Nigeria may have missed out on the 2026 World Cup after a dramatic exit at the final CAF play-off hurdle, but the Super Eagles remain well represented in the Premier League, with five players competing in England’s topflight this season. With bet with Virgin Bet markets covering every Premier League fixture, here is a look at how each of Nigeria’s top-flight stars fared across the 2025-26 campaign.
Alex Iwobi: Fulham
The most consistent and productive of Nigeria’s Premier League contingent this season. Iwobi completed his third season at Fulham having firmly established himself as one of the division’s most reliable creative midfielders, contributing four goals and three assists from 22 appearances in the league.
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His ability to carry the ball under pressure, combine quickly in tight spaces, and drift between positions without losing rhythm has made him one of Marco Silva’s most trusted operators. Now 30 and approaching 100 caps for Nigeria, Iwobi has developed from a raw wide forward into a genuinely complete midfielder, and his performances this season have been his most mature to date.
Calvin Bassey: Fulham
Bassey has been a cornerstone of Fulham’s defensive structure since joining from Ajax in 2023, and this season continued that upward trajectory. The Nigerian centre-back won Fulham’s Player of the Year award last season and has maintained that level of performance throughout 2025-26, forming one of the more dependable central defensive partnerships in the bottom half of the table.
His aerial dominance, his composure in possession, and his willingness to carry the ball out from the back give Fulham a profile at centre-back that suits Silva’s possession-based approach. At 25, he is approaching his prime, and his performances will not have gone unnoticed by clubs higher up the division.
Ola Aina: Nottingham Forest
Ola Aina has been one of Nottingham Forest’s most consistent performers across their strong campaign, operating as a reliable and technically assured right-back under multiple managers at the City Ground.
The Nigerian penned a contract extension during the summer and has justified that commitment with another season of controlled, intelligent performances. His ability to get forward and contribute in attacking phases, while maintaining his defensive responsibilities, has given Forest a platform on the right side that their more celebrated signings have been able to build from.
Aina is not a player who headlines match reports, but Forest’s performances this season would not have been possible without him.
Taiwo Awoniyi: Nottingham Forest
A season of frustration and resilience in equal measure. Awoniyi returned from the serious abdominal injury that curtailed his 2024-25 campaign and gradually reclaimed a role in Forest’s squad, finishing the season with four goals and one assist from limited appearances.
His two goals in a 3-1 win at Chelsea in May were among the most eye-catching contributions from any Nigerian player this season and served as a reminder of the quality he possesses when fit and trusted.
The challenge heading into next season is maintaining fitness across a full campaign, something he has not managed since 2022-23, but the signs towards the end of this term were encouragingly positive.
Frank Onyeka: Brentford
The most difficult season of the five. Onyeka’s campaign at Brentford was severely limited by a combination of a new managerial regime under Keith Andrews and competition for places in a reshaped squad following the departures of Thomas Frank and Bryan Mbuemo.
He made limited appearances across the season, largely from the bench, and his influence on Brentford’s performances was minimal as a result. His energy, his tackling, and his ability to cover ground remain valuable qualities, but he will need a more prominent role in 2026-27 to maintain his place in the Super Eagles setup ahead of the next cycle of international football.
