Nathan Tella is a Nigerian international footballer who has built an interesting career from the youth system in England to the Bundesliga in Germany. Born in England to Nigerian parents, Tella developed his football skills at Arsenal before joining Southampton and later becoming one of the standout players during Burnley’s promotion-winning 2022/23 campaign.
Today, Nathan Tella plays for Bayer 04 Leverkusen, where he can operate as a right winger, left winger or forward. He has also represented Nigeria at senior international level.
This article covers Nathan Tella’s age, parents and family background, education, football career, clubs, position, salary, transfer history, achievements and estimated net worth. Where financial information is not officially disclosed, it is clearly identified as an estimate rather than presented as fact.
Nathan Tella Quick Profile
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Nathan Adewale Temitayo Tella |
| Date of birth | July 5, 1999 |
| Age | 27 years old |
| Place of birth | Stevenage, England |
| Nationality | Nigerian / English-born |
| Height | 1.73 m |
| Position | Right winger, left winger, forward |
| Preferred foot | Right |
| Current club | Bayer 04 Leverkusen |
| Shirt number | 23 |
| National team | Nigeria |
| Former clubs | Arsenal academy, Southampton, Burnley |
| Current contract | Bayer Leverkusen, until June 2031 |
| Profession | Professional footballer |
Bayer Leverkusen’s official profile lists Tella at 1.73 metres and describes him as a player who can operate on both wings and as a false nine. The club extended his contract in March 2026, with the new agreement running until June 30, 2031.
Who Is Nathan Tella?
Nathan Tella is a professional footballer who represents Nigeria internationally and plays his club football for Bayer Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga.
His full name is Nathan Adewale Temitayo Tella, and he was born on July 5, 1999, in England. Although he was born and raised in England, he has Nigerian heritage and eventually chose to represent Nigeria at senior international level.
Tella is known for his speed, movement, dribbling and ability to play in several attacking positions. Rather than being restricted to one position, he can play from either wing or move into a more central attacking role.
His career is particularly notable because it did not follow a straight path from a famous academy to immediate first-team success. He spent several years developing before establishing himself at senior level. His breakthrough season came during his loan spell at Burnley, where his goals helped the club win the English Championship and return to the Premier League.
His performances at Burnley eventually attracted Bayer Leverkusen, giving him the opportunity to play top-level football outside England.
Nathan Tella Age and Date of Birth
Nathan Tella was born on July 5, 1999. As of September 2026, he is 27 years old.
His date of birth is also listed by the Premier League and Bayer Leverkusen in their official player information.
Tella’s age is significant when looking at his career because much of his development happened gradually. He spent his teenage years in academy football before making his senior debut and later becoming an established professional.
At 27, he is now in the prime years of his football career and has several seasons of experience in English and German professional football.
Nathan Tella Parents and Family Background
Nathan Tella was born in England to Nigerian parents. His Nigerian heritage is an important part of his identity and eventually influenced his decision to represent the Super Eagles.
Reliable public sources confirm his Nigerian family background, but the names and detailed personal information of his parents are not widely documented through authoritative sources. For that reason, claims circulating online about the names, occupations or personal lives of his parents should be treated carefully unless supported by a reliable interview or official source.
Tella has spoken positively about his Nigerian heritage and his desire to represent Nigeria. Bundesliga’s profile of the player notes that his Nigerian background made him eligible to represent both England and Nigeria.
Rather than relying on unverified family details, it is more accurate to say that Nathan Tella comes from a Nigerian family background and was raised in England.
Where Was Nathan Tella Born?
Nathan Tella was born in Stevenage, England, although some earlier reports have referred to his London connection and Nigerian heritage.
Bayer Leverkusen’s official biography states that Tella grew up in Stevenage, a town north of London. He later moved into the London football environment when he joined Arsenal’s academy.
His upbringing in England gave him access to the country’s competitive youth football system, while his Nigerian family background provided a connection to Nigerian football.
This combination eventually allowed him to choose Nigeria when the opportunity to play senior international football arrived.
Nathan Tella Education
Before becoming a professional footballer, Tella attended school in England while developing his football career.
Public biographies have reported that he attended Edwinstree Middle School and later Freman College. His football development, however, became an increasingly important part of his teenage years.
At a young age, he joined Arsenal’s academy, where he spent approximately a decade developing his football skills. Bayer Leverkusen confirms that Tella was part of the Arsenal youth system from 2007 before moving to Southampton in 2017.
Like many academy players, his early career involved balancing education with demanding football training. His progression through youth football eventually opened the door to a professional contract.
Nathan Tella Football Career
Arsenal Academy
Nathan Tella began his organised football development at Arsenal’s youth academy in 2007.
He spent around 10 years in the Arsenal system, gaining experience across the club’s youth teams. Although he did not make a senior competitive appearance for Arsenal’s first team, his time at the academy provided a strong foundation for his professional career.
Being part of a major Premier League academy exposed him to high-level coaching and competition from a young age.
In 2017, Tella moved on from Arsenal and joined Southampton’s youth setup.
Southampton
Tella joined Southampton in 2017 when he was still a teenager. He continued his development through the club’s academy before progressing towards senior football.
His Premier League debut came on June 19, 2020, when Southampton played Norwich City. Bayer Leverkusen’s official biography records that Tella came off the bench during the 3–0 away victory.
He gradually became more involved with Southampton’s first team.
The Premier League also highlighted his development during this period. In the 2020/21 campaign, Tella made seven starts and 11 substitute appearances in the league and scored his first Premier League goal against Fulham.
However, regular first-team opportunities were still difficult to secure. The next major stage of his development came when he moved temporarily to Burnley.
Nathan Tella at Burnley
The 2022/23 season was arguably the biggest breakthrough period of Nathan Tella’s career at that point.
Southampton sent Tella to Burnley on loan, where he worked under manager Vincent Kompany.
The move proved highly successful.
Tella scored 17 goals in 39 league appearances for Burnley as the club won the Championship title and secured promotion back to the Premier League. Bayer Leverkusen states that he recorded 22 goal involvements in 39 league games and earned a place in the Championship Team of the Season.
His performances demonstrated that he could contribute consistently in front of goal while also working hard for his team.
The Burnley season changed the perception of Tella. Instead of being viewed mainly as a promising young player, he had demonstrated that he could produce numbers over a full professional campaign.
That form eventually attracted interest from Bayer Leverkusen.
Nathan Tella Transfer to Bayer Leverkusen
In August 2023, Nathan Tella moved from Southampton to Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
Transfer figures reported by Transfermarkt put the fee at approximately €23.3 million.
At the time, the move represented an important step in Tella’s career. He was leaving English football for the first time and joining a Bundesliga club with ambitions at domestic and European level.
Bayer Leverkusen initially handed him a contract running until 2028. The club’s official announcement described him as a versatile attacking player capable of playing on the wing or further forward.
The move also reunited Tella with a major European football environment after his years in England.
Nathan Tella at Bayer Leverkusen
Tella joined Bayer Leverkusen during an important period in the club’s history.
Under Xabi Alonso, Leverkusen enjoyed a remarkable 2023/24 campaign, winning the Bundesliga and German Cup. Tella was part of the squad during that successful period and contributed goals and energy to the team.
His first seasons in Germany also required adaptation. Moving from English football to the Bundesliga meant adjusting to a different football culture, tactical approach and lifestyle.
Tella has spoken about feeling at home at Leverkusen. When extending his contract in March 2026, he described his relationship with the club as special and said he was enjoying being part of its development.
The contract extension is a strong indication that the club continues to value his contribution.
Nathan Tella Contract and Current Club
Nathan Tella’s current club is Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
In March 2026, Leverkusen announced that Tella had signed a new contract running until June 30, 2031. His previous agreement was due to expire in 2028.
The new contract provides Tella with long-term security and shows that Leverkusen sees him as part of its plans for the future.
The club describes him as a versatile player who can operate as a right winger, left winger or false nine. His pace and technical ability are among the qualities specifically highlighted by Leverkusen’s sporting leadership.
Nathan Tella Position and Playing Style
Nathan Tella is primarily associated with the right-wing position, but his versatility allows him to play in several attacking roles.
He can operate as:
- Right winger
- Left winger
- Attacking midfielder
- Forward
- False nine
One of his biggest strengths is his pace. He can use his speed to attack space, carry the ball forward and put pressure on defenders.
His ability to play multiple positions is particularly useful for modern teams because managers can change formations without necessarily replacing the player.
Tella is also known for his willingness to work for the team. During his Burnley spell, manager Vincent Kompany praised his work rate alongside his goalscoring ability. Bundesliga’s profile of Tella also highlighted his pace, attacking qualities and willingness to contribute beyond simply scoring goals.
Nathan Tella Nigeria Career
Although born in England, Nathan Tella chose to represent Nigeria at senior international level.
He received his first call-up to the Super Eagles in November 2023 for the beginning of Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
His international decision was closely connected to his Nigerian family heritage. Before his call-up, Tella had spoken about his interest in playing for Nigeria and following the country’s national team.
His senior international career remains relatively young compared with his club career, but representing Nigeria is an important part of his football story.
Nathan Tella Salary
Nathan Tella’s exact salary is not officially published by Bayer Leverkusen.
Several football salary websites publish estimates. Capology currently estimates his gross fixed salary for the 2026/27 season at approximately €3.4 million per year, excluding bonuses. That works out to roughly €65,385 per week.
These figures should not be treated as confirmed earnings. Football clubs generally do not publish the complete salary structure of individual players, and a player’s actual compensation may include bonuses, appearance payments, commercial arrangements and other terms.
Therefore, the safest description is that Nathan Tella’s estimated Bayer Leverkusen salary is around €3.4 million gross per year, based on publicly available salary estimates.
Nathan Tella Net Worth
Nathan Tella’s exact net worth is not publicly verified.
This is an important distinction because a footballer’s salary is not the same thing as net worth.
Net worth depends on factors such as:
- Career earnings
- Taxes
- Bonuses
- Investments
- Property
- Sponsorship income
- Business interests
- Personal spending
- Financial obligations
Because these details are private, websites that publish a precise figure for Nathan Tella’s net worth should be viewed as estimates rather than confirmed financial statements.
His professional earnings are substantial, particularly after moving to Bayer Leverkusen, but there is currently no reliable public financial statement that establishes his exact personal net worth.
For this reason, it is more responsible to say Nathan Tella’s net worth is not officially known rather than presenting an unsupported number as fact.
Nathan Tella Career Achievements
Nathan Tella has already collected several significant achievements during his football career.
Some of the most notable include:
Championship Winner
Tella played an important role in Burnley’s 2022/23 Championship-winning campaign. His 17 league goals helped the club secure promotion to the Premier League.
Championship Team of the Season
His performances for Burnley earned him recognition in the EFL Championship Team of the Season.
Bundesliga Champion
Tella was part of the Bayer Leverkusen team that won the Bundesliga during the historic 2023/24 campaign.
German Cup Winner
He was also part of the Leverkusen squad that won the German Cup during the same successful season.
Nigeria International
Tella has progressed from academy football in England to becoming a senior international for Nigeria.
These achievements demonstrate how quickly his career developed after his breakthrough season at Burnley.
Nathan Tella Career Statistics
Bayer Leverkusen’s current player profile lists Tella with more than 100 appearances across his professional career covered by the club’s statistics, alongside goals and assists. His earlier Southampton and Burnley records also demonstrate his progression from a developing academy player to an established professional.
His most productive individual season came at Burnley in 2022/23, when he scored 17 league goals.
That season was especially important because it helped transform his career. A player who had struggled to secure consistent Premier League starts suddenly became one of the Championship’s notable attacking players.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nathan Tella
How old is Nathan Tella?
Nathan Tella is 27 years old as of September 2026. He was born on July 5, 1999.
Where was Nathan Tella born?
He was born in Stevenage, England.
Who are Nathan Tella’s parents?
Tella was born to Nigerian parents. Their Nigerian heritage is well documented, although detailed information such as their names and occupations is not reliably available from major authoritative sources.
What nationality is Nathan Tella?
Nathan Tella was born in England and has Nigerian heritage. He represents Nigeria at senior international level.
Which club does Nathan Tella play for?
He plays for Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
What position does Nathan Tella play?
He is mainly a right winger, but he can also play on the left wing or as a forward and false nine.
When did Nathan Tella join Bayer Leverkusen?
He joined Bayer Leverkusen from Southampton in August 2023.
How long is Nathan Tella’s contract?
His latest Bayer Leverkusen contract runs until June 30, 2031. The club announced the extension in March 2026.
How much does Nathan Tella earn?
Public salary estimates put his gross fixed salary at approximately €3.4 million per year for the 2026/27 season, excluding bonuses. This is an estimate and has not been officially confirmed by Bayer Leverkusen.
What is Nathan Tella’s net worth?
His exact net worth is not publicly verified. Any specific figure published online should therefore be regarded as an estimate.
Did Nathan Tella play for Arsenal?
Yes. Tella spent approximately 10 years in Arsenal’s youth academy, from 2007 to 2017, before moving to Southampton.
How many goals did Nathan Tella score for Burnley?
He scored 17 league goals in 39 Championship appearances for Burnley during the 2022/23 season.