'My dad is Nigerian'  - Arsenal forward confirms he is eligible for Super Eagles, two other national teams

Arsenal forward Nathan Butler-Oyedeji has confirmed that he is eligible to represent Nigeria at international level.

The Hale End Academy product also qualifies to represent England where he was born and raised as well as Island nation Saint Vincent through his mother. 

 A pacey forward adept at playing in both central and wide positions, Butler-Oyedeji joined the Gunners as a schoolboy at the age of eight, rising through the ranks before signing a professional contract in the summer of 2021.

Although Butler-Oyedeji has yet to make his senior debut for the Gunners, he received two call-ups for first team games in January 2023, against Newcastle United in the Premier League and Oxford United in the third round of the FA Cup.

He has spent time on loan at Accrington Stanley and Cheltenham in search of first team football, making twenty-five appearances combined for the Football League clubs. 

Football runs in his veins, with the 21-year-old revealing that his Nigerian father Taju Oyedeji was a scholar at Crystal Palace and represented lower league clubs in England. 

Speaking to the Arsenal Matchday programme, Butler-Oyedeji said: "My family background is that my dad’s Nigerian and my mother is from St Vincent. The Butler is from my mum’s side and Oyedeji is from my dad’s side.

"My dad always encouraged me to watch clips of Thierry Henry to understand the art of playing in attack but I also watched the likes of Ronaldinho too, just mesmerized by their ability."

Butler-Oyedeji impressed at U21 level last season, netting eight goals across various competitions, with four of those coming in the EFL Trophy.

He was nominated for Arsenal's Goal of the Month for February 2024 but missed out on the award to Declan Rice.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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