{{Short description|Nigeria international footballer (born 1999)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Nathan Tella |image = Nathan-Tella-2025.jpg |image_size = |caption = Tella with Bayer Leverkusen in 2025 |full_name = Nathan Adewale Temitayo Tella<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/registrations/april-2017.ashx |title=List of Players Registered as Scholars in Accordance with Rule C.3 Between 01/04/2017 and 30/04/2017 |publisher=The Football Association |page=7 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024153848/http://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/registrations/april-2017.ashx |archivedate=24 October 2019}}</ref> |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|7|5|df=y}}<ref name="11v11">{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/nathan-tella-256233/|title=Nathan Tella |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |access-date=4 November 2021}}</ref> |birth_place = Stevenage, England |height = 1.73m<ref name="11v11"/> |position = Right winger, forward |currentclub = Bayer Leverkusen |clubnumber = 23 |youthyears1 = 2007–2017 |youthclubs1 = Arsenal |youthyears2 = 2017–2020 |youthclubs2 = Southampton |years1 = 2020–2023 |clubs1 = Southampton |caps1 = 36 |goals1 = 2 |years2 = 2022–2023 |clubs2 = → Burnley (loan) |caps2 = 39 |goals2 = 17 |years3 = 2023– |clubs3 = Bayer Leverkusen |caps3 = 68 |goals3 = 8 |nationalyears1 = 2023– |nationalteam1 = Nigeria |nationalcaps1 = 2 |nationalgoals1 = 0 |pcupdate = 20:27, 2 May 2026 (UTC) |ntupdate = 31 May 2025 }}
'''Nathan Adewale Temitayo Tella''' (born 5 July 1999)<ref>{{cite web |title=Nathan Tella |url=https://www.arsenal.com/historic/players/nathan-tella |access-date=1 March 2022 |publisher=Arsenal F.C.}}</ref> is a professional footballer who plays as a right winger or forward for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen. Born in England, he plays for the Nigeria national team.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 January 2022 |title=Southampton's Nathan Tella expresses desire to play for Nigeria |url=https://punchng.com/southamptons-nathan-tella-expresses-desire-to-play-for-nigeria/ |access-date=1 March 2022 |newspaper=The Punch}}</ref>
==Club career==
===Early career=== Tella grew up in Stevenage, Hertfordshire and was educated at Edwinstree Middle School and then Freman College, both in the town of Buntingford. He left following his GCSE exams in 2015.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} After ten years with Arsenal,<ref name=":0" /> Tella spent time on trial at Reading<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/reading-fc-transfers-arsenal-winger-12564572|title=Reading FC transfers: Arsenal winger on trial with Royals|website=getreading.co.uk|date=6 February 2017|accessdate=23 June 2020}}</ref> and Norwich City, before joining Southampton in April 2017.<ref>{{cite web |date=21 April 2017 |title=Saints sign youngster Tella |url=https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2017-04-21/announcement-signing-southampton-nathan-tella |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427210456/https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2017-04-21/announcement-signing-southampton-nathan-tella |archive-date=27 April 2017 |accessdate=23 June 2020 |publisher=Southampton F.C.}}</ref>
=== Southampton === In July 2019, he extended his contract with the club for a further year,<ref>{{cite web |date=7 July 2019 |title=Academy youngsters secure fresh deals |url=https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2019-07-07/southampton-fc-academy-contract-extensions-nlundulu-tella-olufunwa-freeman |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708110430/https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2019-07-07/southampton-fc-academy-contract-extensions-nlundulu-tella-olufunwa-freeman |archive-date=8 July 2019 |accessdate=23 June 2020 |publisher=Southampton F.C.}}</ref> before signing a further three-year extension in July 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tella commits long-term future |url=https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2020-07-02/nathan-tella-contract-extension-southampton-football-club-2-july-2020 |publisher=Southampton FC |accessdate=8 July 2020 |date=2 July 2020}}</ref> On 19 June 2020, Tella made his senior debut as a substitute in a 3–0 victory against Norwich City.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51779559|title=Norwich 0–3 Southampton|publisher=BBC Sport|date=19 June 2020|accessdate=23 June 2020}}</ref> On 11 February 2021, he made his first goal contribution by providing an assist to Stuart Armstrong's goal in a 2–0 FA Cup fifth round win against Wolverhampton Wanderers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 February 2021 |title=Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–2 Southampton: Hasenhuttl says Saints want cup |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/56014860 |access-date=15 May 2021 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> On 23 February, Tella made his first Premier League start in a 3–0 defeat to Leeds United.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Dan |date=25 February 2021 |title=Hasenhuttl says Tella 'takes responsibility' after earning his first Premier League start |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/19115937.hasenhuttl-says-tella-takes-responsibility-earning-first-premier-league-start/ |access-date=25 February 2021 |website=Southern Daily Echo}}</ref> On 15 May, Tella scored his first Premier League goal in a 3–1 win against Fulham.<ref>{{Cite web|date=15 May 2021|title=Tella scores as Southampton beat Fulham|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57129203|access-date=13 May 2021|website=BBC Sport}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
On 6 January 2022, Tella signed a new three-and-a-half year contract with Southampton.<ref>{{Cite web |last=House |first=Alfie |date=6 January 2022 |title=Nathan Tella signs brand-new contract with Southampton |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/19829959.nathan-tella-signs-brand-new-contract-southampton/ |access-date=7 January 2022 |website=Southern Daily Echo}}</ref>
==== Burnley (loan) ==== On 11 August 2022, Tella joined Burnley on a season-long loan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 August 2022 |title=Tella relishing Clarets move |url=https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/content/tella-relishing-clarets-loan-move |access-date=11 August 2022 |website=Burnley FC}}</ref> On 11 February 2023, he scored a first career hat-trick in a 3–0 victory over Preston North End, his side's tenth consecutive league victory,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64520687|title=Burnley 3–0 Preston North End|publisher=BBC Sport|date=11 February 2023|accessdate=11 February 2023}}</ref> and a month later scored a second hat-trick in a 3–1 victory over Hull City.<ref>{{cite web |date=15 March 2023 |title=Hull City 1–3 Burnley |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64884200 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>
=== Bayer Leverkusen === On 27 August 2023, Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen announced the signing of Tella on a five-year contract,<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 August 2023 |title=New winger for the Werkself: Bayer 04 sign Nathan Tella |url=https://www.bayer04.de/en-us/news/bayer04/new-winger-for-the-werkself-bayer-04-sign-nathan-tella |access-date=2023-08-31 |publisher=Bayer 04 Leverkusen |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=27 August 2023 |title=Tella departs for Bayer Leverkusen |url=https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/tella-departs-for-bayer-leverkusen |access-date=27 August 2023 |website=Southampton FC}}</ref> for a reported fee of £20 million.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-08-27 |title=Forward Tella joins Bayer Leverkusen from Southampton |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/forward-tella-joins-bayer-leverkusen-southampton-2023-08-27/ |access-date=2023-08-31}}</ref> He made his first appearance for the club on 2 September 2023 in a 5–1 victory against Darmstadt 98, replacing Jeremie Frimpong in the 72nd minute.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bayer Leverkusen 5–1 SV Darmstadt 98 |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/match/_/gameId/677603 |access-date=2 April 2024 |website=ESPN}}</ref> On 5 October 2023, Tella scored his first goal for Bayer Leverkusen in a 1–2 victory against Molde in the Europa League.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 October 2023 |title=2–1 in Molde – early double whammy paves the way |url=https://www.bayer04.de/en-us/news/europa-league/2-1-in-molde-early-double-whammy-paves-the-way |access-date=2 April 2024 |website=Bayer Leverkusen FC}}</ref>
==International career== On 10 November 2023, Tella was called up by Nigeria head coach, José Peseiro for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Oguntimehin |first1=Ayomide |title=Peseiro hands Bayer Leverkusen's Nathan Tella a debut Super Eagles call-up |url=https://soccernet.ng/2023/11/peseiro-hands-bayer-leverkusens-nathan-tella-a-debut-super-eagles-call-up.html |access-date=10 November 2023 |work=Socceret.ng |date=10 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ogunseyin |first1=Oluyemi |title=2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Nathan Tella gets first Eagles call-up, Musa, Troost-Ekong dropped |url=https://guardian.ng/sport/2026-world-cup-qualifiers-nathan-tella-gets-first-eagles-call-up-musa-troost-ekong-dropped/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=10 November 2023 |date=10 November 2023|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref>
==Personal life== Born in England, Tella is of Nigerian descent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=21682|title=Promising Arsenal Winger Nathan Tella Eager To Play For Nigeria Ahead Of England :: All Nigeria Soccer - The Complete Nigerian Football Portal|website=www.allnigeriasoccer.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Abayomi |first=Tosin |date=16 January 2022 |title='Sorting out my passport' - Southampton's Nathan Tella ready to dump England for 'dream' Super Eagles |url=https://www.pulse.ng/sports/sports-gist/southamptons-nathan-tella-ready-to-dump-england-for-dream-super-eagles/t8nvng7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216193524/https://www.pulse.ng/sports/sports-gist/southamptons-nathan-tella-ready-to-dump-england-for-dream-super-eagles/t8nvng7 |archive-date=16 February 2022 |access-date=2 April 2024 |newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|language=en}}</ref>
==Career statistics== ===Club=== {{updated|match played 2 May 2026}}<ref name=SWAY>{{cite web|url= https://int.soccerway.com/players/nathan-tella/376599/|title=Nathan Tella|website=Soccerway|access-date=2 April 2024}}</ref>
{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan=2|Club !rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National cup{{efn|Includes FA Cup, DFB-Pokal}} !colspan=2|League cup{{efn|Includes EFL Cup}} !colspan=2|Europe !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan=4|Southampton U23 |2017–18<ref name=":0">{{soccerbase season|107792|2017|access-date=20 December 2020}}</ref> |colspan=3|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||2{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy}}||0||2||0 |- |2018–19<ref>{{soccerbase season|107792|2018|access-date=20 December 2020}}</ref> |colspan=3|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||3{{efn|name=EFLT}}||0||3||0 |- |2020–21<ref name=sb2020/> |colspan=3|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||1{{efn|name=EFLT}}||0||1||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan="2"|—||6||0||6||0 |- |rowspan=5|Southampton |2019–20<ref>{{soccerbase season|107792|2019|access-date=28 January 2021}}</ref> |Premier League |1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||1||0 |- |2020–21<ref name=sb2020>{{soccerbase season|107792|2020|access-date=16 May 2021}}</ref> |Premier League |18||1||3||0||1||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||22||1 |- |2021–22<ref>{{soccerbase season|107792|2021|access-date=16 August 2021}}</ref> |Premier League |14||0||1||0||3||1||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||18||1 |- |2023–24<ref>{{soccerbase season|107792|2023|access-date=4 August 2023}}</ref> |Championship |3||1||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||3||1 |- !colspan=2|Total !36||2||4||0||4||1||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||44||3 |- |Burnley (loan) |2022–23<ref>{{soccerbase season|107792|2022|accessdate=4 October 2023}}</ref> |Championship |39||17||5||2||1||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||45||19 |- |rowspan=4|Bayer Leverkusen |2023–24<ref>{{soccerbase season|107792|2023|access-date=6 October 2023}}</ref> |Bundesliga |24||5||4||0||colspan=2|—||11{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||1||colspan=2|—||39||6 |- |2024–25<ref>{{soccerbase season|107792|2024|access-date=17 August 2024}}</ref> |Bundesliga |27||2||5||1||colspan=2|—||7{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}}||1||1{{efn|Appearance in DFL-Supercup}}||0||40||4 |- |2025–26<ref>{{soccerbase season|107792|2025|access-date=15 August 2025}}</ref> |Bundesliga |17||1||2||0||colspan=2|—||2{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||colspan=2|—||21||1 |- !colspan=2|Total !68||8||11||1||colspan=2|—||20||2||1||0||100||11 |- !colspan=3|Career total !143||27||20||3||5||1||20||2||7||0||195||33 |} {{notelist}}
===International=== <!-- NOTE: when updating stats, update the infobox too! --> {{updated|match played 31 May 2025}}<ref name="NFT">{{NFT player|93025|access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="2"|Nigeria |2023||1||0 |- |2025||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total!!2!!0 |}
== Honours == '''Burnley''' * EFL Championship: 2022–23<ref>{{cite news |last=Long |first=Dan |date=25 April 2023 |title=Blackburn Rovers 0–1 Burnley: Vincent Kompany's Clarets clinch Championship title after Manuel Benson stunner |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12040/12866055/blackburn-rovers-0-1-burnley-vincent-kompanys-clarets-clinch-championship-title-after-manuel-benson-stunner |access-date=25 April 2023 |website=Sky Sports}}</ref>
'''Bayer Leverkusen''' * Bundesliga: 2023–24<ref>{{cite news |last=Whelan |first=Padraig |date=14 April 2024 |title= Bayer Leverkusen crowned German champions for first time |url=https://onefootball.com/en/news/bayer-leverkusen-crowned-german-champions-for-first-time-39348923 |access-date=14 April 2024 |website=OneFootball}}</ref> * DFB-Pokal: 2023–24 * DFL-Supercup: 2024<ref>{{cite news |date=17 August 2024 |title=Bayer Leverkusen battle back to beat VfB Stuttgart on penalties in Supercup |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/bayer-leverkusen-vfb-stuttgart-supercup-preview-live-blog-report-alonso-28479 |access-date=17 August 2024 |publisher=Bundesliga}}</ref>
'''Individual''' * PFA Championship Fans' Player of the Month: March 2023<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 April 2023 |title=The winner of the PFA Vertu Motors Championship Fans' Player of the Month - March |url=https://www.90min.com/posts/the-winner-of-the-pfa-vertu-motors-championship-fans-player-of-the-month-march-2023 |access-date=30 May 2023 |website=90min.com}}</ref> * EFL Championship Team of the Season: 2022–23<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 April 2023 |title=EFL Team of the Season line-ups revealed |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2023/april/efl-team-of-the-season-line-ups-revealed/ |access-date=24 April 2023 |website=English Football League}}</ref> * PFA Team of the Year: 2022–23 Championship<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66650723 |title=Erling Haaland: Manchester City forward wins PFA men's Player of the Year award |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 August 2023 |access-date=29 August 2023}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.southamptonfc.com/first-team/nathan-tella Profile on Southampton F.C. website]
{{Bayer 04 Leverkusen squad}} {{Navboxes | title = Awards | bg = gold | fg = navy | list = {{2022–23 EFL Championship Team of the Season}} {{2022–23 EFL Championship PFA Team of the Year}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tella, Nathan}} Category:1999 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Stevenage Category:Nigerian men's footballers Category:Nigeria men's international footballers Category:English men's footballers Category:English people of Nigerian descent Category:Sportspeople of Nigerian descent Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Arsenal F.C. players Category:Southampton F.C. players Category:Burnley F.C. players Category:Bayer 04 Leverkusen players Category:Premier League players Category:English Football League players Category:Bundesliga players Category:Black British sportsmen Category:21st-century Black British people Category:English expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Germany Category:21st-century English sportsmen Category:21st-century Nigerian sportsmen