Bermuda has a Premier League footballer for the first time in 14 years, after Nahki Wells helped Huddersfield Town to promotion glory.

Wells, 26, played his part in a dramatic victory at Wembley Stadium yesterday, scoring Huddersfield’s third spot-kick as they won a penalty shoot-out 4-3, after a tense goalless match, worth more than $200 million to the winner.

It means he will take on Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and the other English big guns next season in one of the most watched sporting competitions in the world.

The last Bermudian to do that was Shaun Goater, who starred for Manchester City in the top flight between 2000 and 2003.

Goater was in the same generation as Kyle Lightbourne, who played in the Premier League with Coventry City in 1998, while Clyde Best, with West Ham United starting in the late 1960s, and Arnold Woollard with Newcastle United in the 1950s, played in the old First Division.

“There’s another Bermudian in the Premier League and that means everything to me,” Wells told The Royal Gazette’s Stephen Wright, who was at Wembley.

The former Dandy Town Hornets and Bermuda Hogges striker, scored ten goals throughout the 2016-17 season for Huddersfield. He played the full 120 minutes yesterday, his third appearance for a club side at England’s national stadium, and celebrated with a Bermuda flag.

Sports minister Nandi Outerbridge said: “Watching Nahki score filled me with immense pride; and to see the Bermuda flag wrapped around him as they celebrated their victory at the end of the match was absolutely fantastic.

“I want Nahki to know that Bermuda is behind him 100 per cent. He is such a strong role model for Bermuda’s many young athletes who look up to him as their hero. I am sure the whole island can share in Nahki’s excitement today.”

Progressive Labour Party sports spokesman Neville Tyrrell said in a statement: “The PLP joins with all of Bermuda in congratulating Huddersfield striker Nahki Wells and his team-mates for their promotion to the Premier League.

“Nahki has conducted himself with dignity and class and has represented his team, his family and his country at the highest standard. He also joins a growing list of elite Bermudian footballers to play at the highest level in the game.

“We congratulate Nahki Wells and know that he will continue to be a role model for the youth of Bermuda who can see that success at the international level is achievable with hard work and sacrifice.”

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