The all-time leading Nigerian goalscorers in Premier League history include Yakubu, Nwankwo Kanu, Efan Ekoku, Shola Ameobi and Kelechi Iheanacho. This page ranks the top 30 Nigerian players by Premier League goals, from the competition’s early years through to the 2026/27 season.
Nigeria has produced a long list of prolific Premier League players, from the powerful finishing of Yakubu to the creativity of Kanu, Efan Ekoku and Jay-Jay Okocha. More recently, players including Alex Iwobi and Taiwo Awoniyi have climbed the all-time Nigerian scoring charts.
All-Time Premier League Top Nigerian Goalscorers
Here is the current top 30 ranking of Nigerian footballers by Premier League goals. The figures include goals scored for all Premier League clubs during each player’s career.
| Rank | Player | Premier League Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakubu | 95 |
| 2 | Nwankwo Kanu | 54 |
| 3 | Efan Ekoku | 52 |
| 4 | Shola Ameobi | 43 |
| 5 | Kelechi Iheanacho | 42 |
| 6 | Peter Odemwingie | 36 |
| 7 | Alex Iwobi | 35 |
| 8 | Obafemi Martins | 28 |
| 9 | Victor Anichebe | 26 |
| 10 | Taiwo Awoniyi | 21 |
| 11 | Victor Moses | 20 |
| 12 | Odion Ighalo | 16 |
| 13 | Jay-Jay Okocha | 14 |
| 14 | Emmanuel Dennis | 12 |
| 15 | Ade Akinbiyi | 11 |
| 16 | Ademola Lookman | 11 |
| 17 | Daniel Amokachi | 10 |
| 18 | Joseph Yobo | 8 |
| 19 | Wilfred Ndidi | 7 |
| 20 | John Utaka | 7 |
| 21 | Finidi George | 6 |
| 22 | Celestine Babayaro | 5 |
| 23 | Dickson Etuhu | 4 |
| 24 | Brown Ideye | 4 |
| 25 | Ola Aina | 3 |
| 26 | Josh Maja | 3 |
| 27 | Victor Obinna | 3 |
| 28 | Seyi Olofinjana | 3 |
| 29 | Semi Ajayi | 2 |
| 30 | Sone Aluko | 2 |
Statistics updated September 2026. Rankings are based on Premier League goals scored by players representing Nigeria.
Yakubu – Nigeria’s All-Time Premier League Top Scorer
Yakubu remains the leading Nigerian goalscorer in Premier League history with 95 goals. The striker scored for Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton and Blackburn Rovers and became renowned for his powerful finishing and clinical penalty-box play.
Yakubu’s Premier League career included two remarkable four-goal performances. He scored four times for Portsmouth against Middlesbrough in December 2003 and repeated the feat for Everton against Fulham in November 2007.
Nwankwo Kanu and Efan Ekoku
Nwankwo Kanu ranks second among Nigerian Premier League goalscorers with 54 goals. The former Arsenal, West Bromwich Albion and Portsmouth forward combined technical ability with an unusual style of finishing and played 273 Premier League matches.
Efan Ekoku is third with 52 Premier League goals. He was the first Nigerian player to appear in the Premier League, making his debut for Norwich City in April 1993. Ekoku later became particularly well known for his goalscoring spells with Norwich and Wimbledon.
Shola Ameobi and Kelechi Iheanacho
Shola Ameobi scored 43 Premier League goals during his long career with Newcastle United. He made 297 Premier League appearances, more than any other Nigerian player, while Kelechi Iheanacho has 42 goals from his spells with Manchester City and Leicester City.
Iheanacho enjoyed his most productive Premier League season in 2020/21, scoring 12 goals for Leicester City. His total of 42 places him fifth on Nigeria’s all-time Premier League goalscoring list.
Peter Odemwingie and Alex Iwobi
Peter Odemwingie is sixth on the list with 36 Premier League goals. His most prolific spell came with West Bromwich Albion, where he scored 30 league goals and became the club’s leading Premier League goalscorer.
Alex Iwobi has climbed into seventh place with 35 Premier League goals. After beginning his Premier League career at Arsenal, Iwobi continued his career with Everton and Fulham. His 2024/25 season was particularly productive, with nine Premier League goals for Fulham.
Obafemi Martins, Victor Anichebe and Taiwo Awoniyi
Obafemi Martins scored 28 Premier League goals during his time with Newcastle United and Birmingham City, while Victor Anichebe scored 26 across spells with Everton, West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland.
Taiwo Awoniyi has moved into the top 10 with 21 Premier League goals. The striker scored 21 times for Nottingham Forest between 2022 and 2026 before moving to Coventry City. His best Premier League campaign came in 2022/23, when he scored 10 goals.
Other Notable Nigerian Premier League Goalscorers
The top 30 also includes several influential Nigerian players from different eras of the Premier League. Victor Moses scored 20 goals, while Odion Ighalo scored 16, all of his Premier League goals coming during his time with Watford.
Jay-Jay Okocha scored 14 Premier League goals for Bolton Wanderers, where his skill, creativity and spectacular goals made him one of the division’s most recognisable Nigerian players.
Emmanuel Dennis scored 12 Premier League goals, while Ademola Lookman and Ade Akinbiyi both finished with 11. Daniel Amokachi scored 10, with Joseph Yobo, Wilfred Ndidi and John Utaka also featuring inside the top 20.
Nigerian Goalscorers in Premier League History
Nigerian players have been part of the Premier League from its earliest years, with Efan Ekoku becoming the first Nigerian to play in the competition in 1993. Since then, Nigeria has produced strikers, attacking midfielders and defenders who have contributed goals across more than three decades of Premier League football.
For more country-by-country statistics, visit our Premier League Top Goalscorers by Nations & Regions page. You can also explore our All-Time Top 100 Premier League Goalscorers and the wider Premier League statistics section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the all-time top Nigerian goalscorer in the Premier League?
Yakubu is the all-time leading Nigerian goalscorer in Premier League history with 95 goals.
How many Premier League goals did Nwankwo Kanu score?
Nwankwo Kanu scored 54 Premier League goals for Arsenal, West Bromwich Albion and Portsmouth.
How many Premier League goals did Efan Ekoku score?
Efan Ekoku scored 52 Premier League goals, placing him third among Nigerian goalscorers.
How many Premier League goals has Alex Iwobi scored?
Alex Iwobi has scored 35 Premier League goals for Arsenal, Everton and Fulham.
How many Premier League goals has Taiwo Awoniyi scored?
Taiwo Awoniyi has scored 21 Premier League goals, all of them for Nottingham Forest.
Related: All-Time Premier League Goalscorers by Nation | Premier League All-Time Top 100
