When it comes to the sheer number African players to have made a name for themselves the English Premier League, it could be impossible to name them all off the top of your head.
From Nwankwo Kanu at Arsenal, Didier Drogba at Chelsea, Jay Jay Okocha at Bolton Wanderers, the list is long.
Currently, there are several African players in the EPL. Some already established, while others are looking to make their name.
These are some of the fresh African faces looking to make their name in the English Premier League:
1. Nicholas Jackson, Chelsea
The Senegalese striker has already played 3 times for his country. Chelsea paid a reported fee of £32m for the striker.
It was claimed that he nearly joined Bournemouth in January, but the deal with Villareal fell through over a hamstring injury he was nursing.
After failing to secure the move, Jackson did not falter, goimg on to make score 12 goals. That form earned him a move to Chelsea in June.
He impressed new Chelsea manager, Mauricio Pochettino during preseason. However, the general consensus is that the 22-year-old still has a lot of improvement to do.
The “Senegaleses Neymar”, as he is fondly nicknamed, will have to be patient as he adapts to the higher pace of football in the English Premier League.
2. Issa Kabore
The defender from Burkina Faso plays for Luton Town, on loan from the reigning English Premier League Champions, Manchester City.
Capped 22 times for his national team, Kabore joined Manchester City in 2020, from Belgian side, KV Mechelen. However, he did not get to take his bow in the EPL. Instead, Manchester City loaned him back to his former team.
The 29-year-old has had also has also played on loan for Troyes and Olympique Marseille in France. He joined Luton Town in July, for a year-long loan spell.
It will be up to him to finally show what he can do in the EPL, and hopefully get integrated into the Manchester City squad next season.
Kabore possesses talent in spades. During the 2021 African Cup of Nations, he helped Burkina Faso reach the semifinals, getting named the best young player for his efforts.
3. Andre Onana
The Cameroon InternationalAndre Onana to Manchester United: A changing of the guard at goalkeeper helped Inter Milan reach the final of the Uefa Champions League, last season.
Onana consequently completed a highly publicised move to English Premier League giants, Manchester United reuniting with his former boss at Ajax Amsterdam, Eric Ten Hag.
Onana described joining Manchester United as a big honor, adding that plying his trade in the English Premier League, is the beginning of a new footballing journey for him.
The new Manchester United number one has had quite the journey. He started at Barecelona, before moving to the Netherlands, Italy, and now is in the EPL.
Pundits describe the Manchester United shotstopper as a “modern goalkeeper”. He is adept with both feet, and has an impressive passing range. He is also a good dribller of the ball.
However, Onana has had disciplinary issues in the past. In 2021, Uefa handed him a one-year ban after he was found to have a banned chemical component in his urine.
Last year, Cameroon suspended him afrom their World Cup squad in Qatar. According to his coach, Rigobert Song, Onana refused to play in the team’s secong group match.
Despite this, Onana is sure to light up the English Premier league.