This speedy winger has made a smooth transition from the English Championship to the highly-rated German Bundesliga and in the season under review he also made his long-awaited Super Eagles debut.
Look at Nathan Tella's goal agains Darmstadt:
— Fs Laputa (@Fs_Laputa) February 3, 2024
– 325 to 442 formation.
– 3rd man.
– Line-breaking pass from Xhaka.
– Isolate RWB.
Xabi Alonso is an elite manager.pic.twitter.com/pY2Fv7gyt6
The previous season, Tella, on loan from Southampton, was the standout performer as Burnley won promotion back to the Premier League.
He scored 19 goals and made five assists to record his most prolific season yet.
Burnley were keen to sign him on a permanent deal, but were put off by the staggering asking price of Southampton.
Instead it was Bayer Leverkusen, who splashed out over 23 Million Euros to sign him from England on a contract till June 2028 and he has since justified this fee.
In 24 appearances in a historic Bundesliga campaign for Leverkusen, the right winger scored four goals and provided four assists as his club went undefeated the entire season.
The personal highlight for Tella was grabbing a brace in a 2-0 win a road at Darmstadt in March when he played the entire duration.
Leverkusen also reached the final of the UEFA Europa League with the former Arsenal schoolboy star netting a goal and an assist on the way to that milestone.
He completed a league and cup double with his German club to mark a season to remember for him.
The icing on the cake for Tella, who could also play on the right side of midfield or as an attacking midfielder, this season was his Super Eagles debut on November 19, 2023, against Zimbabwe in a 2026 World Cup qualifier.
He played the first 45 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe in Rwanda.
He did not make the final cut to the delayed AFCON earlier this year and pulled out of World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin after citing family reasons.
With his blistering pace, trickery and goals, the 24-year-old Tella will most certainly have a big role to play for the Super Eagles going forward.
