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Henry Onyekuru

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Henry Onyekuru
Personal information
Full name Henry Chukwuemeka Onyekuru[1]
Date of birth (1997-06-05) 5 June 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Lagos, Nigeria
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Al-Fayha
Number 7
Youth career
2010–2015 Aspire Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 Eupen 57 (28)
2017–2019 Everton 0 (0)
2017–2018 → Anderlecht (loan) 19 (9)
2018–2019 → Galatasaray (loan) 31 (14)
2019–2021 Monaco 8 (0)
2020 → Galatasaray (loan) 10 (1)
2021 → Galatasaray (loan) 14 (5)
2021–2023 Olympiacos 14 (0)
2022–2023 → Adana Demirspor (loan) 28 (8)
2023 Adana Demirspor 0 (0)
2023– Al-Fayha 24 (10)
International career‡
2017–2022 Nigeria 15 (1)
Medal record
Africa Cup of Nations
Third place 2019 Egypt
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 March 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 January 2022

Henry Chukwuemeka Onyekuru (born 5 June 1997) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Saudi Pro League club Al-Fayha, and the Nigeria national team.[2]

Club career

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Eupen

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Onyekuru began his football career with the Aspire Academy in 2010, and graduated in 2015 joining their partner club, K.A.S. Eupen.[3] He made his debut for Eupen on 5 September 2015 in a 2–2 tie against K.F.C. Dessel Sport in the Belgian Second Division.[4] Onyekuru helped the team get promoted to the Belgian First Division A in his debut season, and made his professional debut in a 3–0 loss on 30 July 2016 against S.V. Zulte Waregem.[5] After a successful season in the Belgium first division, Onyekuru finished as one of the top scorers in the league, catching the attention of various larger teams in Europe.[6] He finished the 2016–17 season as joint top-scorer with 22 goals, but the trophy was handed to Łukasz Teodorczyk as he scored more away goals than Onyekuru.[7]

Everton

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On 30 June 2017, Onyekuru joined Everton for £7 million and was immediately sent on loan to Anderlecht.[8] Onyekuru had been handed the number nine jersey at Anderlecht for the 2017–18 campaign.[9]

Having scored 10 goals in 28 matches for Anderlecht, Onyekuru suffered a knee ligament injury in December which would require surgery. Anderlecht announced surgery would be necessary and that he would be out of action "for several months".[10] In January 2018, it was reported that Onyekuru would return to Anderlecht after rehabilitation and full recovery.[11]

Loan to Galatasaray

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In July 2018, Onyekuru joined Galatasaray on a season-long loan.[12] The loan fee paid to Everton was reported as £700,000.[13] On 20 May 2019, Onyekuru was on the scoresheet for Galatasaray as they defeated title challengers İstanbul Başakşehir 2–1 to secure the Süper Lig championship for the second straight season.[14] The victory also meant that Galatasaray secured the domestic double having defeated Akhisar Belediyespor in the Turkish Cup final the week prior.[14][15][16]

Monaco

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Having failed to ever secure a work permit in the UK, Onyekuru joined AS Monaco on a permanent transfer on 12 August 2019.[17][18] The fee was undisclosed (rumoured to be between £12-£15 million) and Onyekuru signed a five-year deal with the Ligue 1 club.[19]

Return to Galatasaray on loan

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On 5 January 2020, Onyekuru signed for Galatasaray, his former club, on a six-month loan with no option to buy.[20] He left after his loan ended in June, making a total of twelve appearances and scoring one goal.[21]

On 25 January 2021, Onyekuru once again signed for Galatasaray on a six-month loan, this time with an option to buy.[22][23]

Olympiacos

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On 2 August 2021, Olympiacos announced the signing of Onyekuru for a four-year deal for an undisclosed amount.[24]

Al-Fayha

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On 11 August 2023, Onyekuru joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Fayha on a two-year contract.[25]

International career

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Onyekuru was called up for the Super Eagles camp in May 2017.[26] He made his senior debut for Nigeria in a 3–0 friendly win over Togo on 1 June 2017.[27]

After a strong 2018–19 club season with Galatasaray, Onyekuru was included in Nigeria's final 23-man squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.[28][29] He played for 12 minutes at the finals, coming on as a late substitute in their 1–2 semi-final defeat to eventual champions Algeria.[30][31]

Onyekuru was invited by the national coach as part of the squad to face Ukraine in an international friendly on the 10 of September 2019.[32][33]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 15 March 2024[34]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Eupen 2015–16 Belgian Second Division 19 6 0 0 — — 19 6
2016–17 Belgian Pro League 38 22 3 2 — — 41 24
Total 57 28 3 2 — — 60 30
Everton 2017–18 Premier League 0 0 0 0 — — 0 0
Anderlecht (loan) 2017–18 Belgian Pro League 19 9 2 1 6[b] 0 1[c] 0 28 10
Galatasaray (loan) 2018–19 Süper Lig 31 14 6 2 7[d] 0 0 0 44 16
Monaco 2019–20 Ligue 1 4 0 0 0 — — 4 0
2020–21 4 0 0 0 — — 4 0
Total 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
Galatasaray (loan) 2019–20 Süper Lig 10 1 2 0 — — 12 1
2020–21 14 5 1 0 — — 15 5
Total 24 6 3 0 — — 27 6
Olympiacos 2021–22 Super League Greece 14 0 3 0 10[e] 1 — 27 1
Adana Demirspor (loan) 2022–23 Süper Lig 18 8 2 0 — — 20 8
Al-Fayha 2023–24 Saudi Pro League 24 10 1 0 6[f] 1 — 31 11
Career total 195 75 20 5 29 2 1 0 245 82
  1. ^ Includes Belgian Cup, Turkish Cup, Greek Football Cup, King Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  3. ^ Appearances in Belgian Super Cup
  4. ^ Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. ^ Appearances in AFC Champions League

International

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As of match played on 19 January 2022[35]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Nigeria 2017 1 0
2018 6 0
2019 5 1
2020 0 0
2021 2 0
2022 1 0
Total 15 1
As of goal scored 22 March 2019
Scores and results list Nigeria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Onyekuru goal.[35]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 22 March 2019 Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Nigeria  Seychelles 2–1 3–1 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Honours

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Anderlecht

Galatasaray

Olympiacos

References

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  1. ^ "Premier League Clubs submit Squad Lists". Premier League. Retrieved 10 September 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
  2. ^ Oguntimehin, Ayomide (5 August 2023). "Saudi Pro League: Al-Fayha eyes Super Eagles winger with lucrative offer, joining Anthony Nwakaeme as teammates - Soccernet NG". Soccernet.ng. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  3. ^ PageOne (5 January 2017). "Henry Onyekuru - From National Stadium to Stardom - PageOne.ng".
  4. ^ "Dessel Sport vs. AS Eupen - 5 september 2015 - Soccerway". Soccerway.
  5. ^ "Zulte-Waregem vs. AS Eupen - 30 juli 2016 - Soccerway". Soccerway.
  6. ^ "Celtic, RB Leipzig eyeing KAS Eupen's Henry Onyekuru - Sources".
  7. ^ "Łukasz Teodorczyk królem strzelców". www.90minut.pl.
  8. ^ "Henry Onyekuru: Everton sign Nigeria striker and loan him to Anderlecht". BBC Sport. 30 June 2017.
  9. ^ "Incoming Everton striker Onyekuru handed new squad number". LiverpoolEcho. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  10. ^ "Everton Youngster Onyekuru Set for 8-Month Spell on Sidelines With Knee Injury". Sports Illustrated. 29 December 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  11. ^ "Onyekuru returns to Anderlecht after recovery from Injury". The Guardian (Nigeria). 23 January 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  12. ^ "Henry Onyekuru: Everton striker joins Galatasaray on loan". BBC Sport. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  13. ^ "Everton's Henry Onyekuru joins Galatasaray on season-long loan". Sky Sports. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  14. ^ a b c d "Nigeria striker Onyekuru thankful for Galatasaray double". BBC Sport. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  15. ^ "AKHİSARSPOR 1:3 GALATASARAY A.Ş." (in Turkish). TFF. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  16. ^ "Onyekuru named fastest player in Turkish Super Lig".
  17. ^ "Henry Onyekuru: Everton sell Nigeria forward to Monaco". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  18. ^ "Everton agree fee to sell striker on a permanent deal". SB Nation. 31 July 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  19. ^ "Henry Onyekuru: Monaco sign Everton forward on five-year deal". Goal. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  20. ^ "Official | Galatasaray sign Henry Onyekuru on loan until the end of the season". Get French Football news. 5 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  21. ^ Enes Calli, Muhammed (4 July 2020). "Henry Onyekuru leaves Galatasaray". AA.com. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  22. ^ "Yuvana hoş geldin Henry Onyekuru" [Welcome home Henry Onyekuru]. www.galatasaray.org (in Turkish). 25 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  23. ^ "Onyekuru eager to extend Galatasaray stay".
  24. ^ "Ο Ονιεκουρού στον Ολυμπιακό μέχρι το 2025". ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΟΣ - Olympiacos.org (in Greek). 1 August 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  25. ^ "النيجيري هنري اونيكورو فيحاوي حتى 2025م".[permanent dead link‍]
  26. ^ "Onyekuru gets Nigeria call". ESPNFC.com. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  27. ^ "Internationals (Sky Sports)". SkySports.
  28. ^ "Nigeria announce provisional AFCON squad". Sport 24. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  29. ^ "Nigeria name final 23-man Africa Cup of Nations squad". KingFut. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  30. ^ "Osimhen, Onyekuru battle to replace Ighalo". Vanguard News. 27 July 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  31. ^ "Riyad Mahrez scored a last-second, stoppage-time free-kick to send Algeria into Friday's final against Senegal". The Guardian. 14 July 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  32. ^ Fowowe, Solomon (14 August 2019). "Rohr invites two new players for Ukraine friendly". Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  33. ^ "Rohr explains decision to leave Onyekuru on bench".
  34. ^ Henry Onyekuru at Soccerway. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  35. ^ a b "Henry Onyekuru". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
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