In 2020, Tosin Adarabioyo, then a Fulham player, said he was focusing on playing for the Three Lions of England and getting ready to play at the Euros 2020. The then Super Eagles Head coach, Gernot Rohr tried to convince him to play for Nigeria but the England-born declined.
According to him, playing in the Championship might have limited his chances of making it to the England national team but now that he will be playing in the Premier League, he stands a better chance. “I knew, because I was playing in the Championship, that it wasn’t going to be possible to get a call-up but it’s possible now. “My ambition this season had to be just to play every week for Fulham and get them back into the Premier League,” he admitted about 2 years ago. Fast forward to 2024, omitted from England’s provisional squad for EURO 2024, the 26-year-old defender could now choose to represent Nigeria, the land of his parents.
This development unlocks the possibility of Adarabioyo switching allegiance to the Super Eagles. He meets FIFA’s eligibility criteria, having never played more than three competitive games for England before turning 21. With Harry Maguire, John Stones, and Lewis Dunk preferred by manager Gareth Southgate, Adarabioyo’s path to the England squad seems unclear.
Previously representing England at youth levels, an EURO 2024 appearance would have likely cemented his decision to play for the Three Lions. However, this omission opens the door for Nigeria to potentially gain a valuable defender with Premier League experience. Will Adarabioyo choose to represent his ancestral homeland? The wait is on to see if he opts for the Super Eagles or continues his pursuit of a place in the England squad.
Despite these complications, Adarabioyo’s experience in the Premier League makes him a valuable addition to Nigeria’s defense. The NFF sees his potential, and their pursuit continues. In 2022, they even sent Technical Director Augustine Eguavoen to watch Adarabioyo play for Fulham against Crystal Palace. Unfortunately, Eguavoen witnessed him remain on the bench throughout the 3-0 defeat.
Adding another layer of intrigue, reports suggested that Adarabioyo declared his commitment to the Super Eagles before the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. However, this reported commitment wasn’t followed by an official FIFA request, a necessary step for switching allegiances. This missed opportunity highlights the complexities of the situation.
Adarabioyo was born in London, England to Nigerian parents and is the youngest of three brothers. His oldest brother, Gbolahan, serves as his representative while his middle brother Fisayo Adarabioyo is also a footballer. All three brothers were part of Manchester City’s youth ranks.
After his family moved to Whalley Range when he was still an infant, Adarabioyo was schooled in Manchester and attended Chorlton High School before enrolling with St Bede’s College, a college associated with Manchester City.
Having been discovered by then Manchester City head scout Terry John, Tosin Adarabioyo became a mainstay in the youth setup and progressed through the system and even made a few starts for the first squad, notably becoming the youngest starter in the club’s Champions League history at 19 years and 73 days against Celtic in December 2016. However, the shortage of first-team opportunities saw Adarabioyo spend time on loan at Blackburn and West Brom to get playing experience in 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively.
With no real pathway guaranteed at the Etihad Stadium, Adarabioyo left the club he had been at for 18 years by departing permanently to Fulham in 2020. He established himself as a consistent starter for the team and was a major factor in their 2022–2023 Premier League comeback, making 41 appearances in the 2021-22 Championship-winning season. However, a new deal could not be agreed in the center-back’s final year, and the defender is set to depart Craven Cottage on June 30.
While observers believed Tosin Adarabioyo was Newcastle United bound, news broke at the end of May that Chelsea were keen to make the center-back Enzo Maresca’s first signing as Blues head coach. According to Fabrizio Romano, the 26-year-old completed his medical on June 5, 2024, and the center-back posted a goodbye message to Fulham two days later.
The Super Eagles-eligible player made his first statement after his signing on why he chose to join Chelsea, he said: “Chelsea is a huge club and this is a full-circle moment for me. “I was born three miles away from Stamford Bridge and made my professional debut there. I’m very excited and looking forward to helping push the club in the direction we want to go,” he said.
WHAT TOSIN ADARABIOYO WOULD BRING TO THE SUPER EAGLES’ DEFENCE
At Fulham, Tosin Adarabioyo and Calvin Bassey have formed a formidable central defensive partnership, pushing out experienced players like Tim Ream and Issa Diop. While Bassey is already a key member of the Super Eagles backline, Adarabioyo could be the perfect long-term solution alongside him, potentially replacing the aging captain, William Troost-Ekong.
At just 26 years old, Adarabioyo has emerged as a standout defender in the Premier League. He possesses a rare combination of physical strength, composure with the ball at his feet, and tactical intelligence that surpasses his experience. Standing at an imposing 1.96 meters, he dominates the penalty area, winning aerial duels with authority and offering a reassuring presence in defensive set pieces – an area where Nigeria has historically struggled.
One of Adarabioyo’s most valuable skills is his ability to read the game and anticipate the opposition’s movements. This allows him to position himself effectively for interceptions and snuff-out attacks before they become dangerous. He remains calm under pressure and makes well-timed tackles, providing much-needed reliability in the heart of the defence – a quality currently lacking in Nigeria’s backline.
Beyond his defensive prowess, Adarabioyo’s ability to initiate counter-attacks and launch long passes could add a new dimension to Nigeria’s offensive play. This skillset would allow for a seamless transition from defence to attack, making the Super Eagles a more well-rounded team.
He is expected to follow in the footsteps of several prominent players who exemplify this trend. Ademola Lookman switched from England U-21 to Nigeria in 2022. Olaoluwa Aina represented England at various youth levels but has been a key player for the Super Eagles since 2017.
Other names like Victor Moses, Alexander Iwobi, and Joseph Ayodele-Aribo all followed similar paths, bringing their skills developed in European academies to the Nigerian national team.
This trend offers several advantages for the Super Eagles. Players like Lookman and Aina came with experience in top European leagues, raising the overall quality and tactical understanding of the team. They also brought a fresh perspective and hunger to the national team, having fought for their place on the squad.
Finally, we believe that this trend of players with international experience choosing Nigeria is likely to continue. It presents a significant opportunity for the Super Eagles to challenge for major trophies and solidify their positions as a dominant force in African football.
By Benprince Ezeh
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