Chelsea Loanee Omeruo Finally Makes His La Liga Debut For Leganes, Overtakes Betis Hero Finidi

Chelsea loanee Kenneth Omeruo finally made his La Liga debut for Leganes in their ongoing game against Rayo Vallecano at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque.

The central defender started the game on the bench but was introduced in the 29th minute after Unai Bustinza sustained an injury.

In doing so, Omeruo became the 23rd youngest Nigerian player to debut in the Spanish top division aged 24 years, 11 months and 19 days and overtaking Real Betis hero Finidi George in the process.

The 1994 Nigeria World Cup star was aged 25 years 4 months and 17 days when he played his first game in La Liga against Athletic Bilbao on the opening day of the 1996-97 season on September 1, 1996.

The oldest Nigerian player in history to feature in the Spanish topflight is Peter Rufai who was aged 35 years 1 month 10 days when he took to the pitch for Deportivo de La Coruña against Real Sociedad on October 4, 1998.

Youngest Nigerian Debutants In La Liga (Top 22)

1) Isaac Success - Granada v Elche 2014 - 18 years 7 months 24 days
2) Sunday Stephen - Valencia vs Villarreal 2007 - 18 years 11 months 9 days
3) Francis Uzoho - Deportivo de La Coruña v Eibar 2017 - 18 years 11 months 17 days
4) Uche Agbo - Granada v Levante 2015 - 19 years 2 months 19 days
5) Gbenga Okunowo - Barcelona v Racing Santander 1998 - 19 years 6 months 1 day
6) Nduka Ugbade - CD Castellón v Sevilla 1989 - 20 years 3 months 4 days
7) Ramon Azeez - Almeria v Elche 2013- 20 years 8 months 18 days
8) Festus Agu - SD Compostela v Celta Vigo 1996 - 20 years 9 months 22 days
9) Nosa Igiebor - Betis v Real Valladolid CF 2012 - 21 years 10 months  8 days
10) Christopher Kanu - Deportivo Alavés v Espanyol 2001 - 21 years 11 months 7 days
11) Odion Ighalo - Granada v Betis 2011- 22 years 2 months 11 days
12) Oghenekaro Etebo - Las Palmas v Malaga 2018 - 22 years 2 months 27 days
13) Victor Obinna - Malaga v Deportivo de La Coruña 2009 - 22 years 5 months 19 days
14) Mutiu Adepoju - Racing Santander v Rayo Vallecano 1993 - 22 years 8 months 14 days
15) Ikechukwu Uche - Recreativo Huelva v Getafe 2006 - 22 years 9 months 17 days
16) Bartholomew Ogbeche - Espanyol v Real Valladolid CF - 22 years 10 months 26 days
17) Abass Lawal - Albacete Balompié v Osasuna - 22 years 11 months 17 days

18) Moses Simon - Levante v Sevilla - 23 years 2 months 11 days

19) Christopher Ohenhen - SD Compostela v Real Sociedad - 23 years 10 months 21 days
20) Olarenwaju Kayode- Girona v Atlético Madrid - 24 years 3 months 11 days
21) Imoh Ezekiel - Las Palmas v Sevilla - 24 years 3 months 24 days
22) Kalu Uche - Deportivo de La Coruña v Almeria - 24 years 9 months 11 days

23) Kenneth Omeruo - Levante v Rayo Vallecano - 24 years 11 months and 19 days

24) Finidi George - Real Betis v Athletic Bilbao - 25 years 4 months 17 days

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : instagram.com/omeruo