Anthony Ujah
Ujah during his time with 1. FC Köln
Personal information
Date of birth (1990-10-14) 14 October 1990
Place of birth Ugbokolo, Nigeria
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Eintracht Braunschweig
Number 14
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2007 Abuja F.C.
2008–2009 Warri Wolves 22 (13)
2010–2011 Lillestrøm 36 (27)
2011–2013 Mainz 05 12 (2)
2012–2013 → 1. FC Köln (loan) 28 (13)
2013–2015 1. FC Köln 66 (21)
2015–2016 Werder Bremen 30 (11)
2016–2017 Liaoning Whowin 39 (10)
2018–2019 Mainz 05 33 (4)
2019–2022 Union Berlin 27 (3)
2022– Eintracht Braunschweig 36 (13)
International career‡
2013– Nigeria 7 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 8 September 2015

Anthony Ujah (born 14 October 1990) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for German club Eintracht Braunschweig and the Nigeria national team.

Early life

Ujah grew up in the little town of Ugbokolo in Nigeria's Benue State.[2]

Club career

Ujah began his career with Abuja F.C. In 2008, he was signed by Warri Wolves.[3] He left Warri Wolves in January 2010 to attend a trial with Lillestrøm.[4]

Lillestrøm

2010 season

Having impressed while attending the trial, Ujah signed a four-year contract with Lillestrøm and made his debut for the club on 14 March 2010 against Aalesunds FK.[5]

In January 2011, Ujah was linked with a move to England with Football League One clubs Swindon Town and Southampton reportedly interested.[6] On transfer deadline day, Ujah travelled to La Liga side Mallorca to discuss a move after Lillestrøm accepted a bid for the striker. However, no deal was signed, and Ujah started the 2011 campaign still in the Norway with Lillestrøm.[7]

2011 season

In the first game of the season on 3 March 2011, Ujah scored four goals in Lillestrøm's 7–0 victory away against Stabæk.[8] Following his strong performance, it was reported that PSV Eindhoven, among other European clubs such as Rennes, Lille, Toulouse and Sunderland, were keeping tabs on Ujah.[9] Ujah added to his tally by scoring a brace in his side's 5–0 of FK Haugesund on 25 April.[10] In May 2011, following his return of eight goals from the first six league matches for Lillestrøm, Ujah was linked to a host of bigger clubs from strong continental leagues including the Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Eredivisie. A month later on 28 May, Ujah netted the winning goal in a 4–2 victory over Sarpsborg 08.[11] On 19 June 2011, Ujah again hit four goals for Lillestrøm, this time against Strømsgodset, helping his side to a 4–2 win in the Tippeligaen. After just 15 months in Norway, he built up a tremendous rapport with the club's supporters and arguably attained an almost legend-like status unheard of for a 20-year-old. He ended up scoring 30 goals in 42 matches across all official competitions for Lillestrøm.[12]

Mainz 05

In June 2011, Ujah signed for 1. FSV Mainz 05,[13] after being tracked by several clubs, most notably Danish outfits F.C. Copenhagen and Brøndby IF.[14] Ujah scored his first two goals for his new club in a 3–1 victory over VfB Stuttgart on 4 November,[15] ending his side's winless run that stretched back to mid-August and moved them three points clear of the relegation zone.[16]

On the last day of the summer 2012 transfer window, Ujah signed a season-loan to 1. FC Köln.[17]

Werder Bremen

On 5 May 2015, SV Werder Bremen announced that they had signed Ujah on a four-year contract, starting from the 2015–16 season.[18][19] On 24 October, Ujah scored a brace against his former club Mainz as Werder earned a 3–1 away win following five successive defeats.[20] Four days laters, he netted again, helping Werder to a 1–0 victory over his former club 1. FC Köln in the second round of the DFB-Pokal.[21] It was his first goal in a home match at the Weserstadion.[22]

Liaoning Whowin

On 5 July 2016, Werder Bremen announced Ujah would be joining Liaoning Whowin pending a medical for a reported transfer fee of €13 million. Both player and club had rejected a similar offer from Liaoning Whowin in the previous winter transfer window.[23][24] Two days later, the move was finalised with Ujah signing a three-year contract.[25] On 8 July 2016, Ujah scored on his debut for Liaoning in a 2–1 win over Shijiazhuang Ever Bright.[26]

Return to Mainz 05

In December, it was announced that Ujah would return to the Bundesliga having re-signed with former club 1. FSV Mainz 05 on a 3+1⁄2-year contract until 2021.[27]

Union Berlin

In June 2019, Ujah's move to 1. FC Union Berlin, newly promoted to the Bundesliga, for the 2019–20 season was agreed. He signed a three-year deal.[28]

Eintracht Braunschweig

On 2 August 2022, Ujah signed with Eintracht Braunschweig on a one-year contract, with an optional extra year.[29]

International career

At the end of May 2011, Ujah was called up to the U23 Nigerian National Team that faced Tanzania on 5 June 2011.

He was selected for Nigeria's squad at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.[30]

Career statistics

As of match played 2 August 2022[22][31][12]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Lillestrøm 2010 Tippeligaen 241433—2717
2011 121330—1513
Total 362763004230
Mainz 05 2011–12 Bundesliga 122202[lower-alpha 1]0162
2012–13 0010—10
Total 1223020172
1. FC Köln 2012–13 2. Bundesliga 281330—3113
2013–14 341130—3711
2014–15 Bundesliga 321032—3512
Total 9434920010336
Werder Bremen 2015–16 Bundesliga 301153—3514
Liaoning Whowin 2016 Chinese Super League 15500—155
2017 24500—245
Total 391000003910
Mainz 05 2017–18 Bundesliga 11010—120
2018–19 22410—234
Total 3342000354
Union Berlin 2019–20 Bundesliga 24341—284
2020–21 0000—00
2021–22 32 3 0 0 0 0 32 3
Total 56364100607
Career total 3009429920331103
  1. ↑ Appearances in the Europa League

References

  1. ↑ "Anthony Ujah". 1. FC Union Berlin (in German). Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  2. ↑ "Vor Flug in die Heimat: Derby-Held Ujah öffnet sein Familienalbum" [Ahead of home-bound flight: Ujah opens his family album]. Express (in German). 23 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  3. ↑ "Nigeria: Ujah, Obaje Dazzle in Denmark". Daily Champion. 5 February 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  4. ↑ Sødal, Per Morten (23 January 2010). "Blir med til La Manga" [Joining to La Manga]. Romerikes Blad (in Norwegian). Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  5. ↑ Andersen, Truls (14 March 2010). "Her er Lillestrøms nye spissjuvel" [Here is Lillestrøms new striker jewel]. VG Sport (in Norwegian). Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  6. ↑ "Anthony Ujah Biography / Profile". Manpower. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  7. ↑ "Lillestrøm solgte ikke Ujah likevel" [Lillestrøm did not sell Ujah yet]. Dagbladet (in Norwegian). 1 February 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  8. ↑ "Stabæk - Lillestrøm". fotball.no. 20 March 2011. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  9. ↑ Mahadew, Vincent (19 April 2011). "PSV wil zich weer versterken met Nigeriaans talent". Elf Voetbal (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  10. ↑ "Lillestrøm - Haugesund". fotball.no. 25 April 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  11. ↑ "Sarpsborg 08 - Lillestrøm". fotball.no. 28 May 2011. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  12. 1 2 "Profile at Nifs.no". nifs.no. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  13. ↑ "Mainz 05 Signs Anthony Ujah From Lillestrom". SBNation.com. 28 June 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  14. ↑ Okeleji, Oluwashina (28 June 2011). "Nigeria under-23 striker Ujah joins German club Mainz". BBC News. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  15. ↑ "Gamecast: Mainz vs. VfB Stuttgart". ESPN Soccernet. 4 November 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  16. ↑ "Two sent off as Mainz end drought". ESPN Soccernet. 4 November 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  17. ↑ Okeleji, Oluwashina (31 August 2011). "Nigerian Anthony Ujah joins Cologne on loan from Mainz". BBC News. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  18. ↑ Harding, Jonathan (5 May 2015). "Anthony Ujah to join Werder Bremen". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  19. ↑ "Werder holt Ujah als Selke-Nachfolger". dfb.de. 5 May 2015.
  20. ↑ "Bremen end losing streak with stunning six-minute spell". Bundesliga. 24 October 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  21. ↑ "Werder Bremen 1 - 0 Köln Team line-ups 10/28/15 - DFB Pokal - Goal.com". Goal. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  22. 1 2 "Anthony Ujah" (in German). kicker.de. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  23. ↑ "Von Bremen nach China: Ujah-Wechsel ist perfekt". kicker Online (in German). 5 July 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  24. ↑ Klemm, Hans-Günter (5 July 2016). "Geldregen für Werder: Ujah erliegt Lockruf aus China". kicker Online (in German). Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  25. ↑ "辽足2亿先生：压力就是动力 首秀服从教练安排". Sina Sports (in Chinese). 7 July 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  26. ↑ "Ujah trifft bei seinem Debüt für Liaoning". kicker Online (in German). 10 July 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  27. ↑ Okeleji, Oluwashina (21 December 2017). "Nigeria's Anthony Ujah re-joins Mainz from China's Liaoning". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  28. ↑ Taiwo, Taiye (20 June 2019). "Newly-promoted Bundesliga club Union Berlin snap up Nigeria's Anthony Ujah". Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  29. ↑ "Anthony Ujah wird ein Löwe" [Anthony Ujah becomes a lion]. www.eintracht.com (in German). 2 August 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  30. ↑ "Nigeria to take new-look squad to Confederations Cup". BBC Sport. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  31. ↑ "A. Ujah". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
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