1. Early Life
Bukayo Saka's early life was shaped by his family's heritage and his dedication to both education and football.
1.1. Birth and Family
Bukayo Ayoyinka Temidayo Saka was born on 5 September 2001 in Ealing, Greater London. His parents, Adenike and Yomi Saka, are Yoruba Nigerians who emigrated to London from Nigeria as economic migrants. He is the younger of their two children. His first name, "Bukayo," originates from the Yoruba languageYoruba languageYoruba spoken in southern Nigeria, and it means "adds to happiness."
1.2. Education
Saka attended Edward Betham Church of England Primary School before continuing his education at Greenford High School. He demonstrated strong academic abilities, achieving high grades in his GCSEs, with four A*s and three As. Throughout his schooling, he successfully balanced his academic pursuits with his burgeoning football career.
1.3. Early Influences
Before joining Arsenal, Saka played youth football for a local club called Greenford Celtic. His father, Yomi, played a significant role in his footballing journey, serving as a "massive inspiration" who always kept him "grounded" and "humble" from a young age. This early support and guidance were crucial in shaping his development and passion for the sport.
2. Club Career
Bukayo Saka's club career has been entirely with Arsenal, progressing through their academy to become a vital first-team player.
2.1. Youth Career and Academy
Saka began his football journey playing for the youth teams of Watford F.C. before joining Arsenal's Hale End academy at the age of seven. His talent was evident early on; Trevor Bumstead, Arsenal's Under-16 coach in 2020, noted that Saka "always stood out in the younger teams" due to his "fantastic decision-making," knowing "when to beat people and when to pass," alongside his "brilliant physical attributes and really good character and personality." Upon turning 17, Saka signed his first professional contract with Arsenal and was subsequently promoted to the club's Under-23 team.
2.2. Debut and Breakthrough Seasons
Saka made his first-team debut for Arsenal on 29 November 2018, coming on as a 68th-minute substitute for Aaron Ramsey in a UEFA Europa League match against Vorskla Poltava. His first full home debut for Arsenal followed on 13 December in another Europa League fixture against Qarabağ. On 1 January 2019, Saka made his Premier League debut in a 4-1 victory against Fulham, entering the match in the 83rd minute for Alex Iwobi. This appearance made him the first player born in 2001 to play in a Premier League match. He received a runner-up medal as an unused substitute in the 2019 UEFA Europa League final, which Arsenal lost 4-1 to Chelsea.
The 2019-20 season marked Saka's breakthrough. He scored his first senior goal on 19 September, curling a long-range effort into the corner against German side Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League, also providing two assists in the 3-0 win. His performance earned him his first Premier League start in a 3-2 home victory over Aston Villa. He then assisted Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's equalizer in a 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Following injuries to Sead Kolašinac and Kieran Tierney, Saka began to establish himself as a regular at left-back. On 27 January 2020, he scored the opening goal in Arsenal's 2-1 FA Cup fourth-round win at AFC Bournemouth, a goal that was later voted Goal of the Round by BBC Sport. He also assisted the second goal, scored by Eddie Nketiah. He continued to impress, setting up Nicolas Pépé against Newcastle United and Alexandre Lacazette against Olympiacos, reaching nine assists for the season. He hit double figures for assists after setting up Nketiah again in a 3-2 home win against Everton.
2.3. Key Seasons and Development
On 1 July 2020, Saka signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal, with head coach Mikel Arteta praising him for embodying "every value that this football club stands for" and earning respect through "hard work and accountability." On 4 July 2020, he scored his first Premier League goal for the club with a half-volley against Wolverhampton Wanderers in a 2-0 win. He was an unused substitute as Arsenal defeated Chelsea 2-1 to win their 14th FA Cup. Saka finished third in the vote for the Arsenal Player of the Season award for the 2019-20 campaign.
The 2020-21 season saw Saka continue his development. On 29 August 2020, he started and assisted Aubameyang in the 2020 FA Community Shield, which Arsenal won 5-4 on penalties against Liverpool. He scored his first goal of the season on 4 October in a 2-1 victory over Sheffield United. On 26 December 2020, Saka scored on his 40th Premier League appearance for Arsenal in a 3-1 home win over Chelsea. His performances earned him Arsenal Player of the Month awards for December 2020, January 2021 (three goals, one assist), and February 2021 (one goal, two assists). On 6 March 2021, Saka made his 50th Premier League appearance for Arsenal against Burnley, becoming the second-youngest player in club history to reach this milestone. On 15 April, he scored and assisted in Arsenal's 4-0 victory over Slavia Prague in the Europa League quarter-final, earning him the Europa League Player of the Week award. He concluded the season with seven goals and seven assists in 46 appearances across all competitions and was voted Arsenal Player of the Season. He was also shortlisted for the PFA Young Player of the Year award, which was ultimately won by Phil Foden.
In the 2021-22 season, Saka scored his first goal in late August in a 6-0 EFL Cup win against West Bromwich Albion. His first Premier League goal of the season came in September against Tottenham Hotspur, where he also provided an assist for Emile Smith Rowe in a 3-1 victory. On 30 October, Saka made his 100th appearance for Arsenal, marking it with an assist in a 2-0 away win at Leicester City. On 26 December, he scored his first career brace as Arsenal defeated Norwich City 5-0, becoming the second-youngest player after Nicolas Anelka to score 10 Premier League goals for Arsenal. On 19 March 2022, Saka scored Arsenal's 2000th Premier League goal in history against Aston Villa. He scored his tenth Premier League goal of the season for the first time in his career on 20 April in a 4-2 away victory against Chelsea. Arsenal finished fifth in the Premier League. Saka was the club's top scorer and was nominated for the Premier League Player of the Season, Premier League Young Player of the Season, and PFA Young Player of the Year awards. He was named Arsenal's Player of the Season for a second consecutive season, becoming the first player to achieve this since Thierry Henry in 2003 and 2004. He was also nominated for the 2022 Kopa Trophy.
Saka played a pivotal role for Arsenal during the 2022-23 season, scoring crucial goals and providing assists as Arsenal mounted a strong challenge for their first Premier League title since 2003-04. On 20 August 2022, he made his 100th Premier League appearance in a 3-0 win at Bournemouth, becoming the second-youngest Arsenal player after Cesc Fàbregas to reach this milestone. He scored his first goal of the season on 4 September in a 3-1 away defeat against Manchester United. In the next Premier League match on 18 September, Saka provided two assists for teammates William Saliba and Fábio Vieira in a 3-0 away victory at Brentford, a result that sent Arsenal to the top of the table. In October, Saka scored in three consecutive matches for the first time in his career, with a brace against Liverpool on 9 October, and goals against Bodø/Glimt in the Europa League and Leeds United in the Premier League on 13 and 16 October, respectively. On 26 December 2022, Saka scored the equalizer in Arsenal's first match since the conclusion of the World Cup, a 3-1 win over West Ham United. He scored again in their next match against Brighton & Hove Albion, a 4-2 away victory. On 15 January 2023, Saka assisted Martin Ødegaard's goal against Tottenham Hotspur as Arsenal secured their first away league win against their rivals since 2014. A week later on 22 January, Saka scored from long-range in an eventual 3-2 home win over Manchester United, a goal later voted Arsenal's Goal of the Month for January 2023.
On 13 March 2023, Saka received the Men's Young Player of the Year award at the 2023 London Football Awards. He was then awarded the Premier League Player of the Month for March 2023, his first time winning the award. On 23 May, Saka signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal, committing him to the club until 2027. At the end of the season, he was nominated for the Premier League Player of the Season, Premier League Young Player of the Season, and FWA Footballer of the Year awards. Saka was named the PFA Young Player of the Year for the 2022-23 season and was also included in the PFA Team of the Year.
On 12 August 2023, Saka's goal helped seal a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest in Arsenal's first match of the 2023-24 Premier League season. On 26 August, Saka made his 83rd consecutive Premier League appearance for Arsenal against Fulham, setting a new club record, surpassing Paul Merson's 82 consecutive appearances. On 20 September, he scored his first UEFA Champions League goal and provided an assist in a 4-0 win over PSV on his debut in the competition. On 28 October 2023, Saka captained Arsenal for the first time in a 5-0 home win against Sheffield United. He made his 200th appearance for the club on 5 December in a 4-3 win over Luton Town, becoming the fourth-youngest Arsenal player to reach this milestone. On 11 February 2024, Saka surpassed 50 goals for Arsenal with a brace in a 6-0 away win over West Ham, becoming the youngest Arsenal player to do so in the Premier League.
3. International Career
Bukayo Saka has represented England at various youth levels and has become a key player for the senior national team.
3.1. Youth Teams
Saka began his international career with the England national under-16 team, making his debut on 24 August 2016 as a substitute in a 3-1 away win over Romania. He scored in his second match against the same opposition. He finished his under-16 career with six appearances and one goal between 2016 and 2017.
His first involvement with the England under-17 team came in the 2017 FA International Tournament, debuting on 18 August 2017 in a 3-2 home win over Turkey, where he also scored. He made nine appearances for the under-17s, scoring once, from 2017 to 2018. He was part of the squad for the 2018 UEFA European Under-17 Championship held in England, appearing in all five of the team's matches. England was eliminated 6-5 on a penalty shoot-out by the Netherlands in the semi-final after a 0-0 draw, though Saka successfully converted his penalty kick in the shootout.
Saka was part of the England under-18 team for the 2018 Limoges Tournament in France, making his debut in England's opening match, a 3-0 win over the Netherlands on 5 September 2018. He scored the winning goal from a penalty in England's 2-1 win over France on 9 September, which secured England the tournament title. He finished his under-18 career with one goal from five appearances, all in 2018.
On 14 November 2018, Saka scored on his debut for the England under-19 team in a 4-0 win over Moldova in a 2019 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifying match. He scored twice in his first start at this level on 20 March 2019, in a 4-1 home win over the Czech Republic. He made 10 appearances for the under-19s, scoring four goals, from 2018 to 2019.
Saka made his only appearance for the England under-21 team on 4 September 2020, starting in a 6-0 victory away to Kosovo in 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification.
3.2. Senior Team Debut and Performances
On 1 October 2020, Saka received his first call-up to the England senior squad. He made his international debut as a starter in a 3-0 victory over Wales on 8 October 2020. Having played four times for England, Saka is now tied to England internationally and can no longer represent Nigeria.
Saka was named in the 26-man squad for UEFA Euro 2020. On 2 June 2021, in a friendly against Austria, Saka scored his first senior international goal, the only goal in a 1-0 win. He started in England's third Euro 2020 group stage match on 22 June against the Czech Republic and was named the man of the match. In the semi-final against Denmark, Saka's cross led to an own goal, helping England reach their first Euro final. On 11 July, in the tournament final against Italy, Saka was brought on as a substitute. Following extra time, Saka was chosen to take the team's fifth penalty during the subsequent penalty shoot-out, which was his first penalty kick at senior level. Saka's effort was saved by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Italy ultimately won the shoot-out and the tournament. Following the match, Saka, along with other Black players who missed penalties, faced significant racist abuse online. Saka later stated that he "knew instantly the kind of hate" he was going to receive, adding that "powerful platforms are not doing enough to stop these messages."
On 23 September 2022, Saka was named England Men's Player of the Year for the 2021-22 season, becoming the first Arsenal player to win the honor. Saka was included in England's 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He scored twice in a 6-2 victory over Iran in England's opening match at the tournament and was named Man of the Match. He scored again in England's 3-0 defeat of Senegal in the round of 16. On 10 December, Saka started in England's 2-1 quarter-final defeat to France and was named the team's man of the match by BBC Sport and L'Équipe. He also earned a penalty for England in that match. On 19 June 2023, he scored his first career hat-trick in a 7-0 home win over North Macedonia in Euro 2024 qualifying.
On 5 September 2023, Saka was named England Men's Player of the Year for a second successive season, having scored seven goals in ten internationals during the 2022-23 season. He was named in England's 26-man squad for UEFA Euro 2024. In the team's opening match against Serbia, he started on the right of the attack and provided the cross for Jude Bellingham's goal, securing England a 1-0 win. In the quarter-final match against Switzerland, he was awarded player of the match, scoring the equalizer in a 1-1 draw and also scoring in the subsequent penalty shootout victory.
4. Playing Style
Bukayo Saka is renowned for his dynamic and versatile playing style, characterized by his exceptional technical skills and tactical intelligence. He primarily plays as a right winger, but his versatility allows him to effectively operate as a left-back, attacking midfielder, or even a central midfielder.
Key attributes of his playing style include his creativity, excellent dribbling ability, and high work rate. He possesses sharp vision and the capacity to deliver crucial passes to his teammates, often unlocking defenses. Saka's speed and ability to finish chances, even under pressure, make him a valuable asset for both Arsenal and the England national team. His intelligent attacking play and adaptability across different positions contribute significantly to his team's offensive strategies.
5. Personal Life
Outside of football, Bukayo Saka maintains a private life centered around his family and personal beliefs. He is a practicing Christian and has publicly stated that he reads the Bible every night.
Saka has cited Thierry Henry as his favorite footballer of all time and Alexis Sánchez as a significant influence, even attempting to copy Sánchez's boots when he was an academy player. Among his former teammates, Saka has mentioned that David Luiz provided him with the most assistance in his career, noting that Luiz "went out of his way" to help many young Arsenal players both "on and off the pitch."
If he had not pursued a career in football, Saka has said he would have become a basketball player or an actor. His favorite actor growing up was Will Smith, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was his favorite television show. In October 2022, Saka was featured on the cover of Time magazine, recognized as a next-generation leader. In March 2024, he launched his own range of peri-peri sauce named 'PERi-PERi Saka' in collaboration with the Nando's restaurant chain.
6. Statistics
6.1. Club Statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Arsenal U21 | 2018-19 | - | - | - | - | 41 | 1 | 4 | 1 | |||||
| Arsenal | 2018-19 | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | |
| 2019-20 | Premier League | 26 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 62 | 2 | - | 38 | 4 | ||
| 2020-21 | Premier League | 32 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 92 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 46 | 7 | |
| 2021-22 | Premier League | 38 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | - | - | 43 | 12 | |||
| 2022-23 | Premier League | 38 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 82 | 1 | - | 48 | 15 | ||
| 2023-24 | Premier League | 35 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 94 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 47 | 20 | |
| 2024-25 | Premier League | 16 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 54 | 4 | - | 24 | 9 | ||
| Total | 186 | 52 | 11 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 39 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 250 | 67 | ||
| Career total | 186 | 52 | 11 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 39 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 254 | 68 | ||
Notes:
1 Appearances in EFL Trophy
2 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
3 Appearance in FA Community Shield
4 Appearances in UEFA Champions League
6.2. International Statistics
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 2020 | 4 | 0 |
| 2021 | 10 | 4 | |
| 2022 | 10 | 3 | |
| 2023 | 8 | 4 | |
| 2024 | 11 | 1 | |
| Total | 43 | 12 | |
:England score listed first, score column indicates score after each Saka goal
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 June 2021 | Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, England | 5 | Austria | 1-0 | 1-0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 5 September 2021 | Wembley Stadium, London, England | 11 | Andorra | 4-0 | 4-0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 9 October 2021 | Estadi Nacional, Andorra la Vella, Andorra | 12 | Andorra | 2-0 | 5-0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 15 November 2021 | San Marino Stadium, Serravalle, San Marino | 14 | San Marino | 10-0 | 10-0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 5 | 21 November 2022 | Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar | 21 | Iran | 2-0 | 6-2 | 2022 FIFA World Cup |
| 6 | 4-0 | ||||||
| 7 | 4 December 2022 | Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar | 23 | Senegal | 3-0 | 3-0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup |
| 8 | 26 March 2023 | Wembley Stadium, London, England | 26 | Ukraine | 2-0 | 2-0 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
| 9 | 19 June 2023 | Old Trafford, Manchester, England | 28 | North Macedonia | 2-0 | 7-0 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
| 10 | 4-0 | ||||||
| 11 | 5-0 | ||||||
| 12 | 6 July 2024 | Merkur Spiel-Arena, Düsseldorf, Germany | 38 | Switzerland | 1-1 | 1-1 (5-3 on penalties) | UEFA Euro 2024 |
7. Honours and Awards
Bukayo Saka has accumulated several team and individual honors throughout his career.
7.1. Team Honours
- Arsenal
- FA Cup: 2019-20
- FA Community Shield: 2020, 2023
- UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2018-19
- England
- UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2020, 2024
7.2. Individual Honours
- England Men's Player of the Year: 2021-22, 2022-23
- Premier League Player of the Month: March 2023
- PFA Team of the Year: 2022-23 Premier League
- PFA Young Player of the Year: 2022-23
- Arsenal Player of the Season: 2020-21, 2021-22
- IFFHS Men's Youth (U20) World Team: 2021
- London Football Awards Men's Young Player of the Year: 2023
- UEFA Europa League Player of the Week: April 2021