Nigerian players who have represented Arsenal and how they performed

While not all of them went on to play for the Super Eagles, their roots have remained a point of pride for Nigerian fans. Some became stars at the club, while others had only brief spells. 

Below is a detailed list of Nigerian players who have featured for the Gunners.

Kanu is without doubt the most famous Nigerian to play for Arsenal. Signed from Inter Milan in 1999, he became a fan favourite due to his flair, creativity, and big-game goals. He scored some unforgettable goals, including a stunning hat-trick against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in 1999.

During his time at Arsenal, he won 2 Premier League titles, 2 FA Cups and 1 FA Community Shield for the club.

Kanu was also part of the squad during the early years of the “Invincibles” era under Arsène Wenger. His calmness, football intelligence, and humility made him a legend among both Arsenal and Nigerian fans.

Born in Lagos and raised in England, Iwobi came through the Arsenal academy and made his senior debut in 2015. He was a regular under Wenger and Unai Emery, known for his work rate and dribbling.

Iwobi made over 100 appearances for Arsenal and scored in the 2019 UEFA Europa League final against Chelsea, despite the team losing 4-1.

Although he moved to Everton in 2019, his years at Arsenal helped him develop into a regular for the Nigerian national team.

Akpon was English-born but is of Nigerian descent, holding both UK and Nigerian citizenship, as both of his parents are from Nigeria. 

Akpom was seen as a promising talent from the academy and made his debut at age 17. However, he struggled to break into the first team consistently and spent most of his time on loan at various clubs.

He eventually moved to PAOK in Greece, where he rediscovered his form and later returned to English football. Although he never made a major impact at Arsenal, he remains a player of Nigerian heritage linked with the club.

Saka is one of the brightest footballers to come out of Arsenal’s Hale End academy. Born to Nigerian parents in London, he has been a regular starter for Arsenal since the 2019-20 season.

Although he chose to represent England internationally, his Nigerian roots are well celebrated among fans. Saka helped lead Arsenal’s recent title challenges and has become one of the most important players at the club.

He has won the FA Cup (2020) and FA Community Shield (2020, 2023) at Arsenal, while he has already made over 200 appearances despite being in his early 20s. 

Saka might be representing England at the senior level, but he has never forgotten his roots, having visited Nigeria several times, even performing some philanthropic acts.

Balogun is a highly rated striker who came through Arsenal’s academy. Born in New York to Nigerian parents, he was eligible to play for Nigeria, England, and the United States but chose to represent the USMNT.

Balogun impressed on loan at Reims in Ligue 1, where he scored over 20 league goals in the 2022–23 season. He later joined Monaco in 2023 after finding first-team chances limited at Arsenal.

Though he did not make a major impact at Arsenal, his Nigerian heritage and academy roots still connect him with Nigerian fans.

Ethan Nwaneri made headlines in 2022 when he became the youngest player to ever feature in a Premier League match, making his Arsenal debut at just 15 years old. 

Born to Nigerian parents in London, Nwaneri’s rapid rise through the Hale End academy has made him one of the most talked-about young talents in English football.

Despite his young age, Nwaneri has already shown flashes of brilliance with Arsenal's youth and senior setups. He plays primarily as an attacking midfielder and is known for his vision, dribbling, and confidence on the ball. 

Arsenal fans and Nigerian supporters alike have kept a close eye on his development, hoping he reaches world-class status.

Although he has represented England at youth level, Nwaneri remains eligible to play for Nigeria, and there is still hope that he might switch allegiance in the future. 

Semi Ajayi joined Arsenal from Charlton’s academy but did not make a senior appearance for the Gunners. He was a regular for the under-21 side and occasionally trained with the first team.

He later moved on and built a solid professional career with Rotherham and West Brom, eventually becoming a regular for the Nigerian national team.

Though his time at Arsenal was brief, Ajayi's development years at the club were important to his football journey.

There are several other players of Nigerian descent that have played for Arsenal at academy level but never made it to the senior team, and there are other young players still rising, and will hopefully get their opportunity.