Who Is Nathan Tella?
Nathan Tella is an English-born professional footballer who plays as a right winger or forward for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen. He represents the Nigeria national team. His clubs include Arsenal’s academy, Southampton, Burnley on loan, and Leverkusen.
The table below lists key biographical facts about Nathan Tella. The first column names the category. The second column gives the recorded detail.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Nathan Adewale Temitayo Tella |
| Date of birth | 5 July 1999 |
| Place of birth | Stevenage, England |
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) |
| Positions | Right winger, forward |
| Current club | Bayer Leverkusen |
| Squad number | 23 |
| National team | Nigeria |
| Heritage | Nigerian parents |
What Is Nathan Tella’s Full Name and Age?
Nathan Tella’s full name is Nathan Adewale Temitayo Tella, and he was born on 5 July 1999. He is 27 years old as of September 2026. Bundesliga.com listed him at 24 when he signed for Leverkusen in August 2023.
Where Was Nathan Tella Born and Educated?
Nathan Tella was born in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, and grew up in the county. He attended Edwinstree Middle School and then Freman College, both in Buntingford. He left school after his GCSE exams in 2015. His parents are Nigerian, and their names are not public.
How Did Nathan Tella Begin His Football Career?
Nathan Tella began his football career in Arsenal’s youth academy. He spent 10 years there, from 2007 to 2017. He then had unsuccessful trials at Reading and Norwich City. Southampton signed him in April 2017, three months before his 18th birthday.
His early career followed 4 steps:
- Join Arsenal’s academy in 2007.
- Trial at Reading and Norwich City in 2017.
- Sign for Southampton in April 2017.
- Play in the EFL Trophy for Southampton’s under-23 side in 2017–18.
How Did Nathan Tella Perform at Southampton?
Nathan Tella made his senior debut for Southampton on 19 June 2020 as a substitute in a 3–0 win over Norwich City. He made his first Premier League start on 23 February 2021 against Leeds United. He scored his first Premier League goal on 15 May 2021 in a 3–1 win over Fulham.
He signed a new contract in January 2022. He made 36 league appearances and scored 2 league goals for Southampton.
Why Was the 2022–23 Season at Burnley Important?
Nathan Tella scored 17 league goals in 39 appearances on loan at Burnley in 2022–23. He joined the club on 11 August 2022 for a season-long loan. Bundesliga.com reported that he was the club’s top scorer as Burnley won the Championship with 101 points.
He scored two hat-tricks that season:
- 11 February 2023: a 3–0 win over Preston North End
- March 2023: a 3–1 win over Hull City
How Did Nathan Tella Join Bayer Leverkusen?
Bayer Leverkusen signed Nathan Tella from Southampton on 27 August 2023 on a five-year contract. Reuters reported a fee of about £20 million. He replaced Moussa Diaby in the squad, according to Bundesliga.com.
He made his debut on 2 September 2023 as a 72nd-minute substitute in a 5–1 win over Darmstadt 98. He scored his first Leverkusen goal on 5 October 2023 in a 2–1 Europa League win over Molde.
[Internal link: Bayer Leverkusen Squad and Signings]
What Are Nathan Tella’s Career Statistics?
Nathan Tella has made 196 senior appearances and scored 34 goals in his career, according to Wikipedia. The table below lists league appearances and goals by club as of 22 August 2026.
| Club | Period | League apps | League goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southampton | 2020 to 2023 | 36 | 2 |
| Burnley (loan) | 2022–23 | 39 | 17 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 2023 to present | 68 | 8 |
What Trophies and Awards Has Nathan Tella Won?
Nathan Tella has won 4 trophies. According to Sportsdunia, they include titles in the Championship, the Bundesliga, and the DFB-Pokal. His trophies are:
- EFL Championship with Burnley (2022–23)
- Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen (2023–24)
- DFB-Pokal with Bayer Leverkusen (2023–24)
- DFL-Supercup with Bayer Leverkusen (2024)
His individual honours came in 2022–23:
- PFA Championship Fans’ Player of the Month (March 2023)
- EFL Championship Team of the Season
- PFA Championship Team of the Year
Why Does Nathan Tella Play for Nigeria?
Nathan Tella plays for Nigeria because of his Nigerian heritage. He told Nigerian media in January 2022 that he wanted to represent the country. Head coach José Peseiro called him up on 10 November 2023 for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
He has 2 caps and no goals for Nigeria, with one appearance each in 2023 and 2025.
How Is Nathan Tella Performing in the 2025–26 and 2026–27 Seasons?
Nathan Tella made 17 Bundesliga appearances and scored 1 goal in 2025–26. He has played 1 match in 2026–27 as of 22 August 2026, scoring 1 goal in the DFB-Pokal. His Leverkusen totals stand at 101 appearances and 12 goals in all competitions.
People Also Ask About Nathan Tella
Which club does Nathan Tella play for?
He plays for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
Is Nathan Tella English or Nigerian?
He was born in England to Nigerian parents and represents Nigeria.
How old is Nathan Tella?
He was born on 5 July 1999 and is 27 years old.
How much did Leverkusen pay for Nathan Tella?
Reuters reported a fee of about £20 million in August 2023.
What position does Nathan Tella play?
He plays as a right winger or forward.
What Is the Summary of Nathan Tella’s Biography?
Nathan Tella is a 27-year-old winger born in Stevenage on 5 July 1999. He spent 10 years at Arsenal, developed at Southampton, and scored 17 league goals for Burnley in 2022–23. He joined Bayer Leverkusen in August 2023, has won 4 trophies, and has 2 caps for Nigeria.