Samuel Chukwueze Profile: Club, Market Value And Honors

Samuel Chimerenka Chukwueze, born 22 May 1999 is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Serie A club AC Milan and the Nigeria national team.

Chukwueze was born in Amaokwe Ugba Ibeku, Abia State, Nigeria. He is of Igbo descent and grew up in a Christian family with a younger brother and a younger sister.

Chukwueze’s love for football started at a young age. He began playing football when he was just 8 years old. As a child, he looked up to two famous footballers, Jay-Jay Okocha and Arjen Robben, who inspired him to pursue his dream of becoming a professional footballer.

For his education, Chukwueze attended Government College Umuahia and Evangel Secondary School. Despite his focus on football, he managed to balance his studies with his passion for the sport. In his professional career, Chukwueze has made a name for himself as a talented right winger.

Samuel Chukwueze Club Career:

His professional football career began when he joined Villarreal CF’s youth academy in 2017. Before that, he played for the Diamond Football Academy, a local club in Nigeria where he honed his talents.

Upon joining Villarreal, Chukwueze was initially placed in the Juvenil A squad, the club’s top youth team. His talent quickly shone through, and on April 15, 2018, he made his debut for Villarreal’s reserve team.

This match was against CE Sabadell FC in the Segunda División B, Spain’s third division. Chukwueze came on as a substitute in the second half, replacing Sergio Lozano.

The game ended in a 1-1 draw, marking the start of Chukwueze’s senior career. Just over a month later, on May 20, 2018, Chukwueze scored his first senior goal. This goal came in a match against Bilbao Athletic, where he netted the second goal for his team.

Despite his efforts, Villarreal B lost the game 3-2. In his first season with the reserves, Chukwueze played 11 games and scored two goals, but the team missed out on promotion after losing in the playoffs.

Chukwueze’s impressive performances earned him a spot in Villarreal’s first team. On September 20, 2018, he made his debut in a high-stakes match.

This was a UEFA Europa League game against Rangers, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Chukwueze came on as a substitute, replacing Nicola Sansone.

Not long after, on November 5, 2018, he played his first full La Liga match against Levante, which also ended in a 1-1 draw.

His rising star status was recognized in April 2019 when he was awarded the Nigeria Football Federation’s 2018 Young Player of the Year award.

One of the highlights of Chukwueze’s career at Villarreal was on April 12, 2022. During the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich, he scored a crucial goal.

His 88th-minute equalizer helped Villarreal advance to the semi-finals, a historic achievement for the club. Chukwueze continued to impress with his performances.

On April 8, 2023, he scored two goals and provided an assist in a thrilling match against Real Madrid. Villarreal won the game 3-2, with Chukwueze playing a key role in the victory.

In July 2023, Chukwueze’s career took a new turn as he joined AC Milan, a top club in Italy’s Serie A. The move was announced on July 27, 2023, with Chukwueze signing a contract until June 2028.

On November 28, 2023, he scored his first goal for the club in a Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund.

Despite his goal, Milan lost the game 3-1. Chukwueze’s impact continued in the Champions League. On December 13, 2023, he scored a late winner in the 84th minute against Newcastle United.

This goal secured a 2-1 victory for Milan and ensured they finished third in their group, qualifying for the Europa League.

His first league goal for AC Milan came on March 17, 2024, in a Serie A match against Hellas Verona. Coming on as a substitute, he scored the final goal in a 3-1 win.

However, Chukwueze faced some frustration on April 14, 2024, in a match against Sassuolo. He scored two goals, but both were disallowed for being marginally offside.

Samuel Chukwueze International Career:

Chukwueze’s big break came when he was called up to the Nigerian senior team in October 2018. He made his debut for the senior team on November 20, 2018, having started in a friendly match against Uganda, which ended in a 0-0 draw.

This debut was a milestone for Chukwueze and marked the beginning of his international career. In May 2019, Chukwueze faced a tough decision.

He was invited to join Nigeria’s senior team for the Africa Cup of Nations and also the under-20 team for the Under-20 World Cup.

His club, Villarreal, told him he could only play in one of these tournaments. After much thought, Chukwueze chose to join the senior team for the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

This decision turned out to be a good one for his career. During the Africa Cup of Nations, Chukwueze showed his skills and proved himself as a valuable player for Nigeria.

He scored his first senior goal in a crucial match against South Africa in the quarter-finals. Nigeria won the match 2-1, with Chukwueze’s goal being a highlight. This goal was a proud moment for him and added to his growth as a talented footballer.

Samuel Chukwueze Market Value:

Samuel Chukwueze’s current market value is €20.00 million as of June 5, 2024. His highest market value was €30.00 million, which he reached on June 11, 2019. And over the years, his market value has fluctuated.

Samuel Chukwueze Honors:

Villarreal

2020-2021: UEFA Europa League

Nigeria U17

2015: FIFA U-17 World Cup

Nigeria

2023: Africa Cup of Nations runner-up

Individual

2015: FIFA U-17 World Cup Bronze Boot
2020-2021: UEFA Europa League Top Assist Provider
2022-2023: La Liga African MVP

Pataka

Pataka is a consistent and avid follower of the round leather game. He communicates his passion by editing soccer posts for various soccer platforms.