Middlesbrough have joined the race to sign Nigerian midfield prodigy Sani Suleiman, the AS Trenčín star attracting growing attention across Europe ahead of the January transfer window, Footynaija.com reports.
Middlesbrough made contact with the Slovak club last Thursday, becoming the latest side to enquire about the 19-year-old, according to SportsBoom.
Sani, who won the NPFL Rookie of the Season award last year with Akwa United, has impressed in Europe with his creativity, passing intelligence, and consistency this season.
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Suleiman’s performances have placed him firmly on the radar of several Premier League clubs, including Chelsea, Tottenham and Brentford, while Bayer Leverkusen, Rangers, and PSV Eindhoven have also tracked him.
Ajax, PSG and Royal Antwerp are also believed to be monitoring his development closely.
The surge of interest follows a new report from the CIES Football Observatory, which ranked Suleiman the No.1 most creative U-21 player in world football based on final-third penetrative passes. He averaged 2.52 such passes per 90 minutes — a benchmark of elite playmaking vision.
✨ Sani Suleiman is once again among CIES Top U20 Talents.
The 19yo AS Trencin CM ranks 6th worldwide for dribbles and progressive carries, behind stars like Lamine Yamal.
Chelsea, Tottenham, Rangers, Bayer and Serie A clubs are on him.
More ▶️ https://t.co/WxPfLFJGnz pic.twitter.com/Lv4fL3IOvL
— Rudy Galetti (@RudyGaletti) November 13, 2025
Suleiman first rose to prominence at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, where his composure and passing range stood out.
Since joining AS Trenčín from Akwa United in 2024, he has developed into a central figure in the Slovak club’s midfield, excelling as both a deep-lying orchestrator and dynamic box-to-box presence.
Trenčín hold a two-year contract option but are prepared to sell in January due to escalating interest. Suleiman’s representatives are said to favour a move that guarantees regular first-team football.
