Onyeka: Why Elversberg move could be perfect for Nigeria-eligible forward

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Nigeria-eligible youngster Francis Onyeka is on the verge of securing a move to newly promoted Bundesliga side Elversberg this summer, Afrik-Foot reports.

The German-born attacker came through the ranks at Bayer Leverkusen and made his senior debut for the club during a 3-0 victory over Elversberg – the same club he is now close to joining, in the second round of the DFB-Pokal in October 2024.

The 19-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough campaign during the 2025-26 season while on loan at VfL Bochum in Germany’s second division. Onyeka scored eight goals in 30 league appearances and operated in several attacking roles for the club, including in attacking midfield, centre-forward, and also on the right wing.

His impressive performances put him on the radar of multiple clubs ahead of the summer transfer window, with the likes of Elversberg, Schalke and RB Leipzig, keen to secure his services on loan for next season.

Bayer Leverkusen youngster Francis Onyeka

Why Elversberg is the right move for Francis Onyeka

According to transfer expert Florian Plettenberg, newly promoted Bundesliga outfit Elversberg are close to reaching an agreement with Bayer Leverkusen to sign Francis Onyeka on loan.

The move would represent a second consecutive loan spell for the teenager, with Leverkusen open to letting him leave once again in order to gain valuable first-team experience before challenging for a regular place at the BayArena.

While the arrangement clearly benefits Leverkusen, it could also prove to be an ideal move for Onyeka’s development.

The Germany youth international enjoyed an influential spell at Bochum last season, and a switch to Elversberg would offer him another opportunity to play regularly and help his development.

More importantly, Elversberg will be competing in the Bundesliga next season and Onyeka will be able to test himself at the highest level of German football while receiving valuable minutes against some of the country’s best players.

Staying at Leverkusen, on the other hand, would make regular game time difficult to come by due to the high level of competition for places within the squad. Another loan spell would ensure he continues playing consistently rather than spending long periods on the bench.

The experience would help him return to Leverkusen better prepared to compete for a bigger role in the future and a standout season could attract interest from much bigger clubs next summer.

Nigeria’s next star in the making

Francis Onyeka was born in Germany to a Nigerian father and remains eligible to represent the Super Eagles at international level in the future. While he has already featured for Germany across various youth categories, he is yet to receive a senior call-up, leaving the door open for Nigeria to make a move.

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has handed debuts to several new players and Onyeka could become the next dual-national player to represent the three-time African champions, following in the footsteps of the likes of Felix Agu and Leon Balogun, who were born in Germany but played for Nigeria in recent years.

The NFF would then need to meet the youngster and his representatives if they hope to secure his international future and he could become a key figure for the national team in the coming years.

For now, his focus will be on his next move to Elversberg, where he will be hoping to build on last season’s progress and continue his recent development.