[3] He played for Wycombe Wanderers, Northampton Town, Watford and Derby County in England, as well as for Spanish clubs Celta de Vigo, Sevilla Atlético and Granada.

Anya's father is a Nigerian research scientist of the Igbo ethnic group and his mother a Romanian economist.

[5] His mother, Mariana, states that as a very young boy Anya "was kicking a ball in front of the house where he grew up in Glasgow from morning till night.

[7] Like Russell Martin, he committed his short-term future to the club, signing a two-year deal in June 2005 and whilst at Wycombe won Apprentice of the Year at the inaugural Football League Awards in 2006.

[15] On 13 July 2011, Anya signed a three-year contract with newly promoted La Liga side Granada.

He made his first start and scored his first goal for the club in the home defeat to Bradford City in the second round of the League Cup on 28 August 2012.

[21] Anya chose to play international football for Scotland, the land of his birth, but would also have been eligible for England (through residence), Nigeria (through his father) or Romania (through his mother).

[27] On 7 September 2014 he scored against the world champions Germany in the first match of UEFA Euro 2016 qualification in Dortmund, Scotland lost 2–1.