A 12 year old striker with Nigerian parents is the talk of La Masia, and a Nike contract has pushed his name far beyond Barcelona. The question for Nigerian football is what comes next.
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Destiny Kosiso is 12 years old, plays for Barcelona’s youth setup and is already the subject of a global debate. Reports say he scored 145 goals in 52 games last season, and Nike has signed him to an endorsement deal.
Kosiso was born in Spain to Nigerian parents. He is the youngest son of former Nigerian footballer Ejike Paschal.
The Nike news came from the agency run by Pini Zahavi, who says he advises the family informally but does not formally represent the player. According to reports, Kosiso signed the contract when he was 11.
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Behind the 145 Goals
Zahavi was the source of the headline figure. “Last season, if I’m not mistaken, he scored 145 goals in 52 games,” he said, and he did not claim to know whether the boy will make it.
Some reports say those goals came in seven a side football, which is a very different game from the 11 a side format. This season Kosiso has reportedly scored 16 goals in nine 11 a side matches, which is the more useful number.
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Should Nigeria Be Watching?
Born in Spain to Nigerian parents, Kosiso could in theory represent either country one day. At 12, nothing is decided, and nobody should pretend otherwise.
Still, Nigerian football has lost promising dual-nationals before because the federation arrived late. Is it too early for the NFF to build a quiet relationship with the family, or would waiting be the real mistake?
Caution matters too. Many young stars with huge youth numbers never reach the first team, and the debate in Spain over a sponsorship deal at 11 shows how much pressure sits on a child’s shoulders.
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📌 Did You Know?
- Kosiso’s older brothers, David Obinna (17) and Divine Ikenna (16), have also played in Barcelona’s youth system.
- Forbes reported that Kosiso scored 100 goals in 27 games for Barcelona’s Under-10s in the 2023-24 season.
- In an earlier season he had 31 goals in 14 games for an unbeaten Under-12 side.
- Zahavi’s agency has worked with Hansi Flick and Robert Lewandowski, according to reports.
- Some reports call him Destiny Ejiofor, and others give his full name as Destiny Kosiso Ejiofor John.
- Online, fans have nicknamed him the new Lamine Yamal.
