Bukayo Saka

Bukayo Ayoyinka Temidayo Saka (born 5 September 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Premier League club Arsenal and the England national team. Known for his creativity, dribbling, and work rate, he is regarded as one of the best wingers in the world.

Saka has spent the entirety of his first-team club career with Arsenal, where he has won an FA Cup and two FA Community Shields, progressively becoming one of Arsenal's most influential players. Following both the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons, he was named as Arsenal's Player of the Season.

Saka represented England at various youth levels before making his debut for the senior team in October 2020. He was part of England's squads for UEFA Euro 2020 and 2024, which England finished as runners-up in both, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Bukayo Ayoyinka Temidayo Saka was born on 5 September 2001 in Ealing, Greater London, to Yoruba Nigerian parents, Adenike and Yomi Saka, the younger of two children. His parents emigrated to London from Nigeria as economic migrants. He attended Edward Betham Church of England Primary School before Greenford High School, where he gained high grades in his GCSEs, achieving four A*s and three As. Prior to joining Arsenal, Saka played youth football for local club Greenford Celtic. In an interview, Saka stated the importance of his father, Yomi, in his footballing career: "He's a massive inspiration for me. From when I was young, he always kept me grounded, kept me humble."

His name "Bukayo" originates from the Yoruba language spoken in southern Nigeria, meaning "adds to happiness".

Having previously played for youth teams of Watford, Saka joined Arsenal's Hale End academy at the age of seven.

In 2020, the Arsenal U16 coach Trevor Bumstead said: "Bukayo always stood out in the younger teams. He was a fantastic decisionmaker. He knew when to beat people and when to pass, as well as having brilliant physical attributes and really good character and personality." Once he turned 17 years old, 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 their UEFA Europa League match against Vorskla Poltava, coming on as a 68th-minute substitute for Aaron Ramsey. On 13 December, Saka made his first full home debut for Arsenal in their Europa League match against Qarabağ. On 1 January 2019, Saka made his debut in the Premier League in a 4–1 win against Fulham after coming on for Alex Iwobi in the 83rd minute. He became the first player born in 2001 to play in a Premier League match. He was an unused substitute in the 2019 UEFA Europa League final 4–1 defeat against Chelsea on 29 May, receiving a runners-up medal.