Bright Osayi-Samuel sets sights on Premier League transfer, but who leads the chase for Nigeria star?

Published on by Emmanuel Ayamga

Nigeria defender Bright Osayi-Samuel is reportedly keen on returning to England during the next transfer window and has his eyes set on playing in the Premier League.

Osayi-Samuel started his professional career in England, lining up for Blackpool and Queens Park Rangers (QPR).

The 26-year-old enjoyed a decent spell with the aforementioned English clubs, reaching the EFL League Two playoffs with Blackpool in 2017 and winning both the Young Player of the Year and Goal of the Year awards at QPR in the 2019/20 season.

Bright Osayi-Samuel keen on Premier League move
Photo by Icon Sport

He subsequently joined Fenerbahce in January 2021 and has quickly risen to become a key player for the Turkish top-flight side.

Since moving to Turkey, Osayi-Samuel has settled in seamlessly and excelled despite transitioning from winger to right-back.

Bright Osayi-Samuel wants Premier League transfer

The Nigeria international has been ever-present for Fenerbahce in the Superlig and UEFA Europa Conference League this season.

The full-back has so far made 28 appearances in all competitions, while impressively contributing three goals and four assists.

His form has led to interest from some English clubs, with Leeds United said to be leading the race for his signature.

According to transfer expert Ben Jacobs, Osayi-Samuel is keen on returning to England but favours a move to the Premier League.

“Leeds' interest has been historical, so it's no surprise if they return. The player, should he make a move, and England is somewhere that he would be prepared to entertain, would ideally be looking for Premier League football, from what I'm told anyway,” Jacobs told GiveMeSport.

Leeds must gain Premier League promotion to sign Osayi-Samuel

Jacobs, however, noted that while Leeds’ interest in Osayi-Samuel is strong, the club must first gain promotion to the Premier League to stand any chance of signing him.

Osayi-Samuel is said to be enjoying his time at Fenerbahce and views returning to play in the lower tier of any league as a step backwards.

Leeds are also not the only club chasing the Nigerian, with Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers also keenly monitoring the situation.

“So if Leeds are to reignite interest in a player that they've tracked before, then it would likely, given that there is other Premier League interest, be contingent on them getting promoted,” Jacobs added.

The transfer expert was also quick to add that Leeds would have the upper hand over Crystal Palace and Wolves should they qualify for the Premier League, as they may have a bigger budget to spend in the summer.

The rise of Osayi-Samuel

Osayi-Samuel’s progress at the club and international levels has been meteoric since he broke onto the scene in 2015.

The full-back made his debut as a teenager for Blackpool in the English third tier and went on to score his first professional goal in December 2016.

His outstanding displays saw him rewarded with a move to Championship outfit QPR, where he quickly established himself as a starter and made over 100 appearances for the club across three and a half years.

Osayi-Samuel’s move to Fenerbahce was his first experience of top-flight football, but he has proved unfazed by the challenge, helping the club win the Turkish Cup last season.

For Nigeria, the right-back only made his international debut in November 2022 but has since gone on to be capped 14 times. He was also part of the Super Eagles side that reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024), where they lost to hosts Ivory Coast.

The summer will be defining for Osayi-Samuel, who would certainly not be short of suitors but it remains to be seen where his future lies.

Bright Osayi-Samuel sets sights on Premier League transfer, but who leads the chase for Nigeria star?

Emmanuel Ayamga

Emmanuel Ayamga is a Ghanaian journalist with a little over five years of experience writing about African football.

His articles and features have been published in renowned news media like Pulse Ghana, The Guardian, DW, Al Jazeera and Sportskeeda. His bylines can also be found in the UK journals World Soccer Magazine and These Football Times.