Frank Lampard reveals why he brought Onyeka to Coventry City

Coventry City head coach, Frank Lampard has revealed why he brought in Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka from Brentford, Afrik Foot reports.

The 28-year-old was frozen out in the Bees team by Keith Andrews, accruing just 88 minutes in the first half of the Premier League season.

Still, the former Augsburg man was a rock in midfield for the Super Eagles during the AFCON 2025 tournament, and his display earned him a move to the EFL Championship table topppers.

Why Lampard signed Onyeka for Coventry

The former Chelsea manager revealed the Premier League experience of Onyeka played a part in the club’s decision to bring him in, while hailing his work ethic in training.

“He’s holding up very well, he’s a very nice lad, very humble,” the 2012 UEFA Champions League winner said in his pre-match presser ahead of the game against Oxford United.

“He’s quite quiet off the pitch, but he’s training really well with the group, very easy for him to integrate because of how he is and the qualities that he brings, and we can see that already in training. It’s a big positive for us.

Frank Lampard mentioned Onyeka has been on his radar for a while, and he’s hoping the midfielder’s experience can help Coventry in their race for promotion.

“We’ve been looking at him for quite a while. He comes in to sort of help the squad, and I think he’s a different profile of midfield player to the ones we already have in our team.

“In terms of his basic attributes of breaking up play, physical capacity, how he can move the ball well, played in Brentford, and I’ve had an admiration for Brentford as a football club from the Thomas Frank days to the present day, they operate really well, and I like their methods.

“I think he can bring a lot of good qualities, not to say we don’t have those qualities, but he can add to us and give us different options.

“His Premier League experience is key, in terms of the mentality and the demands, it’s the best level in league football, so he can bring the mentality and the quality to the group.”

Quizzed about the possibility of Onyeka making his debut againt Oxford United later today, Lampard said;

“We hope so, he’s trained with us for a few days, but his wife his due to have a baby anytime from now so we’re managing that situation as it stands, so, we’re hoping he’ll be involved,” the 47-year-old concluded.

Frank Onyeka is unlikely to make his debut for Coventry City today because his wife is likely to put to bed anytime from now. pic.twitter.com/Xf8mdljnWr

— Fola Guerreiro (@folahan_jnr) February 7, 2026

Coventry are currently top of the EFL Championship, although they’re level on points with Middlesbrough, while Semi Ajayi’s Hull City are third, four points behind the first two.