No Osimhen, Iwobi, or Ejuke: Two Nigerians among Europe’s 50 elite playmakers

Two Nigerian footballers have earned a place among the top 50 players with the most assists in Europe’s major leagues during the 2024-25 season, Footynaija.com reports.

Despite their creative contributions this term, Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi, and Chidera Ejuke failed to make the cut.

Osimhen, one of the world’s most lethal centre-forwards, has also been an effective provider at Galatasaray. The on-loan Napoli striker has notched four assists to go with his 14 goals in 18 games, but that tally wasn’t enough to place him among Europe’s top 50 assist-makers.

Iwobi, enjoying arguably the best season of his career, has racked up seven goals and three assists in 24 Premier League games for Fulham. However, his creative output also falls short of the elite list.

Alex Iwobi is chasing history in the Premier League.

He became Nigeria’s record assist maker in the competition earlier in the season, overtaking Kanu Nwankwo and now up to seventh for goals.

Iwobinho isn’t a myth after all. pic.twitter.com/W63PGB2i7R

— HF World (@hfworld_) January 14, 2025

Ejuke, in his debut season with Sevilla, has dazzled with his dribbling ability and ranks among the continent’s best in take-ons. Yet, the winger has managed just one goal and one assist, keeping him out of the top 50.

With Osimhen, Iwobi, and Ejuke missing, the only Nigerians to make the cut are Moses Simon of Nantes and Ademola Lookman of Atalanta, according to Eurofootball Rumours.

No player has more Ligue 1 assists than Moses Simon this season.

Nantes’ maestro pic.twitter.com/1UEB6bRmCh

— Soar Super Eagles (@SSE_NGA) February 15, 2025

Simon leads all Nigerian players with five assists this season, his latest coming in Nantes’ 7-1 hammering by Monaco. That tally places him 11th, alongside 10 others, including Tottenham’s Son Heung-min, Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, Napoli’s Romelu Lukaku, and Manchester City’s Savinho.

Lookman also has five assists, placing him in joint-43rd position with seven others, including PSG’s Achraf Hakimi and Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon.

Topping the list is Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah with 14 assists, while Fulham’s Antonee Robinson, Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal follow closely with 10 each. Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush and Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz complete the top six with nine assists apiece.