Anthony Ujah

Anthony Ujah
Personal information
Date of birth (1990-10-14) 14 October 1990
Place of birth Ugbokolo, Nigeria
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current team
 Werder Bremen
Number 21
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2005–2007 Abuja FC
2008–2009 Warri Wolves
2010–2011 Lillestrøm 36 (27)
2011–2013 1. FSV Mainz 05 12 (2)
2012–2013 → 1. FC Köln (loan) 28 (13)
2013–2015 1. FC Köln 66 (21)
2015– Werder Bremen 30 (11)
National team‡
2013– Nigeria 6 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:28, 2 May 2016 (UTC).
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 7 December 2015

Anthony Ujah (born 14 October 1990) is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a striker for the German side Werder Bremen and the Nigeria national team.

Early life

Ujah grew up in the little town of Ugbokolo in Nigeria's Benué State.[1]

Club career

Ujah began his career with Abuja F.C. In 2008, he was signed by Warri Wolves.[2] He left Warri Wolves in January 2010 to attend a trial with Lillestrøm.[3]

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.[4]

In January 2011, Ujah was linked with a move to England with Football League One clubs Swindon Town F.C. and Southampton F.C. reportedly interested. 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.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7] Ujah added to his tally by scoring a brace in his side's 5–0 of FK Haugesund on 25 April.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10]

Mainz

In June 2011, Ujah signed for 1. FSV Mainz 05,[11] after being tracked by several clubs, most notably Danish outfits F.C. Copenhagen and Brøndby IF.[12] Ujah scored his first two goals for his new club in a 3–1 victory over VfB Stuttgart on 4 November,[13] ending his side's winless run that stretched back to mid-August and moved them three points clear of the relegation zone.[14]

On the last day of the summer 2012 transfer window, Ujah signed a season-loan to 1. FC Köln.[15]

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.[16][17] On 24 October, Ujah scored a brace against his former club Mainz as Werder earned a 3–1 away win following five successive defeats.[18] 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.[19] It was his first goal in a home match at the Weserstadion.[20]

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.[21]

Career statistics

As of 2 May 2016[20][22][10]
Club Season League Cup Europe Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Lillestrøm 2010 Tippeligaen 241433—2717
2011 121330—1513
Total 362763004230
1. FSV Mainz 05 2011–12 Bundesliga 1222020162
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
Total 301153003514
Career Total 172742382019782

References

  1. ↑ "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.
  2. ↑ "Nigeria: Ujah, Obaje Dazzle in Denmark". Daily Champion. 5 February 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  3. ↑ Sødal, Per Morten (23 January 2010). "Blir med til La Manga" [Joining to La Manga]. Romerikes Blad (in Norwegian). Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  4. ↑ Andersen, Truls (14 March 2010). "Her er Lillestrøms nye spissjuvel" [Here is Lillestrøms new striker jewel]. VG Sport (in Norwegian). Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  5. ↑ "Lillestrøm solgte ikke Ujah likevel" [Lillestrøm did not sell Ujah yet]. Dagbladet (in Norwegian). 1 February 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  6. ↑ "Stabæk - Lillestrøm". fotball.no. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  7. ↑ Mahadew, Vincent (19 April 2011). "PSV wil zich weer versterken met Nigeriaans talent". Elf Voetbal (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  8. ↑ "Lillestrøm - Haugesund". fotball.no. 25 April 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  9. ↑ "Sarpsborg 08 - Lillestrøm". fotball.no. 28 May 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  10. 1 2 "Profile at Nifs.no". nifs.no. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  11. ↑ "Mainz 05 Signs Anthony Ujah From Lillestrom". SBNation.com. 28 June 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  12. ↑ Okeleji, Oluwashina (28 June 2011). "Nigeria under-23 striker Ujah joins German club Mainz". BBC News. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  13. ↑ "Gamecast: Mainz vs. VfB Stuttgart". ESPN Soccernet. 4 November 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  14. ↑ "Two sent off as Mainz end drought". ESPN Soccernet. 4 November 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  15. ↑ Okeleji, Oluwashina (31 August 2011). "Nigerian Anthony Ujah joins Cologne on loan from Mainz". BBC News. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  16. ↑ "Werder sign Ujah on four year deal". werder.de. 5 May 2015.
  17. ↑ "Werder holt Ujah als Selke-Nachfolger". dfb.de. 5 May 2015.
  18. ↑ "Bremen end losing streak with stunning six-minute spell". Bundesliga. 24 October 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  19. ↑ "Werder Bremen 1 - 0 Köln Team line-ups 10/28/15 - DFB Pokal - Goal.com". Goal. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  20. 1 2 "Anthony Ujah" (in German). kicker.de. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  21. ↑ "Nigeria to take new-look squad to Confederations Cup". BBC Sport. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  22. ↑ "A. Ujah". Soccerway. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
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