The Club football season is at its end across Europe and some parts of Africa come. And It has been quite a campaign for Nigerian players in the diaspora, with many having a successful run.

Before the season began, different Nigerian players moved from one club to another while some remained.

One of the big deals was Victor Boniface, who left Union Saint-Gilloise for Bayer Leverkusen, which would see him make history with the club.

Victor Osimhen, on the other hand, had a legendary season last season with Napoli, leading them to win the league for the first time in 33 years, and now various clubs are seeking the 25-year-old.

With Osimhen deciding to stay at Napoli for one more year, despite offers from top clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, and PSG, the Super Eagles forward couldn’t replicate his last season’s form, with injuries as a major factor.

Not only that, but former Super Eagles golden boy Alex Iwobi left Everton to join Fulham in a five-year deal worth £22 million, reuniting him with Marco Silva; who brought Iwobi to Everton from Arsenal in 2019 before the Coach’s dismissal.

This deal might not have been possible without a fellow countryman, Calvin Bassey, who had joined Fulham a few months before Iwobi.

“I spoke to Calvin a lot in the previous week and he told me to hurry up and that they were waiting for me. I am sure he will be excited to see me eventually.”

Bassey joined Fulham from Ajax on a four-year deal with a transfer fee of €21 million.

In this article, ‘Brila Media’ takes a close look at five Nigerian players who had a commendable season, celebrating their achievements without diminishing anyone’s performance.

A season for the Books for Boniface and Tella

When Xabi Alonso took over Bayer Leverkusen, one of the first changes he made was recruiting young talent, which extended towards the start of last season by signing Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella.

Nathan Tella started his professional career in the Premier League with Southampton in 2019 and was at the club until 2022, when he was loaned to Burnley, contributing to the side gaining promotion to the Premier League.

He scored many goals for Burnley, including two hat-tricks, but Burnley couldn’t sign him permanently, leading Bayer Leverkusen to swoop in.

Boniface contributed 21 goals and 10 assists despite suffering from a three-month injury, which ruled him out of the Africa Cup of Nations and some club matches.

He won four Rookie of the Month awards and ended winning the Rookie of the Year award in the Bundesliga, showing how valuable he was to the team in making history.

Tella and Boniface have been instrumental in the club’s impressive 51-game unbeaten run.

Their first defeat of the season came at the hands of compatriot Ademola Lookman in the Europa League final.

Despite losing the final, nothing can overshadow the great achievements both players have made with Bayer Leverkusen this season.

They join the ranks of Kanu, Finidi, Aribo, Bassey, and Leon Balogun as only Nigerian players who have won a European league title while going unbeaten in a season.

Ademola Lookman; First African to Score a Hat-Trick in a European Final

Ademola Lookman had an extraordinary season with Atalanta, scoring 15 goals and providing 8 assists.

His standout performance came in the Europa League final, where he became the first African to score a hat-trick in a European final, leading Atalanta to their first European title in 61 years.

Lookman had previously tasted defeat in two finals, the AFCON final losing to host nation Cote d’Ivoire and the Coppa Italia final against Juventus, but his third attempt proved successful.

He stole the show on the night where the whole world was watching and proved his worth, showing why he is among the finest wingers presently in the world.

His masterclass in the Europa final has drawn interest from top clubs, which might see him move to a top league in La Liga or the Premier League next season.

Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho Win Championship, Promoting Leicester Back to the Premier League

Leicester City was relegated in the 2022/23 season to the Championship, with Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho deciding to stay with the club.

Ndidi, despite being sidelined for months due to injury, returned to form and scored 6 goals with 6 assists in 36 games.

His creative force in the midfield under Enzo Maresca was crucial for the Foxes.

Iheanacho also contributed immensely to the team’s promotion, scoring six goals with three assists.

Though ‘Senior Man Kelz,’ as he is popularly referred to, was mostly on the bench throughout the season, his impact when called upon was significant.

The fate of both players is yet unknown as to where they will play next season after their contract expiration with Leicester City.

William Troost-Ekong: Winning the League with PAOK

For many who watched the last AFCON hosted in Ivory Coast, William Troost-Ekong rose to the occasion and became a Nigerian hero.

With Nigeria having a deficiency in attack and struggling to score goals, the Super Eagles captain scored five goals, winning the Player of the Tournament award.

Ekong joined PAOK in 2023 and has established himself as a reliable centre-back for his team.

Ekong demonstrated his defensive prowess and leadership, helping to hold the team’s defense together.

Afterwards, the 30-year-old had surgery due to an injury suffered during the tournament, which ruled him out for the rest of the season.

Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey: Brilliant Debut Season with Fulham

Fulham finished 13th on the table, but Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey had individually great seasons with Fulham last season.

Iwobi surpassed Super Eagles and Chelsea legend John Mikel Obi’s record of 16,218 minutes for the most minutes played by a Nigerian in the English Premier League.

One of the season highlights for the duo was their electrifying performance at Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Bassey scored the first goal in the game and his first Premier League goal, and it was interesting to see that the goal came against United.

Harry Maguire equalized in the 89th minute, with the game looking like it was going to end in a draw.

Alex Iwobi then scored in the 7th minute of extra time, sending a dagger through the chest of Manchester United players and fans.

With the Nigerian duo scoring both goals, Fulham earned their first away win against United in all competitions since October 2003, ending a run of 16 visits without a win.

Subsequently, with the Super Eagles gearing up for their World Cup qualifiers against Benin and South Africa under new coach Finidi, these players have performed well in Europe and could be able to replicate this success by securing a ticket for Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup.

Their achievements this season not only bring pride to their clubs but also inspire a new generation of Nigerian footballers.