Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Chiedozie Somkelechukwu Ogbene [1] | ||
Date of birth | [2] | 1 May 1997||
Place of birth | Lagos, Nigeria | ||
Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) [2] | ||
Position(s) | Winger | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Luton Town | ||
Number | 7 | ||
Youth career | |||
Tramore Athletic | |||
College Corinthians | |||
Kilreen Celtic | |||
Everton | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | ( Gls) |
2015–2016 | Cork City | 9 | (3) |
2017 | Limerick | 32 | (8) |
2018–2019 | Brentford | 6 | (0) |
2018–2019 | → Exeter City (loan) | 14 | (0) |
2019–2023 | Rotherham United | 120 | (12) |
2023– | Luton Town | 28 | (4) |
International career‡ | |||
2021– | Republic of Ireland | 20 | (4) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:35, 16 March 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:57, 23 March 2024 (UTC) |
Chiedozie Somkelechukwu Ogbene (born 1 May 1997) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Luton Town and the Republic of Ireland national team.
Ogbene began his career in Ireland with Cork City and Limerick, before transferring to Brentford in 2018. After a loan spell with Exeter City he moved to Rotherham United in 2019, and then to Luton Town in 2023.
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, [2] Ogbene moved with his family (including two brothers and two sisters) to Ireland in 2005, [3] [4] after his father got a job in the country, [5] rejecting an offer of a job in Florida in the process. [6] He grew up in the Grange area of Cork. [7] He attended Bunscoil Chríost Rí as his primary school and Coláiste Chríost Rí as his secondary school. [4] He is a supporter of Liverpool. [4]
Ogbene played Gaelic football for Nemo Rangers and association football for Munster Senior League clubs Tramore Athletic, College Corinthians, Kilreen Celtic and Everton. [3] [4] He scored 1–2 and was awarded man of the match in an under-21 final for Nemo Rangers in 2015, his last appearance for the club. [8] He quit Gaelic football to pursue his dream of playing Premier League football. [9]
He signed for Cork City in August 2015. [4] He won the Enda McGuill Cup with their under-19 youth team, and the 2016 FAI Cup with their senior team. [4]
He signed for fellow League of Ireland club Limerick in January 2017. [10] He was nominated three times for the League of Ireland Player of the Month award. [11]
In November 2017 he was linked with a transfer to English club Aston Villa. [12]
On 30 January 2018, Ogbene signed for English club Brentford on a three-and-a-half year contract for an undisclosed fee. [13] He made his league debut on 10 April 2018, making one further appearance that season. [14] He moved on loan to Exeter City in August 2018. [15]
On 29 August 2019, Ogbene joined League One club Rotherham United for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year contract. [16] [17] In 2019–20, he played a central role in Rotherham's promotion-winning season, being described by manager Paul Warne as "unplayable" after he helped Rotherham beat Bristol Rovers by 3–0. [7] He was injured between October 2020 and April 2021. [18]
On 3 April 2022 he scored a goal as Rotherham won the EFL Trophy in a 4–2 victory over Sutton United. [19]
On 27 June 2023, it was announced that Ogbene would join newly promoted Premier League side Luton Town on 1 July 2023 when his contract with Rotherham United came to an end. [20] [21]
He was eligible to represent both Republic of Ireland and Nigeria at international level. [4] In July 2020, Ogbene approached Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny to declare his wish to play for the national team. [7] On 24 May 2021, Ogbene received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad for the summer friendlies against Andorra and Hungary. [22] [23] [24] He said he hoped to be a role model for other Irish players from a similar background. [25] He made his debut on 8 June 2021 against Hungary, becoming the first African-born player to represent the Republic of Ireland. [26] The Irish players had been booed by Hungarian fans prior to kick-off for taking the knee in a symbolic gesture against racism in the sport, which Ogbene asked UEFA to investigate. [27]
Ogbene scored his first international goal on 9 October 2021 in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan with a 90th minute header in a 3–0 win at Baku Olympic Stadium. [28]
Club | Season | League | National cup [a] | League cup [b] | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Cork City | 2015 [2] | LOI Premier Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
2016 [2] | LOI Premier Division | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | |
Total | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | ||
Limerick | 2017 [2] | LOI Premier Division | 32 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 8 |
Brentford | 2017–18 [14] | Championship | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
2018–19 [29] | Championship | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
Total | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
Exeter City (loan) | 2018–19 [29] | League Two | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 [c] | 0 | 17 | 0 |
Rotherham United | 2019–20 [30] | League One | 25 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 [c] | 0 | 29 | 1 |
2020–21 [31] | Championship | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
2021–22 [32] | League One | 45 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 [c] | 1 | 53 | 4 | |
2022–23 [33] | Championship | 39 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 42 | 9 | ||
Total | 120 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 136 | 14 | ||
Luton Town | 2023–24 [34] | Premier League | 28 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 34 | 5 | |
Career total | 208 | 27 | 16 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 240 | 30 |
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Republic of Ireland | 2021 | 5 | 2 |
2022 | 8 | 1 | |
2023 | 6 | 1 | |
2024 | 1 | 0 | |
Total | 20 | 4 |
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 9 October 2021 | Bakı Olimpiya Stadionu, Baku, Azerbaijan | Azerbaijan | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification [28] |
2 | 14 November 2021 | Stade de Luxembourg, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | Luxembourg | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
3 | 26 March 2022 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland | Belgium | 1–1 | 2–2 | Friendly [35] |
4 | 22 March 2023 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland | Latvia | 3–2 | 3–2 | Friendly |
Cork City
Rotherham United
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Chiedozie Somkelechukwu Ogbene [1] | ||
Date of birth | [2] | 1 May 1997||
Place of birth | Lagos, Nigeria | ||
Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) [2] | ||
Position(s) | Winger | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Luton Town | ||
Number | 7 | ||
Youth career | |||
Tramore Athletic | |||
College Corinthians | |||
Kilreen Celtic | |||
Everton | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | ( Gls) |
2015–2016 | Cork City | 9 | (3) |
2017 | Limerick | 32 | (8) |
2018–2019 | Brentford | 6 | (0) |
2018–2019 | → Exeter City (loan) | 14 | (0) |
2019–2023 | Rotherham United | 120 | (12) |
2023– | Luton Town | 28 | (4) |
International career‡ | |||
2021– | Republic of Ireland | 20 | (4) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:35, 16 March 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:57, 23 March 2024 (UTC) |
Chiedozie Somkelechukwu Ogbene (born 1 May 1997) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Luton Town and the Republic of Ireland national team.
Ogbene began his career in Ireland with Cork City and Limerick, before transferring to Brentford in 2018. After a loan spell with Exeter City he moved to Rotherham United in 2019, and then to Luton Town in 2023.
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, [2] Ogbene moved with his family (including two brothers and two sisters) to Ireland in 2005, [3] [4] after his father got a job in the country, [5] rejecting an offer of a job in Florida in the process. [6] He grew up in the Grange area of Cork. [7] He attended Bunscoil Chríost Rí as his primary school and Coláiste Chríost Rí as his secondary school. [4] He is a supporter of Liverpool. [4]
Ogbene played Gaelic football for Nemo Rangers and association football for Munster Senior League clubs Tramore Athletic, College Corinthians, Kilreen Celtic and Everton. [3] [4] He scored 1–2 and was awarded man of the match in an under-21 final for Nemo Rangers in 2015, his last appearance for the club. [8] He quit Gaelic football to pursue his dream of playing Premier League football. [9]
He signed for Cork City in August 2015. [4] He won the Enda McGuill Cup with their under-19 youth team, and the 2016 FAI Cup with their senior team. [4]
He signed for fellow League of Ireland club Limerick in January 2017. [10] He was nominated three times for the League of Ireland Player of the Month award. [11]
In November 2017 he was linked with a transfer to English club Aston Villa. [12]
On 30 January 2018, Ogbene signed for English club Brentford on a three-and-a-half year contract for an undisclosed fee. [13] He made his league debut on 10 April 2018, making one further appearance that season. [14] He moved on loan to Exeter City in August 2018. [15]
On 29 August 2019, Ogbene joined League One club Rotherham United for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year contract. [16] [17] In 2019–20, he played a central role in Rotherham's promotion-winning season, being described by manager Paul Warne as "unplayable" after he helped Rotherham beat Bristol Rovers by 3–0. [7] He was injured between October 2020 and April 2021. [18]
On 3 April 2022 he scored a goal as Rotherham won the EFL Trophy in a 4–2 victory over Sutton United. [19]
On 27 June 2023, it was announced that Ogbene would join newly promoted Premier League side Luton Town on 1 July 2023 when his contract with Rotherham United came to an end. [20] [21]
He was eligible to represent both Republic of Ireland and Nigeria at international level. [4] In July 2020, Ogbene approached Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny to declare his wish to play for the national team. [7] On 24 May 2021, Ogbene received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad for the summer friendlies against Andorra and Hungary. [22] [23] [24] He said he hoped to be a role model for other Irish players from a similar background. [25] He made his debut on 8 June 2021 against Hungary, becoming the first African-born player to represent the Republic of Ireland. [26] The Irish players had been booed by Hungarian fans prior to kick-off for taking the knee in a symbolic gesture against racism in the sport, which Ogbene asked UEFA to investigate. [27]
Ogbene scored his first international goal on 9 October 2021 in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan with a 90th minute header in a 3–0 win at Baku Olympic Stadium. [28]
Club | Season | League | National cup [a] | League cup [b] | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Cork City | 2015 [2] | LOI Premier Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
2016 [2] | LOI Premier Division | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | |
Total | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | ||
Limerick | 2017 [2] | LOI Premier Division | 32 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 8 |
Brentford | 2017–18 [14] | Championship | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
2018–19 [29] | Championship | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
Total | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
Exeter City (loan) | 2018–19 [29] | League Two | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 [c] | 0 | 17 | 0 |
Rotherham United | 2019–20 [30] | League One | 25 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 [c] | 0 | 29 | 1 |
2020–21 [31] | Championship | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
2021–22 [32] | League One | 45 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 [c] | 1 | 53 | 4 | |
2022–23 [33] | Championship | 39 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 42 | 9 | ||
Total | 120 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 136 | 14 | ||
Luton Town | 2023–24 [34] | Premier League | 28 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 34 | 5 | |
Career total | 208 | 27 | 16 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 240 | 30 |
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Republic of Ireland | 2021 | 5 | 2 |
2022 | 8 | 1 | |
2023 | 6 | 1 | |
2024 | 1 | 0 | |
Total | 20 | 4 |
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 9 October 2021 | Bakı Olimpiya Stadionu, Baku, Azerbaijan | Azerbaijan | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification [28] |
2 | 14 November 2021 | Stade de Luxembourg, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | Luxembourg | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
3 | 26 March 2022 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland | Belgium | 1–1 | 2–2 | Friendly [35] |
4 | 22 March 2023 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland | Latvia | 3–2 | 3–2 | Friendly |
Cork City
Rotherham United