Nigeria’s rising star Sani Suleiman has emerged as the most creative under-21 player in world football for penetrative passes in the final third, according to the latest report by the CIES Football Observatory.
The 20-year-old AS Trencin winger has caught the attention of Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Tottenham Hotspur, with all three Premier League clubs closely monitoring his progress ahead of the January transfer window.
Suleiman leads the global standings among U21 players across the world’s top 50 leagues for last-third penetrative passes per 90 minutes, highlighting his playmaking intelligence and attacking vision.
The Nigerian youngster has enjoyed a remarkable rise over the past year, shining both for club and country. He first grabbed international attention during the FIFA U20 World Cup, where his creativity and pace powered Nigeria’s 3–2 victory over Saudi Arabia. Though he missed the Round of 16 tie against Argentina due to suspension, Suleiman’s earlier displays made him one of the tournament’s breakout performers.
At club level, the Trencin playmaker has continued to impress with his consistency, technical precision, and ability to unlock defences — traits that have placed him among Europe’s most promising young midfielders.
A club insider at Trencin reportedly described him as “a player who sees spaces others don’t and delivers passes that create real chances”, underscoring the qualities that have attracted scouts from England.
In the CIES top ten rankings, Suleiman stands above a group of elite young talents including Elian Caicedo, Creichel Perez, Otto Ruoppi, Matias Fernández-Pardo, Beyatt Lekoueiry, Alexander Warneryd, Alfa Balde, Gaoussou Diakité, and Joaquim Coulanges.
