Record-breaking Nigerian striker makes senior debut for Southampton against Preston

Nigerian teenage sensation Nicholas Oyekunle made his long-awaited senior debut for Southampton in their 2-0 defeat to Preston North End at St. Mary's Stadium on Saturday, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

The 18-year-old forward was introduced in the 86th minute, replacing Danish fullback Mads Roerslev as the Saints searched for a late equalizer.

However, his debut cameo couldn't prevent the visitors from sealing the win, with Mads Frokjær-Jensen's late strike putting the result beyond doubt.

Oyekunle has been a standout performer in Southampton's youth setup, recording an impressive 44 goals and 9 assists in 70 appearances across the U18 and U21 levels.

In May 2025, he etched his name into the record books during Southampton's 6-1 thrashing of Leicester City at the Staplewood Training Ground.

His goal in that match made him the all-time leading scorer in U18 Premier League history, surpassing Manchester United's Chido Obi.

The prolific forward reached a remarkable tally of 38 goals in 55 U18 Premier League appearances, one more than Obi's 37 goals in 24 matches.

Building on that success, Oyekunle has carried his form into the U21s, where he has netted five goals and provided two assists in six Premier League 2 outings.

His consistent performances ultimately earned him a deserved call-up to the Saints' senior squad in the Championship.

Adeyemi Adewale

Photo Credit: southamptonfc.com

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