Nigeria’s 10 youngest Premier League debutants: Yohanna joins Iheanacho, Mikel

Zadok Yohanna has joined a select group of Nigerian teenagers to play in the Premier League, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Brighton & Hove Albion winger made his league debut against Aston Villa on Sunday, August 23, at the age of 19 years and 55 days. He came on in the 78th minute for Mats Wieffer as Brighton won 4-0 at the Amex Stadium.

His appearance puts him fifth on the list of the youngest Nigerian players to play in the Premier League. Yohanna is also only one day younger than former Nigeria international Victor Moses was when Moses made his Wigan Athletic debut in February 2010.

The list includes some of Nigeria’s best-known players of the Premier League era. Victor Anichebe, Kelechi Iheanacho, Shola Ameobi and Celestine Babayaro all made their league debuts before turning 20.

Here is the updated top 10, ranked from 10th to 1st by age at first Premier League appearance.

Nigeria’s youngest Premier League debutants

10. Isaac Success

Club: Watford
Debut: August 27, 2016, against Arsenal
Age: 20 years, 7 months, 20 days

Isaac Success arrived in England with plenty of attention. Watford had signed the Nigerian forward from Granada in July 2016 for a reported £12.5m club-record fee. He had scored six goals in 30 La Liga appearances for Granada during the previous season.

His Premier League debut came at Vicarage Road against Arsenal. Success entered in the 77th minute, replacing Nordin Amrabat. Arsenal were already 3-0 ahead after goals from Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil. Roberto Pereyra scored Watford’s reply after half-time, but Arsenal won 3-1.

Success was 20 years and 233 days old that day, which puts him 10th in this ranking. His move to Watford had followed an impressive spell in Spain. He had joined Granada as a teenager and became the youngest player to appear for the club in La Liga when he made his senior debut in 2014.

9. John Obi Mikel

Club: Chelsea
Debut: August 13, 2006, against Liverpool
Age: 19 years, 3 months, 21 days

John Obi Mikel’s place on this list is easy to misjudge because his first Premier League appearance and his first league start came on different dates.

Mikel’s Premier League debut came on August 13, 2006, in Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat by Liverpool at the Millennium Stadium. He replaced Paulo Ferreira in the 81st minute. He was only 19 years old.

Mikel then made his first Premier League start against Reading on October 14, 2006. He was sent off after 60 minutes, beginning a difficult early period in England that also included further disciplinary problems.

Chelsea had signed Mikel in 2006 after a long transfer dispute involving Manchester United and Norwegian club Lyn. The midfielder eventually became one of Chelsea’s most trusted defensive midfielders. He made 249 Premier League appearances for the club, scored once and provided 10 assists. He also won two Premier League titles.

His career at Stamford Bridge lasted 11 seasons and included the 2012 Champions League triumph.

8. Alex Iwobi

Club: Arsenal
Debut: October 31, 2015, against Swansea City
Age: 19 years, 5 months, 28 days

Alex Iwobi’s route to the Premier League started at Arsenal’s academy. He joined the club as a child and worked through the youth system before Arsene Wenger gave him his first-team chance.

Iwobi’s Premier League debut came at the Liberty Stadium against Swansea City on October 31, 2015. Arsenal won 3-0, with Iwobi entering as a stoppage-time substitute for Mesut Ozil. The appearance came only four days after Iwobi had made his first-team debut in Arsenal’s League Cup defeat by Sheffield Wednesday.

He soon became a regular part of Wenger’s squad. By the time Everton signed him in August 2019, Iwobi had made 149 appearances for Arsenal and played 100 Premier League matches. Iwobi has since built one of the longer Premier League careers among Nigerian players of his generation.

7. Ademola Lookman

Club: Everton
Debut: January 15, 2017, against Manchester City
Age: 19 years, 2 months, 26 days

Ademola Lookman’s Premier League debut was one of the most memorable on this list. Everton had signed the winger from Charlton Athletic in January 2017. He arrived at Goodison Park after scoring seven goals for Charlton during the first half of the 2016-17 season.

Ten days after completing the move, Lookman came off the bench against Manchester City. Everton were already 3-0 ahead when Lookman entered the match. He then scored in the fourth minute of added time to complete a 4-0 victory. It was a remarkable start.

Lookman later spent time with RB Leipzig, Fulham and Leicester City before building a strong career in Europe. He switched his international allegiance to Nigeria and became a key Super Eagles attacker. His Premier League debut came at 19 years and 87 days, putting him seventh in this Nigerian ranking.

6. Victor Moses

Ex-#Nigeria winger Victor Moses makes ‘substantial donation’ to help save his former club Wigan. He was at the club between 2010 & 2012.

Chairperson: “Victor’s contribution has taken us past £650,000 and to within £100,000 of our next target of £750,000.” pic.twitter.com/Aze6fkQUA7

— Olúwashínà Òkélèjì (@oluwashina) September 9, 2020

Club: Wigan Athletic
Debut: February 6, 2010, against Sunderland
Age: 19 years, 1 month, 25 days

Victor Moses was already an established Championship player before his move into the Premier League. Wigan Athletic signed him from Crystal Palace in January 2010 for about £2.5m. His Premier League debut came only days later, when he appeared as a substitute in a 1-1 draw with Sunderland on February 6.

Moses scored his first Wigan goal against Hull City later that season. His career then took him to Chelsea, where he became an important part of Antonio Conte’s title-winning team in 2016-17.

Moses played 34 Premier League matches during that campaign as Conte used him as a wing-back. He helped Chelsea win the title and also won the Europa League and FA Cup during his time at Stamford Bridge.

Moses also represented England at youth level before choosing Nigeria. He made his Super Eagles debut in 2012 and helped Nigeria win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. His Premier League debut came just one day after the age at which Yohanna made his.

5. Zadok Yohanna

Club: Brighton & Hove Albion
Debut: August 23, 2026, against Aston Villa
Age: 19 years, 55 days

Zadok Yohanna has become the latest Nigerian teenager to enter the Premier League. The Brighton winger was born on June 29, 2007. That made him 19 years and 55 days old when he came on against Aston Villa on August 23.

Brighton were already 4-0 ahead when Fabian Hurzeler sent Yohanna on for Mats Wieffer in the 78th minute. The match ended with Brighton completing a dominant opening-day victory.

Yohanna did not need long to make his first Premier League appearance count statistically. He completed all six of his passes during his brief spell on the pitch.

His journey to the Premier League has been remarkably quick. Until June 2025, Yohanna was playing at Ikon Allah Football Academy in Nigeria. He then moved to Sweden and joined AIK’s youth setup. After making his senior debut in 2025, he became a regular first-team player and produced five goals and four assists in 18 appearances before Brighton signed him in June 2026.

Brighton gave Yohanna a five-year contract that runs until June 2031. His Premier League debut puts him fifth among Nigerian players, only one day younger than Moses was when the former Chelsea star first played in the competition.

4. Celestine Babayaro

Plateau United🇳🇬
Anderlecht 🇧🇪
Chelsea
Newcastle

Happy birthday Celestine Babayaro.

Landed at Chelsea from Anderlecht for £2.2 in 1997—a then-record fee that #CFC had paid for a teenager.

Won 1998 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup & Super Cup & the FA Cup in 2000. pic.twitter.com/5WqgqGZPXy

— Olúwashínà Òkélèjì (@oluwashina) August 29, 2020

Club: Chelsea
Debut: October 18, 1997, against Leicester City
Age: 19 years, 50 days

Celestine Babayaro broke into English football after already making his name on the international stage. Chelsea signed the Nigerian left wing-back from Anderlecht in 1997 for £2.25m. He had been with Anderlecht since the age of 15 and had attracted interest from several major European clubs.

Babayaro was only 17 when he helped Nigeria win Olympic gold at Atlanta 1996. Nigeria produced one of the greatest matches in Olympic football history during that tournament, beating Brazil 4-3 in the semi-final after trailing 3-1. Babayaro also scored in the final as Nigeria beat Argentina 3-2.

His Chelsea Premier League debut came against Leicester City on October 18, 1997. He played the full match and was booked during Chelsea’s 1-0 victory. Babayaro spent almost a decade at Stamford Bridge and became one of the club’s best-known Nigerian players.

3. Shola Ameobi

Champions League?

Barcelona away at the Nou Camp?

We’ve done that. #NUFC.

“Shola Ameobi………..at the Nou Camp……for Newcastle United”. pic.twitter.com/gsCy5FH7t7

— We’ve Got Our Club Back (@IfRafaGoesWeGo) May 1, 2019

Club: Newcastle United
Debut: September 9, 2000, against Chelsea
Age: 18 years, 10 months, 28 days

Shola Ameobi was the youngest Nigerian player to appear in the Premier League for six years after his debut. Born in Zaria, Nigeria, Ameobi developed in Newcastle United’s academy after moving to England.

He made his first-team debut on September 9, 2000, against Chelsea. Newcastle’s young striker played the final 20 minutes of a 0-0 draw. That appearance began a 14-year relationship with Newcastle.

Ameobi made 397 appearances for the club and scored 79 goals. He also played in the Champions League and scored at Barcelona’s Camp Nou in December 2002.

He later represented Nigeria at the 2014 World Cup after previously playing for England Under-21s. Ameobi’s Premier League debut came at 18 years and 333 days, placing him third in this ranking.

2. Kelechi Iheanacho

Club: Manchester City
Debut: August 29, 2015, against Watford
Age: 18 years, 10 months, 26 days

Kelechi Iheanacho was already a major name in youth football before he played his first Premier League match. He won the Golden Ball at the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup after helping Nigeria win the tournament. His performances earned him a move to Manchester City and a place around Manuel Pellegrini’s first team.

Iheanacho made his Premier League debut against Watford at the Etihad Stadium on August 29, 2015. Manchester City led 2-0 when Iheanacho replaced Raheem Sterling in the 89th minute. He had only a few minutes on the pitch, but the appearance marked the start of his Premier League career.

His first Premier League goal came less than a month later, against Crystal Palace. Iheanacho eventually became one of the most efficient young goalscorers in Manchester City’s squad before moving to Leicester City.

At 18 years and 330 days, he is the second-youngest Nigerian player to appear in the Premier League.

1. Victor Anichebe

Anichebe wins it late on. 🥶#OnThisDay in 2007. 🔵 pic.twitter.com/jRsugZIWI4

— Everton (@Everton) October 4, 2022

Club: Everton
Debut: April 22, 2006, against Birmingham City
Age: 17 years, 11 months, 30 days

Victor Anichebe holds the record as the youngest Nigerian player to appear in the Premier League. He was born in Lagos on April 23, 1988, meaning he was just one day short of his 18th birthday when Everton used him against Birmingham City on April 22, 2006.

Anichebe came through Everton’s academy and had already made his first-team debut in the FA Cup earlier that year. Against Birmingham, he entered late in the 0-0 draw. He then scored his first Premier League goal two weeks later against West Bromwich Albion.

David Moyes played an important role in his development at Everton. Anichebe eventually became a regular senior forward and spent seven years at the club before moving to West Bromwich Albion.

He later played for Sunderland and finished his Premier League career with 35 goals in 228 appearances for Everton and West Brom. Anichebe’s record has now stood for more than 20 years.