Super Eagles forward Nathan Tella has made history by becoming the first Nigerian player to reach 100 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen.
The 26-year-old achieved the milestone during his team’s 2-1 win against Koln on Saturday. Tella played an important role in the match, setting up the second goal scored by Patrik Schick.
Tella’s time at the club has been mixed. Three seasons ago, he was part of the squad that went unbeaten on their way to winning the Bundesliga title. His performances during that period showed his quality and importance to the team.
Last season, he enjoyed a decent run, scoring four goals and providing five assists in 39 matches. However, this season has been more difficult for him due to repeated injury problems. He only returned to regular action recently after spending time on the sidelines.
Despite concerns about his fitness, the club have shown confidence in him by offering a new contract that will keep him until 2031. Tella has already started to repay that trust with strong performances in recent games.
Leverkusen are currently sixth in the league table and are just two points away from a Champions League place. The club will hope Tella can continue his good form as they push for a strong finish to the season.
At international level, Tella has struggled to secure a regular place in the Super Eagles squad. Since making his debut in 2023, he has not had many chances to establish himself in the starting line-up.
He is yet to play under the current national team coach, but his recent improvement in form could boost his chances of earning a recall ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in June.
