Germany appear poised to claim yet another talent eligible for Nigeria, as Eintracht Frankfurt defender Nnamdi Collins edges closer to a potential future with the European giants, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 20-year-old, who has this week extended his contract with Frankfurt until 2030, is reportedly on the radar of German national team coach Julian Nagelsmann.
Sky Germany reports that if Collins maintains his current form, a maiden call-up to Germany’s senior team could be on the horizon.
This would deal another blow to Nigeria, who has already lost the likes of Brentford’s Kevin Schade to Germany in similar circumstances.
Collins’ Steady Rise at Frankfurt
Collins, who joined Frankfurt from Borussia Dortmund in 2023 for one million euros, has taken his time to break into the first team.
Initially impressing with Frankfurt’s U21 side, he made his Bundesliga debut in April 2024 against Werder Bremen. By the end of his first season, Collins had clocked up two Bundesliga appearances and 16 Regionalliga games.
This season, he has cemented his place under coach Dino Toppmöller, featuring in 11 matches across all competitions, including four in the Europa League and five in the Bundesliga where he has notched an assist.
His performances have also earned him a spot in Germany’s U21 side, where he debuted in November.
Speaking about Collins’ development, Frankfurt sporting director Timmo Hardung said:
“Nnamdi Collins is a very good example of how reliably we as a club are now able to show young talents a clear development plan and put it into practice.
“Nnamdi has worked hard since he’s been here and has shown the necessary patience and willingness.
“His performances at this level are the result of day-to-day work in training. At the same time, Nnamdi and we know that he has further potential.”
A Missed Opportunity for Nigeria?
For Nigeria, losing Collins would further highlight the struggles of convincing dual-nationality players to commit to the Super Eagles.
With ageing stalwarts like William Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi, and Leon Balogun nearing the end of their careers, the team is in dire need of fresh defensive talent.
Collins, a versatile player capable of excelling as both a centre-back and full-back, could represent the future for the three-time African champions.
However, his potential allegiance to Germany mirrors that of Brentford’s Kevin Schade. The forward, born to a German mother and Nigerian father, debuted for Germany in 2023 and has since become a key player for Brentford.
Schade recently bagged an excellent hat-trick in Brentford’s 4-1 win over Leicester City in the Premier League, highlighting what Nigeria has missed out on.
If Collins opts for Germany, it would be another bitter pill for Nigerian football fans, who continue to watch their dual-nationality talents flourish on the global stage for other nations.