Arsenal's English-born forward, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, has affirmed his eligibility to represent Nigeria's Super Eagles.
The 20-year-old became part of Arsenal's youth system at the age of eight and has progressed through the ranks at the Hale End Academy.
Butler-Oyedeji was born in 2003 to a Nigerian father and a mother from Saint Vincent. He has yet to make an appearance for the Arsenal first team but has played for Accrington Stanley on loan.
Currently, he is on loan with EFL League One side Cheltenham, where he has scored three goals in 987 minutes of football.
Nathan Butler-Oyedeji talks about family, upbringing and love for football
In an inyterview with Arsenal's official website, Butler-Oyedeji revealed his passion for the sport was ignited by his father, Taju Oyedeji.
Despite not securing a professional deal after his scholarship at Crystal Palace, Taju continued to pursue football at lower league levels, serving as a source of inspiration for his son.
Butler-Oyedeji fondly recalls accompanying his father to matches, immersing himself in the game's atmosphere.
Beyond the stadium, Nathan honed his skills in local parks, eagerly participating in pickup games with fellow enthusiasts.
This early exposure and love for football laid the foundation for Nathan's burgeoning career. Against the backdrop of his multicultural heritage; Nigerian from his father's side and Saint Vincentian from his mother's.
“I grew up in Walthamstow, East London and I got into football from watching my dad, Taju Oyedeji, play. When my dad was young, he had a scholarship at Crystal Palace but although he didn’t get a professional deal he played at the lower league levels and I used to go and watch him regularly. On top of that, I would also go into the park and join in with people there and I just fell in love with the game. My family background is that my dad’s Nigerian and my mother is from St Vincent. The Butler is from my mum’s side and Oyedeji is from my dad’s side.”
Butler-Oyedeji talks about Henry and Ronaldinho
Butler-Oyedeji further disclosed that his father guided him to draw inspiration from football greats Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry.
Immersed in clips and matches, he sought to dissect their playing styles, striving to emulate their flair and finesse on the pitch.
Butler-Oyedeji's voracious appetite for football extended beyond mere admiration; he devoured every available resource, from classic broadcasts like Premier League Years to iconic programs like Match of the Day.
“My dad always encouraged me to watch clips of Thierry Henry to understand the art of playing in attack but I also watched the likes of Ronaldinho too, just mesmerized by their ability. I tuned in to all the football shows like Premier League Years, Match of the Day. I was football mad!,” he quipped.
Butler-Oyedeji reveals how he joined Arsenal
Butler-Oyedeji again revealed that, at a tender age of seven, his footballing talents caught the eyes of coaches during group sessions at GOALS.
It was during one of these sessions that destiny intervened; a coach recognized Nathan's potential and extended an invitation to train at Leyton Orient. However, fate had even grander plans in store.
While honing his skills with Leyton Orient, another opportunity arose, this time to train with one of the most illustrious clubs in football history: Arsenal.
“When I was seven, I would go to group sessions at Goals and a coach spotted me and invited me to train at Leyton Orient and then when I was training with them, I was invited by someone again but this time it was to go and train with Arsenal. It was the perfect club for me because I lived just five minutes away from Hale End so I would always drive past it regularly. My dad always said to me when we drove past it that I would be there one day and it actually happened! By the time I was eight, I had officially joined the club. At the time when I joined we had the likes of Ovie Ejeheri, Miguel Azeez, Yunus Musah, Alex Kirk and Kido Taylor-Hart all there with me.”
