It’s no secret that the young and talented soccer player, Bukayo Saka, has been making waves in the action-packed world of soccer! At just 23 years old, he’s emerged as a promising young talent and has quickly established himself as a key player for both Arsenal FC and the England national team. From his early career starting out at Arsenal’s youth academy, Saka has now officially been named the third youngest player to reach 100 Premier League wins in history. Let’s explore his remarkable journey to the big leagues and the achievements he’s accomplished for his team so far!

Player Profile

Full Name: Bukayo Ayoyinka Temidayo Saka

Date of Birth: September 5, 2001

Place of Birth: Ealing, Greater London, England

Position: Right Winger

Current Club: Arsenal FC

Current Team Number: 7 (Arsenal), 11 (England)

Early Beginnings

Bukayo Ayoyinka Temidayo Saka was born on September 5, 2001, in Ealing, Greater London. Before his decision to join Arsenal youth academy, Saka played youth football for local club Greenford Celtic. His father, Yomi Saka, inspired Bukayo to pursue his dreams of playing professional soccer and Bukayo attributes much of his success to his father’s inspiration. At the age of 7, Bukayo joined Arsenal's Hale End youth academy for soccer with his quick progression through the academy’s ranks being marked by his impressive skills, which eventually earned him a spot in the senior squad. His youth coach, Trevor Bumstead, noted that “Bukayo always stood out in the younger teams. He was a fantastic decision maker. He knew when to beat people and when to pass, as well as having brilliant physical attributes and really good character and personality.” When Bukayo turned 17 years old, he was given the opportunity to continue his career in soccer and was signed on to the under-23 team with Arsenal FC.

Breakthrough at Arsenal (2018 to Present)

Saka made his first-team debut for Arsenal in November 2018 in their UEFA Europa League match against Vorskla Poltava, becoming the youngest player to represent the club in a European competition. Around a month later, he made his first full home debut for Arsenal in their Europa League match against Qarabağ. Finally, in January 2019, Saka made his debut in the Premier League, becoming the first player born in 2001 to play in a Premier League match. He scored his very first goal for his team in the 2019 Europa League, and was rewarded with his first Premier League start in a home victory over Aston Villa. Bukayo Saka began his career at Arsenal FC representing every value that the club stands for. He earned the respect of his teammates, coaches, and fans through hard work and accountability. On July 1, 2020, Saka signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal and was on his way to achieving even more success. In July 2020, he scored his first Premier League goal for the club against Wolverhampton Wanderers and came third in the vote for the Arsenal Player of the Season award in the 2019–20 season.

Arsenal Success Continues

In December 2020, Saka scored on his 40th Premier League appearance for Arsenal in a 3–1 home win over Chelsea. Due to this major accomplishment for Saka, he was rewarded with back-to-back Arsenal Player of the Month votes for December and January. Saka was named Player of the Month for the third time in February after contributing one goal and two assists. In March 2021, Bukayo was the second youngest player in club history to make his 50th Premier League appearance. In the Europa League quarter-final, he scored a goal and helped Arsenal to a 4–0 victory over Slavia Prague. This impressive performance awarded him the title of the Europa League Player of the Week. He was voted Arsenal Player of the Season after finishing with 7 goals and 7 assists in 46 appearances across all competitions. He was also named in the shortlist for the PFA Young Player of the Season. In March 2022, Saka scored Arsenal's 2000th Premier League goal in history and was nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month award. After finishing the season as the club's top scorer, he was nominated for the Premier League Player of the Season, Premier League Young Player of the Season and PFA Young Player of the Year.

Bukayo Saka’s successful streak was nowhere near over, and on March 13^th, he received the Men's Young Player of the Year award at the 2023 London Football Awards. Within the same month, he was also awarded the Premier League Player of the Month award. Saka then made the decision to sign a long-term contract with Arsenal, committing to the team until 2027. At the end of the 2023 season, he was nominated for the Premier League Player of the Season, Premier League Young Player of the Season, FWA Footballer of the Year awards, and was named the PFA Young Player of the Year for the 2022–23 season!

International Career (2020 to Present)

Bukayo Saka’s international career has resulted in major achievements for the England national team. Saka made his senior debut for England on October 8, 2020, in a UEFA Nations League match against Denmark. His breakthrough performance, however, came from his success during UEFA Euro 2020 and resulted in him emerging as one of England’s key players and showcased his potential on the international stage. In September 2022, Saka was named England Men's Player of the Year for the 2021–22 season ahead of Declan Rice and Harry Kane, becoming the first Arsenal player to win the honour. One year later, Saka was named England Men's Player of the Year for a second successive season having scored 7 goals in 10 internationals during the 2022–23 season.

Now that we’ve gone over Bukayo Saka’s rise to success in the world of soccer, one thing is for certain – he has a bright future ahead of him and his influence will only grow stronger. His humility, ability to perform well in high-pressure situations, and strong motivation has made him a force to be reckoned with. Given his young age and his consistency for improvement, Saka has the potential to become a legend on the global stage. We can’t wait to see what milestones are in store for Bukayo on his journey ahead!