Aina's Anime Tier List: From Dragon Ball Z to Solo Levelling - Super Eagles star reveals top picks

Super Eagles and Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina has shared his ultimate anime recommendations, ranking his favourites. 

Aina stated this while also offering honest viewing advice for fans eager to dive into Japan’s most iconic and trending series.

Aina, long known for his overlapping runs on the pitch in the Premier League, highlighted four shows that deserve a spot on every anime lover’s watchlist:

• Naruto:

“Definitely one to watch,” Aina enthuses, placing the beloved ninja epic near the top of his tier list for its captivating story and character development.

• Dragon Ball Z:

Dubbed the “OG” by Aina, this legendary franchise sparked his love for anime and remains his foundational favourite.

• Solo Levelling:

The defender describes this hit series as “crazy, crazy,” expressing his excitement for the action-packed, visually stunning adaptation that has taken the anime world by storm.

• Jujutsu Kaisen:  

While Aina acknowledges it “starts off a bit slow,” he has viewing advice for fans: “You need to watch it when you’re just trying to pass time, when you literally have nothing to do.”

Despite the slow start, this dark-fantasy anime has become one of the most popular among younger viewers.

Aina’s public ranking shows the growing influence of anime within football culture, with stars now openly sharing recommendations and sparking debates among teammates and fans. 

From old-school classics to cutting-edge new releases, the Super Eagles defender’s list offers something for both nostalgic fans and newcomers to the genre.

Aina’s animated passions are inspiring a new wave of anime fans keen to experience the “crazy” stories that have captured the heart of one of Nigeria’s football icons.