5 Footballers you probably didn’t know had African Heritage

As I was relaxing watching Chelsea play Luton football club in the English Premier League’s early kick-off today, my son mentioned that Chelsea’s new star boy – Cole Palmer’s family was from St Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean. 

So I thought to write a quick article to educate others about other famous footballers you probably didn’t know are of African descent.

Below are the five present or ex-premier league footballers with Afro-Carribean heritage:

1. Cole Palmer

I will start with Cole Palmer who I have just learnt was of Carribean descent. The former Manchester City Forward moved allegiance to Chelsea in the summer of 2023.

According to the Tribuna, Cole’s father has Caribbean roots: his grandpa comes from St Kitts and Nevis. That’s why Palmer proudly wears St Kitts flag on his boots. It’s a tribute and a sign of respect for his dad’s background.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo

The iconic Portuguese forward, Cristiano Ronaldo is second on the list. He returned briefly to Manchester United in 2021 after record-breaking exploits at Real Madrid and Juventus where alongside Messi have been the best players in the world for some time, before his contract was terminated in 2022.

Ronaldo then joined Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr in 2023. What some people however don’t know is that Cristiano Ronaldo actually has roots in West Africa, as his great-grandmother on his father’s side, Isabel da Piedade is from the island of São Vicente, Cape Verde.

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3. Kieran Trippier

Another player you probably wouldn’t know had African roots via his grandparents is the Newcastle’s captain, Kieran Trippier who is the son of Chris Trippier and Eleanor Lomax. 

Kieran’s father is mixed race and his mother is white. 

4. Ross Barkley

Former Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley is another footballer who may not naturally come across as having African heritage.

However, he is of Nigerian descent through his father and bears his mother’s maiden name instead of his father’s last name, Effanga.

5. Ryan Giggs

Former Manchester United legend and Welsh captain, Ryan Giggs also has Sierra Leonean ancestry. Giggs is the son of former rugby union and Wales international rugby player Danny Wilson who was mixed race and identified as black. 

Giggs was christened Ryan Joseph Wilson but as a teenager changed his surname to that of his mother after his parents separated.