Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen have announced the signing of Nathan Tella from Southampton.
The 24-year-old signed a five-year contract and and will jersey number 19 at his new club.
Tella expressed his delight on joining Die Werkself.
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“Lots of young players from the Premier League have had the chance to play in the Bundesliga and were able to improve significantly here. And I find the stadiums and the whole fan culture exciting,” revealed the the Nigerian-born player , who played three league games for Southampton this season, scoring once and providing one assist.
“Above all, the Leverkusen team is obviously the reason for my decision.
“They are an impressive team who reached the semi-finals in the Europa League last season. I really want to continue on that road with Bayer 04.”
Tella spent last season on loan at Burnley and played a key role in the Clarets winning the Championship title and gaining promotion before his return to Southampton.
22 Comments
NFF are you people taking note. Unproductive, Lack of Proactivity, Criminal, Stingy useless NFF are you people taking note are you people even aware of what is going on in world Football?. See players we should be bedding into Super Eagles. Having a nice offering conducive environment for them to come and Help us reach the heights we deserve as Super Eagles and live up to our nickname. Yet you are Yum Yum FC, Ahmed Musaring, NPFLing our Football to the depths of Mediocrity and utter rubbish. Nawa oo. In our golden Generation of all times. Wicked people NFF and Gasau and of course selfish ex Internationals.
I really like the lad, he is a top player. NFF should do the needful.
This could be another case of Eze.His stock is rising and England certainly is taking note.He did have a fantastic season 2022/23 and now he moved to a top bundesliga club I’m really bothered with what’s happening in our FA.
The politics in Nigerian football is gradually pulling us back we aren’t making any progress because of pathetic weirdness in players invitations.I have always shouted Tella for Musa in this forum people tends to recognise players when they move up.
Musa for the love of Nigeria and the super eagles please quit the national team for the likes of Tella to get a fair opportunity to represent his country!!
This is another bold, audacious, and ambitious move. Tells showed his qualities as a top player with Burnley in the EFL Championship last season. While banging in the goals, he admitted, in April, his interest in playing for the super eagles. But he seems not to be taken seriously by the NFF. Yet, this is a player that comes so easy, without the stress of anyone traveling to Europe to convince him, or going through the process of obtaining FIFA approval, since he has never been capped by England. Moreover, Tella brings versatility to the eagles as he can play on the wings, as a support striker, and an attacking midfielder which is an area we desperately need quality options. So what is holding Nigeria back from just putting a call to Tella to ask him to pick a Nigerian passport if he hasn’t already done that? Do we have to wait until Southgate starts circling around him before we realize how good he is? Who did this to us?
I will never forgive the AHMED GUSAU led NFF ONIGBESE if we fail to get NOAH ATUBOLU, the 21 years old FIRST CHOICE GOALKEEPER for FREIBURG
LMFAO! See who is TALKING about NEVER FORGIVING someone..
After CONTRIBUTING in the SACK of GENERAL ROAR, you should be PRAYING for your own FORGIVENESS
You are pathetically deplorable!
You badly need help.
Your CORPORAL ROHR is Coaching.BACKWATER BENIN REPUBLIC….sums up EVERYTHING
No PROBLEM na.By the TIME the “BACKWATER BENIN” BEAT SE in the WC QUALIFIERS GAME you will begin to BELIEVE in GENERAL ROAR
Tella is a modern attacking player with various attacking skills.
Very fast, crafty, uses both legs and direct play.
Whoever is in charge of SE invitation should do the right thing and get him for the rubber stamped game next month.
The match should be used to integrate new players with current first 15. At least 7 new players.
Top regular 15 on current form
GK: Adeleye
DF: Aina,Sanusi,Bassey,Ajayi,Ebuehi, Akpo, Samuel,
MF; Iwobi, Lookman, Chukzy, Simon
ATT: Osi, Awo, Nacho
SE needs with upcoming and known talents.
GK: Osigwe, Ovie Ejeheri
DF; Frederick, Ogwuche, Ogbu
MF: Folorunsho, Tella, Alhassan, Onyedika, Daga, Nnadi, Akinsemiro, Eletu, Sarki, Saad, and Olise(I believe this guy is still interested)
ATT: Adams, Boni, Orban, Akpom
With a technically above average, discipline and unbiased coaching crew, the SE should be among the top 20 in the world.
Nice one LARRY. For the old players, I believe NDIDI who’s a rumoured choice for BAYERN MUNICH and ARIBO who grapevine says is attracting VERONA are still relevant.
For the NEW PLAYERS,I would like to add that we extend our dragnet to NOAH ATUBOLU, TOSIN ADARABIOYO, BRUNO ONYEMAECHI, SHAWN ADEWOYE (decent young CB for WARLWICK in HOLLAND), GABRIEL OSHO of LUTON TOWN etc
@Mahmud Shuaib, completely agreed. Competition for position will only make the better.
In fact, I thank God that the kind of government we have today were not on ground when Clemence Westerof was SE coach probably we wouldn’t have had good players of class 94 because Westerof would not be able to penetrate the way he did then, obviously he linked directly to Aikhomu for assistance.
Our NFF is not concerned about football development in Nigeria rather exhibiting sentiment to the detriment of football development.In fact, cry and loud, NFF is supposed to rob mind with all these young and talented footballers at this point in time.
NFF is toying with conspicuous unifying factor in Nigeria. Its as if Nigeria is cursed because virtually nothing is working accordingly in Nigeria.NFF do the needful for the football fans to gladden our hearts. SE need these fresh legs to take our game to next level of positive. God bless Nigeria
Great news Nathan Tella. This is a guy not yet capped by England at any level and willing to play for the Super Eagles. He will make a great attacking partner for Victor Boniface in Bayer Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga. Both Nathan Tella and Victor Boniface are more than ripe for invitations to the Super Eagles if the NFF are serious about moving the Super Eagles forward. These are determined, skillful and ambitious players who will add quality to the Super Eagles forward line with the fast approaching Nations cup in Ivory Coast and the Africa zonal world cup qualifiers. NFF and the coaching crew should better act fast before Nigeria loses them to other serious countries.
For Leverkusen to be willing to splash 20 mila on him, they must see something good in him.
Tella has pace, stamina, dribbling ability, and uses both legs very well. If opportunity comes on either leg, Tella is ready to pull the trigger. This is one thing I personally admire in a player. The ability to use both feet.
It’s up to the coach to decide who he wants to invite. But if he does not invite this young man, he better have a good reason!
Sentiments wouldn’t alloy them to invite him. Let them continue to be swimming and Sinking with Sammy and Nacho
Exactly Sunnyb. That is the correct word “sentiments” and we know why.
https://youtu.be/3ipmFNsOPgk?si=YlbEKSR-RB26fv_N.
What more do they need. This guy is a direct player, selfless , attacking minded and can play in our midfield. He can also defend very well. Has speed and most importantly he offered himself for eagles free of charge
Tella reminds of Musa in his prime…..same stature,same pace,same eye for goal but better technical ability and finishing……Tella is also more polished and his decision making is better than that of Musa……Tella also plays the attacking Midfield position……Tella also does not need nationality switch just like Eze back then but we where busy accumulating caps for Shehu,Etebo,and Ogu and today we are regretting it……..Tella should retire Musa ASAP.
In fact, I thank God that the kind of government we have today were not on ground when Clemence Westerof was SE coach probably we wouldn’t have had good players of class 94 because Westerof would not be able to penetrate the way he did then, obviously he linked directly to Aikhomu for assistance.
Our NFF is not concerned about football development in Nigeria rather exhibiting sentiment to the detriment of football development.In fact, cry and loud, NFF is supposed to rob mind with all these young and talented footballers at this point in time.
NFF is toying with conspicuous unifying factor in Nigeria. Its as if Nigeria is cursed because virtually nothing is working accordingly in Nigeria.NFF do the needful for the football fans to gladden our hearts. SE need these fresh legs to take our game to next level of positive. God bless Nigeria
We have seen this kind in onyekuru,ejuke,and lookman non of them where able to displace our non favourite moses simon. samuel kalu soppose to be the sure banker is no where to be found anymore. Congratulations to tella, but i have to hold on before commenting on his supereagles chąnces, becos the Guy couldnt do much in his premier league season, i hope he does better in the Bundesliga, we cannot always rely on these foreign born boys, we currently have young eagles like jude sunday, sarki and ibeji, these guys have great quality and die hard naija spirit, dont be suprise if a player like jude sunday and ibeji out perform wingers like lookman and ejuke in supereagles. Daniel daga and tochukwu Nnadi will outplay aribo, onyedika etc if given the chances too.
Imagine, you prefer all these names to Tella because they have been tested at under 20 level without playing or having European experience yet even to play for their reserves in Europe?
Weldone sir. When you said We can not rely on foreign born boys, I expected you to mention players like Iwobi, Aina, but it’s only Lookman that is foreign among the name you mentioned. May be we should stop inviting any players that is performing well in Europe or making the right moves because of the fear that they will not perform more than Musa and Simon. We should not try them at all to be sure. We should stick with beji, Zarki etc against Sadio Mane, Salah, Partey, Mahrez etc
@Sean no mind am. leave these people alone is comments like thiers that make Criminal NFF think they are doing great. Thank you from bringing him to Iwobi and Aina. let us also give him Victor Moses to ponder on @Collins Id oya respond now