Nigerian Players Finding Success in Europe Again

From Tolu Arokodare’s strong start at Ajax to Kelechi Iheanacho’s impressive scoring streak in Turkey, many Nigerian players are bouncing back after tough times at their former clubs. ABIODUN ADEWALE from PUNCH Sports Extra highlights some stars who are getting back to their best form.

TOLU AROKODARE (AJAX)

Tolu Arokodare, the Ajax striker, joined the Dutch team from Wolves on a season-long loan. He has had a fantastic start to the season, scoring six goals and providing three assists in 11 games across all competitions.

Last season, he moved from Belgium to the English Premier League but found it hard to get a regular spot at Molineux. Reports say his relationship with the club became tense towards the end of the season.

Since joining Ajax, Arokodare has found his rhythm again. He scored in four of the last five matches before Tuesday. He came off the bench in his first four games but has earned a starting spot and played from the beginning in their last five matches.

KELECHI IHEANACHO (BURSASPOR)

Kelechi Iheanacho spent a lot of last season injured while at Celtic. He got back to fitness near the end of the campaign. In the 2025/26 season, he scored five goals in 13 league games despite his injury struggles, helping Celtic win a domestic double.

Now at Turkish club Bursaspor, the 29-year-old is on fire, scoring nine goals and providing two assists in seven games. He is now the top scorer in the league.

GIFT ORBAN (AMEDSPOR)

Gift Orban has been busy since January 2024. He joined Lyon from Gent and has switched clubs three times since then. He moved from Lyon to Hoffenheim and then to Verona, looking for the form that made him famous in Belgium.

Now at Amedspor in Turkey, the 24-year-old has scored six goals and provided one assist in five league games. He is now tied with Victor Osimhen as the joint top scorer in the Super Lig.

His current total is just one goal less than his seven goals in 28 games for Verona last season. He scored a combined seven league goals for Hoffenheim and Lyon in 29 games.

SAMUEL CHUKWUEZE (AC MILAN)

Samuel Chukwueze joined AC Milan from Villarreal three years ago, but he is just now starting to show the promise that earned him a €21.1m transfer to the Italian team in the summer of 2023.

He had a hard time making a name for himself in his first two seasons, scoring only four league goals in 50 matches. Last season, he was on loan at Fulham.

Now, at 27, he is back at Milan with a fresh chance to prove himself, and he is taking it seriously. Playing as a wing-back under Ruben Amorim, Chukwueze has received praise for his adjustment. He has provided two important assists for Milan this season in just four matches.

Chukwueze is having a strong start to his second spell at Milan, and his performances suggest he might play a key role under Amorim in the 2026/27 season.