Ex-England defender Danny Mills has shed light on why Nigerian football icon Austin Okocha never transitioned to elite clubs like Arsenal or Manchester United, despite his exceptional abilities, according to Soccernet.ng.
Renowned as one of Africa’s most skillful footballers, Austin Okocha impressed audiences during his spells at Eintracht Frankfurt and Fenerbahçe before making a record-breaking £14 million transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 1998.
He later became a Premier League sensation with Bolton Wanderers, captivating fans with his flair and creativity, and earning a reputation as one of the league’s most entertaining talents.
During the peak of his career, Okocha was frequently linked with moves to English powerhouses Arsenal and Manchester United.
Danny Mills, who earned 19 England caps and featured for Leeds United and Manchester City, acknowledged Okocha’s extraordinary talent but suggested that his mercurial style might have deterred top European clubs from signing him.
Jay Jay Okocha made football so good to watch pic.twitter.com/lSXmbQZRx3
– Former Footballers (@FinishedPlayers) September 13, 2025
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“He possessed immense skill but was also unpredictable,” Mills told Complete Sports.
“He was almost unplayable at times; he’d fake one direction and then slip the ball through your legs. You had to be alert constantly.
“Giving him any space was dangerous because he could spot and execute passes that no one else on the pitch would even consider.
“That made him a nightmare to defend against. Imagine if he had played for Arsenal or Manchester United back then instead of Bolton – with better teammates, he might have reached even greater heights. It’s puzzling why he never joined those clubs.”
Happy Birthday to Nigeria’s football magician, Jay-Jay Okocha
So good they named him twice pic.twitter.com/Owt6FwXngy– LiveScore (@livescore) August 14, 2025
Mills also hinted that Okocha’s independent and unconventional playing style might have been a factor in top clubs hesitating to integrate him into their squads.
“Perhaps his maverick nature and individuality made some elite teams question how he would fit into their system. Nonetheless, Jay-Jay Okocha was truly phenomenal,” Mills added.
Okocha, who earned 73 caps for Nigeria and participated in three FIFA World Cups, concluded his illustrious career in 2008 after playing across Germany, Turkey, France, England, and Qatar. His mesmerizing dribbling and fearless inventiveness captivated fans globally, cementing his status as one of Africa’s finest football exports.
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