David Ozoh

David Ozoh
Personal information
Full name David Ikechukwu Ozoh[1]
Date of birth (2005-05-06) 6 May 2005 (age 19)
Place of birth Valencia, Spain[2]
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Central midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Derby County
(on loan from Crystal Palace)
Number 4
Youth career
2013–2023 Crystal Palace
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Crystal Palace 10 (0)
2024– → Derby County (loan) 5 (1)
International career‡
2023 England U18 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:55, 14 September 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16:21, 11 June 2023 (UTC)

David Ikechukwu Ozoh (born 6 May 2005) is a professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for EFL Championship club Derby County, on loan from Premier League club Crystal Palace. Born in Spain, he is a youth international for England.

Club career

Ozoh joined the Crystal Palace academy at the age of 8. He worked his way up their youth age groups, playing for the U18 and U23 sides. On 11 August 2022, he signed his first professional contract with the club.[3] He made his professional debut for Crystal Palace as a late substitute in a 0–0 Premier League draw with Newcastle United on 21 January 2023, becoming the club's youngest ever debutant in the Premier League at the age of 17.[4] In the 2023–24 season, Ozoh played 12 times for the first team.

On 24 July 2024, Ozoh joined Derby County of the Championship on loan until the end of the 2024–25 season.[5] On 9 August 2024, he made his debut for the club in a 2–4 loss against Blackburn Rovers in the league.[6] Ozoh scored his first goal for Derby in 89th minute of a 3–0 win to Bristol City on 31 August 2024,[7] this was also first goal in senior football. Ozoh had made a strong start to his time at Derby,[8] but picked up a hamstring injury against Cardiff City on 14 September 2024 which left him sidelined for a few weeks.[9] Upon his return to training from this injury, Ozoh damaged his quad which was expected to leave him unable to play until after the November international break which would mean he would miss two-and-a-half months with both injuries.[10]

International career

Ozoh was born in Valencia, Spain to Nigerian parents and moved to England at a young age.[11] He was called up to the England U18s in March 2023[12] and made his debut during a 2–1 win over Croatia in Medulin on 22 March 2023.[13]

Career statistics

As of match played 14 September 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Crystal Palace U21 2022–23 — — — 3[a] 0 3 0
2023–24 — — — 3[a] 0 3 0
Total — — — 6 0 6 0
Crystal Palace 2022–23[14] Premier League 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 0
2023–24[15] Premier League 9 0 2 0 1 0 — 12 0
2024–25[16] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 10 0 2 0 1 0 — 13 0
Derby County (loan) 2024–25[16] Championship 5 1 0 0 2 0 — 7 1
Career total 15 1 2 0 3 0 6 0 26 1
  1. ^ a b Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

Individual

References

  1. ^ "2022/23 Premier League squad lists". Premier League. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Crystal Palace Make Loan Decision on Valencia-born Nigerian Midfielder THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com.
  3. ^ Smith, Matt (11 August 2023). "Midfielder David Ozoh has signed a professional contract with Crystal Palace". Football.London. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Newcastle frustrated by Palace in goalless draw - reaction". BBC Sport. 21 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Derby sign Crystal Palace midfielder Ozoh on loan". BBC Sport. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Derby County fell to a 4-2 defeat in their first game of the 2024/25 Sky Bet Championship season". Derby County. 10 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Derby County 3–0 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  8. ^ "'Blimey' - the winners and the losers as brilliant Derby County defy early expectation". Derbyshire Live. 10 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  9. ^ "What Paul Warne said to Derby County ace amid Cardiff City no-show and 'oh no' blow". Derbyshire Live. 15 September 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Derby midfielder Ozoh suffers injury setback". BBC sport. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Confirmed : Anglo-Spanish-Nigerian midfielder signs new deal with Crystal Palace". All Nigeria Soccer. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  12. ^ Smith, Frank (17 March 2023). "England MU18 squad heading to Croatia". England Football. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  13. ^ Hides, Leanne (22 March 2023). "Report: Croatia 1-2 England MU18s". England Football. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  14. ^ "Games played by David Ozoh in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  15. ^ "Games played by David Ozoh in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  16. ^ a b "Games played by David Ozoh in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  17. ^ "David Ozoh scoops Under-21s Player of the Season Award". Crystal Palace F.C. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  • Profile at the Crystal Palace F.C. website