Antonio Nusa
Who Is Antonio Nusa?
Antonio Eromonsele Nordby Nusa is one of the most exciting young footballers in Europe today. He is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a winger or attacking midfielder for Bundesliga club RB Leipzig and the Norway national team.
Born on April 17, 2005, in Langhus, a suburb of Oslo.
He became the second-youngest player ever to score in UEFA Champions League history. He scored on his Bundesliga debut. He earned senior Norway caps at 18 and starred for his country at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Furthermore, he has attracted interest from clubs including Barcelona, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Roma — yet he remains committed to RB Leipzig.
Early Life: From Langhus to the World Stage
A Mixed-Heritage Family in Norway
Antonio Nusa was born in Langhus, a small suburb southeast of Oslo, in Akershus county, Norway. He is the son of a Nigerian father, Joe Nusa, and an ethnic Norwegian mother, Kristin Hedelund Nordby. He has two younger sisters.
His father, Joe Nusa, was also a footballer. Therefore, the sport was part of his upbringing from the very beginning. Former Stabæk teammate Mats Solheim told GOAL: “I can see similarities to Neymar in Nusa’s movements and the way he uses the ball.”
His dual Nigerian-Norwegian heritage gives him a unique identity. He has spoken openly about being proud of both cultures. On the pitch, that blend of African flair and Nordic determination is visible in every game he plays.
Spotted at 13: From Langhus IL to Stabæk
Nusa joined Stabæk’s youth academy in 2018, aged just 13, before making his senior debut in 2021. Before that, he had grown up playing for his local club, Langhus IL, in the small community where he was born.
At Stabæk, he quickly made an impression. Former Romania international and Inter Milan treble-winner Cristian Chivu watched Nusa in a Stabæk youth game. Chivu predicted the youngster would have a bright future.
Coached Alongside Haaland
One remarkable detail from Nusa’s youth career stands out. Gaute Larsen, who coached both Erling Haaland and Nusa as kids, said: “When you look back to when they were both 14-15 years old, I feel Antonio was the greater talent.”
That is a bold statement. However, it speaks to how extraordinary Nusa’s potential has always been.
Club Career: A Journey Through Norway, Belgium, and Germany
Stabæk: The First Steps (2018–2021)
Nusa went from his childhood club Langhus to Stabæk’s youth team at the age of 13. He signed a professional contract with Stabæk while still in secondary school.
He made his senior debut in 2021 in a 4-2 loss to Rosenborg in the Eliteserien at the age of 16. He went on to make 11 senior appearances that season, scoring three goals. That was enough. The big clubs were already watching.
Club Brugge: European Royalty and History-Making (2021–2024)
In August 2021, Nusa joined Club Brugge on the final day of the summer transfer window. He was 16 years old. He was moving from Norwegian football to one of Belgium’s biggest clubs.
His first season brought limited opportunities. However, he was patient. He worked hard. He waited for his moment.
That moment came on September 13, 2022.
The Porto Goal: One of the Youngest in Champions League History
On 13 September 2022, Nusa scored a goal on his Champions League debut in a 4–0 away win against Porto, becoming the youngest Norwegian player to feature, and the second-youngest player of any nationality to score in the competition.
He was 17 years and 149 days old. Only Ansu Fati of Barcelona had scored in the Champions League at a younger age.
His 89th-minute finish made him the youngest player to score on a Champions League debut, as well as the second-youngest player in history behind Ansu Fati to net in the competition.
The football world stopped and took notice.
Belgian League Titles and Growing Influence
Throughout their career, Antonio Nusa won three titles: First Division A (2023/2024 and 2021/2022) and Super Cup (2022/2023) with Club Brugge.
Nusa moved to RB Leipzig in August 2024 from Club Brugge, for whom he made 62 league appearances in total, scoring five goals and providing five assists. He left Belgium as a champion — twice over.
RB Leipzig: Scoring on Debut and Building a Legacy (2024–Present)
In August 2024, Nusa proved eager to seize the opportunity, netting a winning goal from the substitute’s bench on his Bundesliga debut against Bochum.
He scored on his very first Bundesliga appearance. The statement of intent was clear.
2024/25 Bundesliga Season
Last season, Nusa played a combined 28 Bundesliga and First Division A games between RB Leipzig (25) and Club Brugge (3), scoring three goals and providing four assists. Despite a series of injuries that disrupted his rhythm, he still delivered meaningful contributions.
2025/26 Bundesliga Season: The Breakout Campaign
The 2025/26 season marked a new level of consistency. Nusa has taken part in the vast majority of RB Leipzig’s Bundesliga games in 2025/2026, making 30 appearances overall and accumulating 2,013 minutes of playing time. He has started in 24 of these appearances across their 33 fixtures and come on as a substitute on six occasions. The midfielder has netted four Bundesliga goals this campaign.
Moreover, his broader impact across all competitions is even more impressive. The 21-year-old joined Leipzig from Club Brugge in August 2024 and has gone on to score 10 goals and provide 10 assists in 71 games. Since his debut, Christoph Baumgartner (22 goals, 10 assists) is the only other Leipzig player to record 10+ goals and 10+ assists across all competitions.
Additionally, across the last two Bundesliga seasons, Nusa ranks third for dribbles completed (107) and second for take-on ending carries (110), with Michael Olise leading the way in both categories.
International Career: Norway’s Next Great Star
Youth International Progression
Nusa has represented Norway at virtually every youth level. He represented Norway at nearly every youth level, from the U16s to the U21s, but his time in each age group was brief — testament to how quickly he outgrew each level.
Senior Debut and First Goal (September 2023)
Nusa’s performances attracted the attention of Ståle Solbakken, who gave him his Norway debut on 7 September 2023. Nusa quickly repaid his trust with a goal and an assist in a friendly.
He scored on his senior international debut. He was 18 years old.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup: A Statement to the World
The 2026 World Cup was where Antonio Nusa truly announced himself on the global stage.
Nusa’s trajectory shifted meaningfully during the 2026 World Cup, where his performances for Norway elevated him from “promising Bundesliga talent” to “a player every sporting director in Europe has on their shortlist.”
Norway’s campaign included memorable results. Nusa recorded three crosses and one tackle in Norway’s 4-1 victory against Iraq on June 17. On June 30, Antonio Nusa scored one goal in the 2-1 win against Côte d’Ivoire. On July 5, he recorded one cross in Norway’s 2-1 victory over Brazil.
In his Norway career, Nusa has played 24 games, scoring eight goals and providing nine assists.
Playing Style: “I Like to Create Chaos”
Antonio Nusa is a left winger who operates with pace, skill, and an instinct for unpredictability.
“I like to create chaos,” Nusa told Norwegian media in April 2021. That philosophy has stayed with him throughout his career.
He is right-footed but operates primarily from the left wing. He cuts inside, shifts direction at speed, and combines technical dribbling with a sharp eye for goal. He has been compared to Erling Haaland, with whom he links up to devastating effect on the international stage, and he sees himself as “a creator of chaos” like Brazilian superstar Neymar.
His coach at RB Leipzig described his fit well. “Antonio fits perfectly with RB Leipzig’s DNA.”
Transfer Speculation: Europe’s Biggest Clubs Circle
Despite being just 21, Nusa has attracted serious interest from the biggest clubs in Europe.
Barcelona have been interested in Nusa for at least 18 months. They considered signing him prior to his Leipzig move in the summer of 2024, and there were renewed links during the summer of 2026.
According to reports, Liverpool considered a move with Leipzig’s asking price listed at €60 million or more. Meanwhile, RB Leipzig were also reported to have received an offer worth around £34 million from Arsenal for Nusa, following the departure of Leandro Trossard.
However, Nusa was clear. “I never made any request to leave Leipzig,” Nusa told Sky Germany. “Rumours are always rumours, and they can write whatever they want.”
Nusa still has three years left on his current Leipzig deal.
Personal Life
Antonio Nusa was born in Langhus, a suburb of Oslo, in Norway. He is the son of Joe Nusa — a Nigerian father who was also a footballer — and Kristin Hedelund Nordby, an ethnic Norwegian mother. He has two younger sisters.
Nusa and Saugestad co-authored the book Alt starter med en drøm (Everything Starts With a Dream), reflecting his determination to inspire young Norwegian talent from mixed backgrounds.
He stands at 180 cm (5 ft 11 in), is right-footed, and wears the number 7 shirt for RB Leipzig. His market value reached a peak of €44.4 million as of June 2026, according to FotMob.
Career Statistics Summary
Club Career
| Season | Club | Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Stabæk | Eliteserien | 11 | 3 | 2 |
| 2021–22 | Club Brugge | Belgian Pro League | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 2022–23 | Club Brugge/NXT | Various | Multiple | — | — |
| 2023–24 | Club Brugge | Belgian Pro League | 34+ | — | — |
| 2024–25 | RB Leipzig | Bundesliga | 25 | 3 | 3 |
| 2025–26 | RB Leipzig | Bundesliga | 30 | 4 | 3 |
| All-time Leipzig (all comps) | 71 | 10 | 10 |
International Career (Senior)
| Year | Goals | Assists | Apps |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 1 | Debut vs Jordan |
| 2024 | — | — | Various qualifiers |
| 2025 | 3 | 3 | 7 appearances (6 starts) |
| 2026 | 2 | — | World Cup + friendlies |
| Career Total | 8 | 9 | 24 |
Trophies
| Year | Title | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | Belgian Pro League | Club Brugge |
| 2022–23 | Belgian Super Cup | Club Brugge |
| 2023–24 | Belgian Pro League | Club Brugge |
