Kelechi Iheanacho Opens Up About His Journey to the Premier League

Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho has shared the story of his difficult path to the Premier League, revealing how people doubted him at the start of his career.

Iheanacho first gained attention playing for Nigeria’s youth teams. He then made the decision to join Manchester City, one of the top clubs in the Premier League. Despite his early success, many people were skeptical about whether he could make it at such a big club.

In an interview with BBC Sport, Iheanacho recalled the doubts he faced: “So many people told me that ‘you’re not going to make it, it’s a big team, so many big players, it’s not really good for you to go there,’” he said. But despite the discouragement, Iheanacho and his family decided to go ahead with the move to City, which he now calls a “great journey.”

During his time at Manchester City, Iheanacho showed his talent, becoming known for his goal-scoring ability. He later moved to Leicester City, where he found success, including winning the FA Cup in 2021. His time at Leicester helped him gain recognition as a strong striker in the Premier League.

In the summer of 2024, Iheanacho, now 28, signed with Sevilla FC after leaving Leicester. He was hoping for more playing time and a chance to make an impact in La Liga. Although he has struggled to settle in at Sevilla, with three goals in 10 matches so far, his journey from being doubted to playing in Europe’s top leagues is inspiring for many young athletes.