Super Eagles in Premier League: How Iwobi’s Fulham, Aina’s Forest could finish 2026-27

The 2026-27 Premier League season starts on Friday, 21 August, with Arsenal hosting newly promoted Coventry City with the final round billed for Sunday, 30 May 2027, Afrik-Foot reports.

Six senior Nigeria internationals are set to start the season in the Premier League: Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey at Fulham, Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi at Nottingham Forest, Frank Onyeka at Coventry City and Semi Ajayi at Hull City. Their clubs face very different targets.

No Super Eagles star has won the Premier League title since Victor Moses powered Chelsea to success in 2017. It is unlikely that winless streak will end this season with no Nigeria international currently in the squad of any of the favourites.

However, a few Nigerian stars could be involved in a relegation battle at the other end of the league table.

Here is how I expect the Nigerian players and their clubs to finish.

Premier League – Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey: Fulham, 14th

Fulham finished 11th last season. They beat Newcastle United 2-0 at Craven Cottage on 24 May, but the result was not enough to lift them into the top half.

Iwobi was an important part of that side. He played 27 Premier League games in 2025-26, scored four goals and supplied three assists. He also completed 1,326 passes at an 85% success rate. Bassey should again be central to the defence.

The problem is the change around them. Marco Silva left after five seasons and Álvaro Arbeloa took charge on a three-year contract in July. Arbeloa has coaching experience at Real Madrid, but this will be his first full Premier League season as a senior club manager.

Fulham have also lost important attacking players. Raúl Jiménez left when his contract expired, while Harry Wilson joined Leeds after five seasons at Craven Cottage. Wilson left with 82 goal involvements from 187 games, including 36 goals and 46 assists.

There is also a clear statistical warning. Fulham created only 41 big chances last season, the lowest total in the Premier League. They also had only 140 shots on target, with only Sunderland recording fewer among non-relegated clubs.

Iwobi’s ability to play in midfield or a more advanced role will help. Bassey’s pace and strength can also protect a team that may spend long periods defending. But Arbeloa needs time, and losing Wilson removes a major source of creativity.

Prediction: Fulham 14th

Iwobi should start most matches when fit. Bassey should be one of the first names in the defence. A top-half finish is possible, but another season around 11th to 15th looks more likely.

Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi: Nottingham Forest, 10th

Forest are the most interesting Nigerian club in the division. The Reds still have quality with Ola Aina, Taiwo Awoniyi and Morgan Gibbs-White, even with the exit of Elliot Anderson to Manchester City. Forest finished 16th last season, but their squad has far more quality than that position suggests.

The club has now appointed Oliver Glasner. He arrived in July after successful spells with Wolfsburg, Eintracht Frankfurt and Crystal Palace. He won the Europa League with Frankfurt and the FA Cup and Conference League with Palace. That is a major reason to expect improvement.

Aina should have an important role at right-back. He has already made 85 appearances for Forest and scored three goals. Awoniyi faces a tougher battle. The 28-year-old has scored 23 goals in 103 appearances for Forest before the new season.

The problem is competition. Forest’s squad also includes Igor Jesus, Chris Wood, Arnaud Kalimuendo and Lorenzo Lucca. Awoniyi cannot assume that the centre-forward position belongs to him.

Forest’s other concern is the loss of Anderson. He joined Manchester City for a deal reported at up to £116m. Still, Forest have a strong defensive base, experienced players and a manager with a clear tactical record.

Their opening match is at home to Leeds on 22 August. That is exactly the type of fixture they need to win if they want to move away from another relegation fight.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 10th

Aina should be a regular. Awoniyi may have to share minutes, but a healthy season could give him 8-10 league goals.

Frank Onyeka: Coventry City, 18th

Onyeka’s return to the Premier League is one of the most interesting Nigerian stories of the season.

He joined Coventry permanently after helping them win the Championship. His transfer was completed in July and his contract runs until 2030. The midfielder brings Premier League experience from his time at Brentford, something Coventry desperately need.

Frank Lampard’s side won the Championship by 11 points and scored 54 goals in their first 23 league matches. They eventually sealed the title with a 5-1 win over Portsmouth on 21 April. Onyeka played a part in that promotion campaign after joining on loan in February. The deal became permanent after Coventry reached the Premier League.

The problem is the jump in quality. Coventry have not played in the Premier League since 2001. Their opening match is against the defending champions at the Emirates Stadium. They then face Hull City and Manchester City in their early schedule.

There is also a question about how their attacking football will translate against Premier League teams that can punish mistakes much faster. The squad is not weak by Championship standards. Still, the EPL is elite level. Onyeka is surrounded by players such as Jack Rudoni, Victor Torp, Ephron Mason-Clark and Haji Wright.

Yet survival could depend on their ability to defend for long periods. Onyeka’s tackling, running and ball-winning can help in those games. He may become one of Lampard’s most important players.

Prediction: Coventry City 18th

Expect them to fight until April, but the lack of Premier League experience could prove decisive.

Semi Ajayi: Hull City, 20th

Hull have the hardest task of the four Nigerian clubs, as they have a squad thin in size and quality.

Hull’s promotion was remarkable. They finished sixth in the Championship and reached Wembley after beating Millwall 2-0 on aggregate. At Wembley on 23 May, Oli McBurnie scored in stoppage time to beat Middlesbrough 1-0. Ajayi started in the three-man defence.

The problem is what came before the promotion. Hull finished 21st in the Championship in 2024-25. Their 2025-26 campaign was much better, but their underlying defensive numbers were worrying. That makes the Premier League step even more dangerous.

Ajayi’s experience could be vital. He has 56 Nigeria caps and has played in the Premier League before.

But Hull begin with Manchester United at the MKM Stadium on 22 August. They then visit Coventry before facing Chelsea and Newcastle in September. December brings Tottenham, Manchester City and Liverpool. Those fixtures can expose a team that gives opponents too many chances.

Prediction: Hull City 20th

Ajayi should play regularly when fit, but Hull’s lack of top-flight depth makes them the strongest relegation candidate.

The Premier League title: Arsenal to retain the crown

Arsenal are my pick to win the league again. They ended a 22-year wait for the Premier League title last season and now start the new campaign as defending champions.

Mikel Arteta also has a major advantage: continuity. Manchester City have lost Pep Guardiola after a decade in charge and have appointed Enzo Maresca. Liverpool have replaced their manager Arne Slot with Andoni Iraola. Chelsea have brought in Xabi Alonso.

Arsenal have Arteta. They also have a strong squad and added Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle. Their opening game against Coventry gives them a chance to start the defence with three points.

The Community Shield against Manchester City on 16 August will provide the first serious test. Arteta has confirmed that Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Martin Zubimendi are available for the match.

The title race should still be close. Liverpool won the league before Arsenal’s breakthrough and still have a dangerous squad. Manchester City have Erling Haaland and Rodri, while Chelsea have Alonso and a squad capable of competing at the top.

City’s transition is the key issue. Maresca must replace Guardiola’s system while dealing with major changes. Elliot Anderson has arrived for a reported fee of up to £116m, while Tijjani Reijnders is set to leave for Saudi Arabia. Liverpool face their own challenge after losing Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konaté. Arsenal have fewer questions.

Prediction: Arsenal champions.

My predicted top four

1. Arsenal
2. Liverpool
3. Manchester City
4. Chelsea

Arsenal’s continuity gives them the edge. Liverpool should challenge strongly despite the changes at Anfield. City have too much quality to fall far, but Maresca’s first season will be a transition. Chelsea could finish fourth because Alonso inherits a squad built to compete for major trophies.

Manchester United should be close to the top four after Michael Carrick’s first full season in charge. Tottenham, Aston Villa and Newcastle could also push for European places.

The relegation battle

The promoted clubs are the obvious danger zone. All three newcomers, Coventry, Ipswich Town and Hull City, face a difficult season. Hull are my bottom club. Coventry finish 18th.

Ipswich are my third relegation side in 19th. They have hired Gary O’Neil, who has Premier League experience, but their previous top-flight campaign ended with 82 goals conceded. The club knows that defensive improvement is essential.

Sunderland and Leeds should also be involved in the fight, but Sunderland’s seventh-place finish last season gives them a stronger base.

Fulham are another club worth watching. Their managerial change and loss of attacking players make a difficult season possible, but I expect Iwobi and Bassey to help them survive without entering the final three.

That would give Aina the best Premier League finish among the six Super Eagles players at 10th, followed by Iwobi and Bassey at 14th. Onyeka would finish 18th, while Ajayi’s Hull side would go down in 20th.