Caleb Chukwuemeka

Caleb Chukwuemeka
Personal information
Full name Chigozier Caleb Chukwuemeka[1]
Date of birth (2002-01-25) 25 January 2002 (age 22)[2]
Place of birth Eisenstadt, Austria
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 AC Bellinzona
Number 7
Youth career
0000–2020 Northampton Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2021 Northampton Town 22 (1)
2020 → Corby Town (loan) 3 (1)
2021–2023 Aston Villa 0 (0)
2022 → Livingston (loan) 8 (0)
2022–2023 → Crawley Town (loan) 10 (0)
2024 Tabor Sežana 8 (2)
2024– AC Bellinzona 10 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 November 2024

Chigoziem Caleb Chukwuemeka (born 25 January 2002) is an Austrian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Swiss Challenge League club AC Bellinzona.

Career

Northampton Town

Chukwuemeka started his career at Northampton Town and joined Corby Town on loan in February 2020, where he made three appearances in the league, scoring once. In July 2020 Chukwuemeka spent a month on trial at Kettering Town playing in three friendly matches.[3][4] He made his senior debut for Northampton Town on 12 September 2020 as a late substitute in a 2–2 draw with AFC Wimbledon,[5] before starting his first match for the club four days later in a 4–0 EFL Cup defeat to Bristol City.[6] He scored his first goal for Northampton in an EFL Trophy tie against Southampton U21s on 6 October 2020,[7] and scored his first league goal later that month with Northampton's third goal in a 3–2 victory over Wigan Athletic on 31 October.[8]

Aston Villa

On 16 August 2021, Chukwuemeka signed for Premier League team Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee.[9] He entered their Academy where he was reunited with younger brother Carney.[10] On 24 August 2021, he made his Aston Villa debut, coming on as a substitute for his brother, in a 6–0 EFL Cup victory over Barrow.[11] He was awarded Premier League 2 player of the month for September 2021 - after scoring five goals and providing one assist in three matches in that period.[12]

On 12 January 2022, Chukwuemeka joined Scottish Premiership side Livingston on loan until the end of the season.[13][14] He made his debut on 18 January 2022, as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 home victory over Dundee.[15] On 22 January, Chukwuemeka was substituted only 7 minutes after entering the field in a match against Aberdeen. Livingston manager David Martindale criticised Chukwuemeka's workrate, but insisted that he still had what it takes to be a success.[16]

On 1 September 2022, Chukwuemeka joined League Two club Crawley Town on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy.[17] He made his debut 2 days later, in a 2–2 draw against Salford City.[18] Despite the transfer being reported as one that would become permanent, Chukwuemeka was included in Aston Villa's retained list at the end of the season.[19]

Chukwuemeka left Aston Villa in 2023, and went on trial at Bristol City in September, though he did not earn a contract.[20]

Tabor Sežana

In February 2024, he joined Slovenian Second League side Tabor Sežana.[21] He made his debut on 2 March 2024, in a 4–1 defeat to Brinje Grosuplje[22] On 9 March, Chukwuemeka scored his first goals for Tabor, scoring twice in a 3–1 victory over Bilje.[23] He scored twice in 8 league matches for Tabor Sežana.[24]

AC Bellinzona

In July 2024, Chukwuemeka signed for Swiss Challenge League club AC Bellinzona on a two-year contract.[25] He made his debut for the club on 26 July 2024, where he started against Stade Nyonnais, scoring in the fourth minute as Bellinzona lost 2–1.[26]

Personal life

Chukwuemeka was born in Austria to Nigerian parents.[27] His younger brother Carney plays for Chelsea, they had previously been at both Northampton Town and Aston Villa together.[27]

Career statistics

As of match played on 29 March 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Northampton Town 2019–20[28] League Two 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2020–21[29] League One 22 1 1 0 1 0 4[a] 1 28 2
Total 22 1 1 0 1 0 4 1 28 2
Corby Town (loan) 2019–20[4] Southern League Division One Central 3 1 0 0 — 0 0 3 1
Aston Villa U21 2021–22 — — — 2[a] 0 2 0
Aston Villa 2021–22[30] Premier League 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
2022–23[31] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Livingston (loan) 2021–22[30] Scottish Premiership 8 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
Crawley Town (loan) 2022–23[31] League Two 10 0 1 0 1 0 2[a] 0 14 0
Tabor Sežana 2023–24[24] Slovenian Second League 5 2 0 0 — — 5 2
Career total 48 4 3 0 3 0 8 1 62 5
  1. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

References

  1. ^ "Club list of registered players: As at 23rd June 2020: Northampton Town" (PDF). 23 June 2020. p. 69. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Caleb Chukwuemeka". ntfc.co.uk. Northampton Town F.C. Archived from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  3. ^ Heneghan, James (8 February 2020). "Cobblers send young striker on loan to Corby". Northampton Chronicle & Echo. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Caleb Chukwuemeka". aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk. Aylesbury United F.C. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  5. ^ Heneghan, James (15 September 2020). "'Very gifted' Chukuewmeka backed by Curle to earn more first-team minutes". Northampton Chronicle & Echo. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  6. ^ Heneghan, James (16 September 2020). "Classy Bristol City too strong for Cobblers in Carabao Cup". Northampton Chronicle & Echo. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Northampton Town 5 Southampton Under 21s 0". ntfc.co.uk. Northampton Town F.C. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  8. ^ Heneghan, James (31 October 2020). "Chukwuemeka helps Cobblers to edgy but vital win over Wigan Athletic". Northampton Chronicle & Echo. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  9. ^ Heneghan, James (16 August 2021). "Young striker Chukwuemeka leaves Cobblers and signs for Aston Villa". Northampton Chronicle. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Caleb Chukwuemeka joins Villa Academy". Aston Villa F.C. 16 August 2021. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  11. ^ Chapman, Joseph; Townley, John (24 August 2021). "Cameron Archer bags hat-trick as Aston Villa demolish Barrow". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Chukwuemeka wins PL2 Player of the Month". premierleague.com. 11 October 2021. Archived from the original on 11 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  13. ^ "Caleb Chukwuemeka joins Livingston on loan". Aston Villa Football Club. 12 January 2022. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  14. ^ Black, Dave (12 January 2022). "Caleb Chukwuemeka joins on-loan from Aston Villa". Livingston FC. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  15. ^ "Livingston sink Dundee with Anderson double". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  16. ^ McDougall, Mark (9 February 2022). "David Martindale explains harsh Caleb Chukwuemeka sub after seven minute cameo". footballscotland. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  17. ^ "Caleb Chukwuemeka joins the Reds". crawleytownfc.com. Crawley Town F.C. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  18. ^ "Salford City 2-2 Crawley Town". BBC Sport. 3 September 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  19. ^ "Premier League clubs publish 2022/23 released lists". Premier League. 1 July 2023.
  20. ^ "Former Aston Villa striker starts for Bristol City Under-21s in victory over Ipswich Town". Bristol Post. 25 September 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  21. ^ "Tabor has brought in the older brother of a Chelsea player: Forward Caleb Chukwuemeka, who last played for Aston Villa, joins in Sežana". Football Planet. 29 February 2024.
  22. ^ "Brinje Grosuplje vs NK Tabor Sežana live score, H2H and lineups | Sofascore". sofascore.com. 2 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  23. ^ "Tabor Sezana - Bilje 3:1". flashscore.com. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  24. ^ a b "Austria - C. Chukwuemeka - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  25. ^ "Chukwu ha firmato!". Eco dello Sport (in Italian). 22 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  26. ^ "Bellinzona battuto a Nyon". Ticinonline (in Italian). 26 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  27. ^ a b Townley, John (15 December 2021). "Aston Villa's Chukwuemeka brothers and the story behind their rise". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  28. ^ "Games played by Caleb Chukwuemeka in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  29. ^ "Games played by Caleb Chukwuemeka in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  30. ^ a b "Games played by Caleb Chukwuemeka in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  31. ^ a b "Games played by Caleb Chukwuemeka in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 September 2022.