Nigeria’s Flying Eagles winger Sani Suleiman has been ranked as the most creative U21 player in the world for penetrative passes in the final third.
The AS Trencin star’s performances have reportedly attracted the attention of Premier League clubs Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur, who are monitoring his progress ahead of the January transfer window.
Suleiman tops the global chart among U21 players across the world’s top 50 leagues for last-third penetrative passes per 90 minutes, according to a recent CIES Football Observatory report.
The young winger’s rise follows a breakthrough year at both club and international level.
He caught global attention at the Fifa U20 World Cup, playing a pivotal role in Nigeria’s thrilling 3–2 victory over Saudi Arabia, before missing the Round of 16 clash against Argentina due to suspension.
Across his three tournament appearances, Suleiman recorded one assist and consistently troubled opposition defences with his pace, vision and technical ability.
His blend of creativity and directness has made him one of the most closely watched young Nigerians in Europe.
Suleiman has been equally influential for Trencin, where his attacking inventiveness and maturity have earned him recognition as one of Europe’s brightest emerging playmakers.
In the latest CIES rankings, the Nigerian starlet sits above a host of promising talents, including Elian Caicedo, Creichel Perez, Otto Ruoppi, Matias Fernández-Pardo, Beyatt Lekoueiry, Alexander Warneryd, Alfa Balde, Gaoussou Diakité, and Joaquim Coulanges, all of whom make up the global top ten.
With the winter transfer window approaching, Suleiman’s performances continue to strengthen his credentials for a high-profile move to one of Europe’s elite clubs.
