Joel Asoro: Onetime youngest player of Nigerian descent to feature in EPL joins Metz 

With a statement on their official website, French Ligue 1 club Metz have announced the signing of Super Eagles-eligible winger Joel Asoro.

Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Asoro was the youngest player of Nigerian descent to debut in the English Premier League, aged 17 years and 117 days, when he came on in the 81st minute of Sunderland's 2-1 loss to Middlesbrough on August 21, 2016, before the record was broken by Shola Shoretire (17 years and 19 days) in February 2021.

Asoro has secured a permanent transfer to Metz after his impressive displays for Djurgårdens IF, where he directly participated in 34 goals (21 goal, 13 assists) in 96 games across all competitions.

The 24-year-old has put pen to paper on a four-year deal with Metz, keeping him at The Maroons until June 30, 2027.

Asoro has European experience, playing in sixteen Europa Conference League games, scoring eight goals and providing three assists, which earned him a call-up to the Swedish senior national team for friendlies against Finland and Iceland in January 2023.

A product of IF Brommapojkarna in Sweden, he signed his first professional contract with Sunderland and also counts Swansea City, FC Groningen and Genoa among his previous clubs.

Asoro, who is capable of playing on both flanks and as a center forward, has been assigned the 99 jersey at Metz. 

For the record, Arsenal attacking midfielder Ethan Nwaneri is now the youngest player of Nigerian descent to feature in the Premier League, a record he set when he made his senior debut at Brentford in September 2022.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit: fcmetz.com

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