Nathan Tella is a lightning-quick winger who swapped English football for the Bundesliga and a place in Bayer Leverkusen’s history-making squad. Born in England to Nigerian parents, he committed to the Super Eagles after a breakout loan at Burnley, and has since collected German silverware while battling to nail down a regular role in Nigeria’s crowded and star-studded attack.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Nathan Adewale Temitayo Tella |
| Nationality | Nigeria |
| Date of Birth | 5 July 1999 |
| Latest club | Bayer 04 Leverkusen |
| League | Bundesliga (GER) |
| Position | Right winger |
| Market value | €15.00m |
Playing style: Pace, directness and versatility
A compact, right-footed attacker, Tella pairs genuine speed with the flexibility to fill several roles across the front line.
- ⚡ Explosive pace: Stretches defences with sharp acceleration and runs in behind, a constant threat on the counter.
- 🎯 Direct dribbling: Takes on full-backs one-v-one and drives at the byline to create shooting angles.
- 🔧 Versatility: Comfortable on either flank, as a second striker or in a deeper attacking role.
- 🅰️ End product: Increasingly reliable with his final ball, chipping in goals and assists off the bench and from the start.
- 💥 Big hauls: Capable of purple patches, as shown by two hat-tricks during his standout Championship loan.
Career: From Arsenal’s academy to Bundesliga silverware
Tella’s route runs from a decade in Arsenal’s youth ranks to Southampton, a career-changing loan at Burnley and, ultimately, title-winning football in Germany.
Arsenal, Southampton and the Burnley springboard
Released by Arsenal after ten years without a professional deal, Tella joined Southampton in 2017 and reached the Premier League in 2020. Opportunities were limited on the south coast, and after the Saints’ relegation he was loaned to Burnley for the 2022-23 campaign.
That loan transformed his career. Tella scored 17 league goals — including two hat-tricks — as Vincent Kompany’s Burnley stormed to the Championship title, alerting clubs across Europe to his newfound end product.
Leverkusen’s invincible season and beyond
In August 2023, Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen paid a reported €23m for Tella. He arrived as a rotation option but quickly became part of one of the great modern European campaigns.
Leverkusen went unbeaten to complete the 2023-24 Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double, with Tella contributing important goals and assists. He added the German Super Cup in 2024, and alongside fellow Nigerian Victor Boniface he gives the Werkself electric pace, though injuries have since interrupted his rhythm.
| Team (Appea.) | Goals |
|---|---|
| Southampton (34) | 2 |
| Burnley (loan) (44) | 19 |
| Bayer 04 Leverkusen (92) | 11 |
Super Eagles: A committed international still chasing his tournament debut
Eligible for England through his upbringing, Tella chose to represent Nigeria, making his senior debut in a November 2023 World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe and quickly becoming cap-tied to the Super Eagles.
Caps have been sporadic since then. A mix of injuries and fierce competition for attacking places kept him out of Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 squad in Morocco, leaving him still waiting to feature at a major international finals despite remaining firmly in the national-team conversation.
| Competition (Stage) | MP (Goal) |
|---|---|
| N/A | N/A |
Clubs journey: England to Germany
Tella’s career has climbed steadily from London’s academies to the Bundesliga, with the Burnley loan standing out as the clear turning point that unlocked his potential.
Now an established member of one of Germany’s strongest squads, he is tied to Leverkusen on a long-term contract and keeps adding domestic trophies to a fast-growing CV.
| Years | Club |
|---|---|
| 2020–2023 | Southampton |
| 2022–2023 | Burnley (loan) |
| 2023–Present | Bayer 04 Leverkusen |