Super Eagles: Amokachi, Iwobi ranked in top 5 Nigerians to have played for Everton

Several Super Eagles stars have donned the Everton jersey through the years, with Daniel Amokachi and Alex Iwobi ranked among the top five Nigerians to have played for the Toffees, Afrik-Foot reports.

Nigeria has had a strong connection with Everton over the years, with several Super Eagles stars making their mark at Goodison Park.

After the nine-time English Premier League Champions celebrated Nigeria’s Independence Day, it is worth going down memory lane to highlight how the blue side of Merseyside has platformed several Super Eagles stars.

Happy Independence Day, Nigeria! 🇳🇬💙 pic.twitter.com/bAckpOwYI8

— Everton (@Everton) October 1, 2026

From Amokachi’s memorable FA Cup heroics to Yobo’s lengthy spell on Merseyside and Yakubu Aiyegbeni’s goalscoring exploits, Nigerian players have left behind several memorable moments in Everton history.

Ademola Lookman and Hope Akpan are among the other Nigerians who have represented the club, although their spells were considerably shorter than those of some of their compatriots.

Super Eagles: 5 most influential Nigerian players to have played for Everton

5. Victor Anichebe

Anichebe earns the fifth spot after spending almost his entire formative career at Everton.

The forward joined the club’s academy and eventually made his senior debut in 2006, going on to make 168 appearances and score 26 goals.

His numbers do not put him alongside Everton’s most prolific forwards, but his longevity and progression from academy player to established first-team attacker make him a significant Nigerian in the club’s history.

4. Alex Iwobi

Iwobi’s four-year spell at Everton was longer and more influential than his goal tally might suggest.

The former Arsenal midfielder made 123 Premier League appearances for the Toffees, scoring six goals and providing 11 assists in the competition.

Iwobi became an very important player during his time at Goodison Park, particularly as Everton battled to remain in the Premier League.

His versatility also allowed him to operate in several positions, making him a regular presence despite Everton’s managerial changes during his spell.

3. Daniel Amokachi

Amokachi’s Everton career lasted only two seasons, but few Nigerians have produced a more memorable moment at the club.

In the 1995 FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur, Amokachi controversially substituted himself onto the pitch after Paul Rideout was injured.

The decision could have backfired spectacularly. Instead, Amokachi scored twice as Everton won 4-1 and reached the final.

Everton then defeated Manchester United 1-0 at Wembley, making Amokachi the first Nigerian player to win the FA Cup. It remains Everton’s most recent major trophy.

That extraordinary contribution, alongside his 54 appearances and 14 goals for the club, puts Amokachi ahead of players who spent longer at Everton but did not have the same defining moment.

2. Yakubu Aiyegbeni

Yakubu’s case is built primarily around goals. The former Super Eagles striker scored 33 goals in 107 appearances for Everton, and became one of the club’s most dangerous attacking players during his time on Merseyside.

His ability to consistently threaten Premier League defences makes him difficult to overlook when assessing the Nigerians who have made the biggest impact at Everton.

1. Joseph Yobo

Yobo takes the top spot because his Everton career combined longevity, consistency and leadership.

The former Super Eagles captain made 259 appearances for the club and spent seven years at Goodison Park.

More importantly, Yobo made Nigerian and African history at Everton when he became the first African player to captain the club, leading the Toffees against Larissa in the UEFA Cup in October 2007. He had already established himself as a key defender, playing every minute of Everton’s 2006/07 Premier League campaign.

That combination of longevity, defensive importance and leadership gives Yobo the strongest overall case.

Ademola Lookman, who made 48 appearances and scored four goals for Everton, narrowly misses the top five, largely because his spell was shorter and his biggest achievements came after leaving Goodison Park.

While opinions may differ over the order, Yobo, Yakubu, Amokachi, Iwobi and Anichebe stand out among the Nigerians who made the greatest impact at Everton.