Bukayo Saka, Professional career (Arsenal)
Player biography
Bukayo Ayoyinka Temidayo Saka was born on 5 September 2001 in Ealing , Greater London to Nigerian Yoruba parents , Adenike and Yomi Saka, and is the younger of two children. His parents emigrated from Nigeria to London as economic migrants.
Saka spent his entire career in Arsenal’s first team , where he won an FA Cup and two FA Community Shields , progressively becoming one of Arsenal’s most influential players. Following the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons , he was named Arsenal’s Player of the Season .
Saka represented England at various youth levels before making his senior international debut in October 2020. He was part of the England squad for UEFA Euro 2020 , which England finished as runners-up, and for the FIFA World Cup 2022 .
Professional career of Bukayo Saka
Having previously played for Watford ‘s youth teams , Saka joined Arsenal’s Hale End academy at the age of seven.
In a 2020 interview, Arsenal U16 manager ,Trevor Bumstead, stated; ” Bukayo always stood out on younger teams. He was a fantastic decision maker. He knew when to win and when to pass, as well as having brilliant physical attributes and a very good character and personality. Good . ” years, Saka signed a professional contract with Arsenal and was promoted to the under-23 team.
On 29 November 2018, Saka made his first-team debut for Arsenal in the UEFA Europa League match againstthe Vorskla Poltava . Saka made his first home debut for Arsenal in the Europa League match against Qarabağ . On 1 January 2019, Saka made his Premier League debut in a 4–1 win against Fulham . He became the first player born in 2001 to play in a Premier League match.
2022–23
On May 23, 2023, he extended his contract until mid-2027.
Saka had a great 2022-23 season, he finished with 48 games, 15 goals, 11 assists and 0.54 goal involvements per game.
In that Premier League season, the Englishman stood out individually and managed to “displace” the award for Best Young Player in the Premier League from Erling Haaland – the favorite to win the award.
2023–24
On December 5, 2023, the great milestone of 200 games with the Arsenal shirt reached, in a match valid for the Premier League, in a 4-3 victory away from home, against Luton Town, at the Kenilworth Road Stadium.
Individual achievements and awards
Arsenal
- FA Cup: 2019–20
- England Super Cup: 2020, 2023
- Florida Cup: 2022
Individual awards
- England Men’s Player of the Year: 2022, 2023
- Premier League Player of the Month: March 2023
- PFA Team of the Year: 2022-23 Premier League
- PFA Young Player of the Year: 2022-2023
- Arsenal Player of the Season: 2020-21, 2021-22
- IFFHS Men’s Youth (Under-20) World Team: 2021
- London Football Awards Young Player of the Year (2023)
- Nomination for the Ballon d’Or: 2023 (24⁰)
- London Football Awards Young Men’s Player of the Year: 2023
- 14⁰ Best Player of the Year 2023 (The Guardian)
