18yo Leicester City fullback in contact with NFF receives first call-up for Premier League game

Exciting Leicester City fullback Olabade Aluko has received his first-ever call-up for a Premier League game, allnigeriasoccer.com reports. 

Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy included the 18-year-old in his matchday squad for the ongoing game against Brighton & Hove Albion at American Express Stadium.

Allnigeriasoccer.com exclusively reported exactly two months ago that Aluko had committed his international future to Nigeria over England.

The talented defender's camp was in contact with several officials of the Nigeria Football Federation before Flying Eagles manager Aliyu Zubairu announced his provisional squad for the 2025 Africa U20 Cup of Nations. 

Despite his commitment, Aluko was omitted from the Flying Eagles squad, with the reasons kept under wraps.

He trained with the first team of the Foxes during the latest internationals in March and in preparation for the trip to Brighton.

Should Ruud van Nistelrooy hand Aluko some minutes off the bench, he would make history as the youngest player of Nigerian descent to feature for Leicester City in the Premier League.

The current holder of the record is Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi who was aged 20 years and 29 days when he made his first appearance in the division against Chelsea in January 2017.

Aluko was not involved in U21 duties during the Premier League 2 clash against Nottingham Forest on Friday, April 11, fueling speculation that he was in contention for a spot in the traveling squad to Brighton.

This season, he has played twenty-one games for Leicester City youth teams, including appearances in the U18 Premier League, Premier League 2, EFL Trophy and FA Youth Cup, scoring two goals.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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