Nottingham Forest striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, has claimed Nwankwo Kanu and Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha are the two former players that made the Premier League popular in Nigeria.
Former Norwich City striker, Efan Ekoku, became the first African to score a hat-trick in the division, while Daniel Amokachi spent two seasons at Everton between 1994 and 1996.
Celestine Babayaro also joined Chelsea in 1997 as the club's record teenage signing.
However, Awoniyi feels Kanu and Okocha increased the number of Nigerian fans that watched England's top flight.
"The Premier League is very big in Nigeria because of players like Kanu, Okocha, Yakubu [Ayegbeni], [Joseph] Yobo, [Peter] Odemwingie, and many others who all played here," Awoniyi told BBC Sport Africa.
"Many people pick their clubs depending on where a Nigerian is playing or which teams the family likes. We all grew up watching it and loved it, and it is actually a dream come true to know that millions will be watching me now.
"I want to give my best all the time and, by God's grace, it will help us achieve our goals."
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