Nathan Tella on target as Leverkusen secure pre-season win against RW Essen

Super Eagles and Bayer 04 Leverkusen winger, Nathan Tella, found the back of the net in his side’s 2-1 win over RW Essen yesterday, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 25-year-old joined Die Werkself from Southampton last summer, and although he wasn’t an outright starter for Xabi Alonso’s team, was integral nonetheless to their triumph in the German Bundesliga and the DFB Pokal.

In preparations for a title defence in the 2024/2025 Bundesliga season, Leverkusen took on German third-tier side, RW Essen at the Stadion an der Hafenstraße.

Tella broke the deadlock a minute before the half-time whistle was blown. A long pass from Amine Adli was deflected into Tella’s path. The former Southampton man went around the goalkeeper before burying the ball into the net from a tight angle.

Patrik Schick doubled Leverkusen’s lead in the 71st minute after coming on for another Super Eagles striker, Victor Boniface before Leonardo Vonic pulled one back for the hosts in the 89th minute.

Tella was included in Finidi George’s 23-man squad for Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Benin Republic and South Africa, but the 25-year-old opted out of the team for family reasons. Çaykur Rizespor winger, Ibrahim Olawoyin was called up in his stead.

The Super Eagles failed to win any of those games, as they drew to South Africa at home, and lost to Gernot Rohr’s Benin Republic away.

Nathan Tella, alongside Victor Boniface, have set their sights on a title defence with Leverkusen in the coming season. They will play against VfB Stuttgart in the DFL Super Cup on August 17th.