COVENTRY City duo Frank Onyeka and Taiwo Awoniyi suffered a 3-0 defeat to defending champions Arsenal in their opening match of the new season at the Emirates Stadium on Friday night, as the 2026/27 Premier League campaign got underway with 10 Nigerians set to feature.
News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Onyeka helped Coventry secure their return to the Premier League after 25 years, while Awoniyi arrived at the club just four days before the season opener, leaving both the midfielder and striker with an unforgiving start to life in the new campaign against the champions.
Hull City’s promotion has also returned Semi Ajayi to the Premier League, with the Nigerian defender set for another opportunity to establish himself in the English top flight.
Ajayi, who made 33 Premier League appearances during West Bromwich Albion’s 2020/21 campaign, started Hull’s play-off final victory over Middlesbrough and helped the side keep a clean sheet at Wembley.
The 32-year-old’s experience is expected to be central to Hull’s hopes of surviving in the Premier League when they open their campaign against Manchester United on Saturday (today).
David Akintola, who has previously played in Denmark, Norway, Cyprus and Turkey, will also begin his first Premier League season at the age of 30 after helping Hull secure promotion.
However, the Nigerian winger faces competition from several other wide options at the club as he seeks to establish himself in the team.
The most closely watched Nigerian newcomer to the Premier League, however, is teenage sensation Zadok Yohanna.
Brighton signed Yohanna from Swedish side AIK on a five-year contract after he registered five goals and four assists in 18 league and cup appearances.
The teenager has already been handed the number 36 shirt and included in Brighton’s first-team squad, although the club has indicated that he will need time to adjust to the demands of Premier League football.
Benjamin Fredrick has also been added to Brentford’s Premier League squad for the new campaign, with the Super Eagles centre-back handed the number 48 shirt following his promotion to the first team.
The development came after Fredrick signed a new four-year contract with Brentford last month, an agreement which includes a club option for a further year.
The defender could make his Premier League debut when Brentford face Tottenham on Saturday.
Elsewhere, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Ola Aina return to the division as established figures expected to play key roles for their respective clubs this season.
Iwobi, who has now made 320 Premier League appearances, contributed four goals and three assists in 27 league matches last season and also earned his 100th Nigeria cap in June.
Bassey, meanwhile, has become an increasingly assured presence at Craven Cottage, combining his physical qualities with growing composure in possession.
Both Iwobi and Bassey are expected to feature when Fulham host Chelsea on Monday.
Aina, on his part, remains one of Nottingham Forest’s most dependable players, having signed a contract that will keep him at the club until 2028.
The Nigerian defender has continued to demonstrate his versatility and reliability by featuring on either side of the Forest defence.
Chuba Akpom also returns to the Premier League with Ipswich Town after turning his loan move from Ajax into a permanent contract that runs until 2029.
The striker returns to the top flight after helping Ipswich secure promotion, having finished as the Championship’s leading scorer last season with 31 appearances during the club’s successful promotion campaign.