Norwich against Everton in September 1993, though the powerful striker was an impactful presence for most of the 90s.
Ekoku, who scored 52 top-flight goals while turning out for Norwich City and Wimbledon, had a knack for producing eye-catching and net-busting finishes, and was often the star of weekly goal reel compilations.
Though he was born in Manchester, Ekokou represented Nigeria at international level and was part of the Super Eagles squad that won the AFCON in 1994.
2. Nwankwo Kanu – 54 goals
Anyone who witnessed Nwankwo Kanu in full flight knew that they were experiencing something special. The languid forward regularly dazzled supporters with his incredible close control and dribbling skills, while his devastating finishing made him one of the Premier League’s most menacing prospects during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
A Champions League winner with Ajax as a precocious youngster, Kanu also played for Inter Milan before moving to Arsenal in 1999. The forward thrived under the instruction of legendary French coach Arsene Wenger in London and was a two-time Premier League title and three-time FA Cup winner with the Gunners.
Kanu went on to score 54 Premier League goals during stints with Arsenal, West Brom and Portsmouth before exiting the division with Pompey in 2010.
1. Yakubu – 95 goals
The highest-scoring Nigerian player in Premier League history – by some distance – is Yakubu Aiyegbeni – who plundered a superb 95 goals and 26 assists in 252 games during his prolific time in England’s elite division.
Yakubu got his first taste of the Premier League with promoted Portsmouth in 2003 and despite turning out for an unfancied outfit, the striker netted 16 goals during his maiden campaign at the top of the English football pyramid.
An equally productive jaunt with Middlesbrough followed before Yakubu joined Everton for a club-record fee in August 2007. It took the expert finisher just 11 minutes to score on his debut for the Toffees and Yakubu quickly established himself as a terrace favourite at Goodison Park.
Yakubu hit 25 goals in 82 Premier League outings for Everton before dropping down a tier with Leicester having joined the club on loan for half a season in January 2011.
The Nigerian star was soon back on the biggest stage with Blackburn for the 2011/12 campaign however, and scored a mammoth 17 goals in 30 games for Rovers, kicking things off with a double on his debut against Arsenal.
Even with Yakubu’s heroics, Blackburn couldn’t stay up that season and the centre forward soon escaped to the Chinese Super League to end his Premier League adventure.
