On a tense afternoon at Goodison Park, Tim Emeka Iroegbunam delivered a quietly brilliant performance in Everton’s 1-1 draw against title-chasing Arsenal — a display that may have just nudged him closer to a senior Nigeria call-up.

Born in Great Barr, Birmingham to deaf Nigerian parents, Iroegbunam’s story is as inspiring as his growing football credentials. The 21-year-old midfielder — fluent in British Sign Language — was deployed in a holding midfield role by Sean Dyche, tasked with shielding the backline and helping Everton manage the lively threat of Arsenal’s teenage star Ethan Nwaneri.

Despite Arsenal taking the lead through Leandro Trossard in the 34th minute, Everton struck back in the second half, with Iliman Ndiaye coolly converting from the penalty spot to earn the Toffees a valuable point.

Before being substituted in the 65th minute, Iroegbunam quietly ran the show in midfield — completing 83% of his passes, making key defensive contributions, and showcasing the physicality and discipline that caught the eye.

Having featured for England’s youth teams and won the UEFA U-19 Euros in 2022, Iroegbunam remains eligible for Nigeria — and with the Super Eagles in dire need of midfield stability, his name is increasingly being whispered in the corridors of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Head coach Eric Chelle, who is currently scouring Europe for dual-national talent, will be encouraged by Iroegbunam’s steady development at Everton, especially with crunch 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa looming in September.

A mini-tournament in June could offer Chelle the perfect stage to hand Iroegbunam his debut — following in the footsteps of players like Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, and Ola Aina, who all transitioned from England youth setups to Super Eagles stalwarts.

For now, Iroegbunam continues to do his talking on the pitch. And with each composed display, the case for a Nigeria call-up becomes harder to ignore.