Arsenal star Bukayo Saka left Nigerian singer Tems visibly shocked after admitting he does not know legendary singer Celine Dion during a recent collaboration filmed for Arsenal’s new show, “The Link-Up.”
The light-hearted episode, which also featured Ghanaian producer GuiltyBeatz, was filmed at the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London. In a clip from the show, Saka asked Tems who her musical idol was while growing up. The Grammy-winning singer responded by naming Canadian music icon Celine Dion.
However, Saka’s reply came as a surprise: “I don’t know who that is,” he said, leaving Tems visibly taken aback.
Celine Dion is widely regarded as one of the greatest singers of all time, known for powerful hits such as “My Heart Will Go On” from the Titanic soundtrack, “Because You Loved Me,” and “The Power of Love.” She is a five-time Grammy winner with a career spanning decades .
Later in the episode, Tems asked Saka if music plays a role in his daily life. The Arsenal forward responded that he listens to a lot of Afrobeats, mentioning artists like Tems herself, Asake, and Burna Boy .
The exchange quickly went viral online, with fans reacting to Saka’s honest confession and the playful interaction between the football star and the singer .
On social media platform X, many expressed shock while others joked about potential mix-ups, such as confusing Celine Dion with a track by Nigerian artist Zinoleesky .
One comment read: “Saka doesn’t know celin Dion???? Wow.” Another user joked: “She actually meant Celine Dion by Zinoleesky.” A third echoed Saka’s unfamiliarity, saying “Omo same here I dont know celine dion” .
Supporters praised his honesty, with one user noting: “Saka is just being sincere, must of these big celebrities don’t actually know themselves” .
GuiltyBeatz, the Grammy-winning producer behind much of Tems’ debut album “Born in the Wild” (2024) and her 2021 EP “If Orange Was a Place,” was present as a key collaborator during the episode .
The clip stems from Episode I of “The Link-Up: a Bukayo Saka show,” streamed on The Arsenal app, where Saka hosts interdisciplinary discussions with cultural figures to explore parallels between studio creativity and on-pitch performance .
