Meet Irish-Nigerian ‘world class goalkeeper’ ready to star in the Premier League

The Ireland international goalkeeper made a Premier League move last week as he joined the Saints

Born in the Republic of Ireland to Nigerian parents, Gavin Okeroghene Bazunu is a 20-year old goalkeeper Manchester City won’t let go for nothing.

While he just turned 20 in February, the goalkeeper already has 10 senior caps with the Irish national team. He spent four seasons at Manchester City as an academy goalkeeper after he joined the Citizens in 2019 from Shamrock Rovers and did well to attract praises from the senior goalkeepers.

Despite his loan move to Rochdale not going perfectly as planned, Bazunu still did enough to spark Southampton to dip hands in their pocket and Man City added a buy-back clause to the deal, indicating how highly they rate the goalkeeper.

Also wanted by Portsmouth, Bazunu’s move to the South Coast is considered a coup for the Saints.

An article by TheAthletic described the goalkeeper as a “multi-faceted keeper who encapsulates the modern-day requirements of the position.”

The article further said about his arrival at Southampton; “His arrival, therefore, should see Southampton’s goalkeeping department be better in keeping with the times, with a feeling internally that the right balance has now been struck with the current set of goalkeepers.”

A Portsmouth official described the goalkeeper as world class and foretold that he’s headed for the elite division of English football.

“Gavin will play in the Premier League,” said the official. “Let me tell you now: he is world class. He will be a world-class goalkeeper.” 

Bazunu had made headlines last year when he stopped a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty but more greater days may be in the offing for the goalkeeper as he attempts to begin a foray into the difficult Premier League goalkeeping world.