Young Nigerians in the EPL: The Next Generation
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 5:42 pm
https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng ... ague-clubs
The Guardian did a good feature yesterday on 20 of the best talents at Premier League clubs. An eye opener was that four players of Nigerian descent featured in their list...
Bukayo Saka
Freddie Ljungberg, the Arsenal under-23s manager, is excited about Saka, who is comfortably the most talented player in his age bracket at the club. A regular for the under-18s last season – he was almost unplayable in the FA Youth Cup against Liverpool – Ljungberg has given him game time for the under-23s so far this season. Saka is a left winger who can also play at left-back, who trades on his power, directness, ability to beat his man and final ball. The London-born England under-17 international has a physical solidity that belies his years. With Reiss Nelson on loan at Hoffenheim for the season, he senses sustained opportunity at under-23 level.
Saka in action:
Mustapha Olagunju
The Plumstead-born defender had not been involved with a professional club before joining Huddersfield in the summer from the XYZ Academy in London but coaches at the Yorkshire club have been impressed by the progress that he has already made since his arrival. His athletic qualities are obvious – he is 6ft 2in, strong and fast – but his attitude, understanding of the game and his deftness on the ball are the traits that coaches find especially encouraging. He is eligible to play for both England and Nigeria.
Daniel Jinadu
"After being released by Chelsea last December, the goalkeeper quickly set about looking for a new club. Birmingham, Leicester, Southampton and Tottenham showed interest before Jinadu agreed a two-year scholarship deal with West Ham in January. Jinadu, who is of Nigerian descent, has represented England at youth level and Manuel Pellegrini included him in the first team’s pre-season training camp. It was a big vote of confidence in the youngster’s ability from West Ham’s manager, who will expect him to progress at youth level this season."
Faustino Anjorin
Anjorin has been with Chelsea since the age of six, a powerful, box-to-box midfielder who scored eight goals in 24 games for the youth team last season including the last in the 4-0 Youth Cup final second-leg rout of Arsenal at the Emirates. Jody Morris, then coaching the under-18s, suggested he was the best finisher in his group, with the England U17 international also debuting in the Uefa Youth League win over Atlético Madrid. He follows a long recent line of youth internationals produced by Chelsea who are technically and physically proficient and, as a player with such distinct attributes, will draw inevitable comparisons with Ruben Loftus-Cheek even if their styles are actually different. Signed a scholarship deal in July.
Anjorin in action:
The Guardian did a good feature yesterday on 20 of the best talents at Premier League clubs. An eye opener was that four players of Nigerian descent featured in their list...
Bukayo Saka
Freddie Ljungberg, the Arsenal under-23s manager, is excited about Saka, who is comfortably the most talented player in his age bracket at the club. A regular for the under-18s last season – he was almost unplayable in the FA Youth Cup against Liverpool – Ljungberg has given him game time for the under-23s so far this season. Saka is a left winger who can also play at left-back, who trades on his power, directness, ability to beat his man and final ball. The London-born England under-17 international has a physical solidity that belies his years. With Reiss Nelson on loan at Hoffenheim for the season, he senses sustained opportunity at under-23 level.
Saka in action:
Mustapha Olagunju
The Plumstead-born defender had not been involved with a professional club before joining Huddersfield in the summer from the XYZ Academy in London but coaches at the Yorkshire club have been impressed by the progress that he has already made since his arrival. His athletic qualities are obvious – he is 6ft 2in, strong and fast – but his attitude, understanding of the game and his deftness on the ball are the traits that coaches find especially encouraging. He is eligible to play for both England and Nigeria.
Daniel Jinadu
"After being released by Chelsea last December, the goalkeeper quickly set about looking for a new club. Birmingham, Leicester, Southampton and Tottenham showed interest before Jinadu agreed a two-year scholarship deal with West Ham in January. Jinadu, who is of Nigerian descent, has represented England at youth level and Manuel Pellegrini included him in the first team’s pre-season training camp. It was a big vote of confidence in the youngster’s ability from West Ham’s manager, who will expect him to progress at youth level this season."
Faustino Anjorin
Anjorin has been with Chelsea since the age of six, a powerful, box-to-box midfielder who scored eight goals in 24 games for the youth team last season including the last in the 4-0 Youth Cup final second-leg rout of Arsenal at the Emirates. Jody Morris, then coaching the under-18s, suggested he was the best finisher in his group, with the England U17 international also debuting in the Uefa Youth League win over Atlético Madrid. He follows a long recent line of youth internationals produced by Chelsea who are technically and physically proficient and, as a player with such distinct attributes, will draw inevitable comparisons with Ruben Loftus-Cheek even if their styles are actually different. Signed a scholarship deal in July.
Anjorin in action: