Back
27.08.2023Bayer 04

Profile of new signing Nathan Tella

Welcome to Bayer 04, Nathan. Attacking all-rounder Nathan Tella moves under the Bayer Cross from English second-tier club Southampton. The 24-year-old Englishman with Nigerian heritage has signed a contract at Leverkusen to 30 June 2028. Bayer04.de presents a more detailed profile of the impressive right-footed dribbler who can play up front as well as on the wings.
crop_DSC_6059.jpg

From Britain to Leverkusen: Nathan Tella, who will wear the number 19 shirt for the Werkself, is leaving England for the first time for his move under the Bayer Cross. The young forward grew up in Stevenage, a town 43 kilometres north of London. He moved to the UK capital when he had the opportunity to play in the Arsenal youth system. Tella progressed through all the youth teams at the Gunners from 2007. The 1.73 metre tall winger then joined the youth set-up at Southampton in 2017.

crop_DSC_5803.jpg

first team squad and top-flight debut

Tella later moved up to the first team squad at the Saints and he soon made his debut in the Premier League. He came on as a substitute against Norwich City in the 2019/20 season on 19 June 2020. The then 19-year-old had his first taste of top-flight football in England – his first minutes proved to be successful as Southampton won the away game 3-0.

Tella made 18 league appearances the following season and 14 in the campaign after that. The versatile wizard on the wing then moved on to gain more time on the pitch in 2022/23 in a season-long loan to Burnley, relegated from the Premier League the previous season, in the EFL Championship, the second tier in English football. A stroke of fortune for the Clarets as it turned out. Burnley, with Tella, went straight back up as second division champions and the attacking all-rounder made a significant contribution with his 22 goal involvements in 39 league games. His impressive performances earned him a place in the EFL Championship Team of the Season.

 

 

crop_NT_02.jpg

return to the Saints – move to leverkusen

Burnley were promoted back to the Premier League for the 2023/24 season – but without Tella. The 24-year-old returned to Southampton in the summer at the end of his loan with the club now relegated from England's top flight. Tella played three league games for the Saints this season, scoring once and providing one assist. But now he has answered the call of the Bundesliga and Bayer 04. He can now look forward to once again playing in the top-flight at Leverkusen…

 

Related News

crop_20250912_FS1_9581.jpg
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2025

Vote for Grimaldo as "Player of the Month" for September now!

Video games manufacturer Electronic Arts (EA) and the German Football League (DFL) have announced the six nominees for the Bundesliga Player of the Month award for September - including the Werkself player, Alejandro Grimaldo. Fans of the Black and Reds can vote from now until Sunday 5 October (23:59 CEST).

Show more
Rudi Vollborn
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2025

Rudi recounts…: Vollborn’s October highlights

Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…

Show more
Kevin Brok
U19 - 30.09.2025

Youth League home opener against PSV: ‘Great yet demanding challenge’

Can the Bayer 04 U19s capitalise on their successful UEFA Youth League opener against FC Copenhagen (2-0) a fortnight ago? The Werkself host PSV Eindhoven at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Wednesday, 1 October (kick-off: 14:00 CEST/live stream on bayer04.de and on the Bayer 04 app) on matchday two in the league phase. Ahead of the clash with the top team from his native Netherlands, head coach Kevin Brok spoke about his own approach, the strengths of the opponents and the home game factor.

Show more
Tapsoba: „Alles geben für unsere Fans“
Werkself-TV - 30.09.2025

Tapsoba: ‘Give our all for our fans’

Bayer 04 host Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven on matchday 2 in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League phase. Ahead of the game, Edmond Tapsoba spoke to Werkself TV about UCL nights at the BayArena, the reunion with his former Leverkusen coach Peter Bosz and what the defender and his team-mates have to be prepared for...

Show more
TKD
Business - 30.09.2025

TKD new partner in the Bayer 04 Business Club

New season, new partnership: TKD is a partner in the Bayer 04 Business Club. The contract between the Bundesliga club and the company based in neighbouring Langenfeld, who specialise in mobile working for companies, runs to 30 June 2026.

Show more