Leon Chiwome

Leon Chiwome
Personal information
Full name Leon Chiwome[1]
Date of birth (2006-01-10) 10 January 2006 (age 19)
Place of birth Brighton, England
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Number 44
Youth career
Hassocks
Plumpton Athletic
Alfold
2022 AFC Wimbledon
2022–2023 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Wolverhampton Wanderers 3 (0)
International career‡
2022–2023 England U17 7 (3)
2024– England U18 2 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:53, 28 May 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10:32, 26 March 2024 (UTC)

Leon Chiwome (born 10 January 2006) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Early life

From Ditchling in Sussex, Chiwome played as a youngster for Hassocks F.C. in West Sussex and aged 14 years-old, Plumpton Athletic Football Club. He then played for Alfold F.C. in Surrey, and for Sussex Schools, when he was scouted by English Football League side AFC Wimbledon.[2]

Club career

Chiwome was in the academy at AFC Wimbledon before moving to Wolverhampton Wanderers as a 16-year-old in July 2022.[3] He made his debut for Wolves U21 in Premier League 2 against Liverpool U21 in September 2022. He signed his first professional contract with Wolves in February 2023.[4] He missed a large chunk of 2023 with injury, but returned to playing in the autumn of 2023.[5][6]

On 16 March 2024, Chiwome made his professional debut for Wolves coming on as a second-half substitute in an FA Cup quarter-final defeat against Coventry City.[7]

On 31 March 2024, Chiwome made his first Premier League start in a 2–0 loss to Aston Villa.

International career

On 14 January 2023, four days after his 17th birthday, Chiwome scored a 48-minute hat trick for England U17 in a 6–0 win over Germany U17.[8] He featured for England at the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Hungary.[9]

In November 2023, Chiwome was called up by Baltemar Brito to the senior Zimbabwe national football team for FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Nigeria.[10][11] However, he did not feature in the finalised squad for the matches.[12]

On 22 March 2024, Chiwome made his England U18 debut during a 2–1 victory over Czech Republic in the U18 Super Cup at Pinatar Arena.[13]

Style of play

Wolves' academy manager Jonathan Hunter-Barrett has praised Chiwome's ability as a centre forward describing him as "big, strong and quick". He also described him as "very keen to learn and get on the ball, and he knows where the back of the net is." He was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best first year scholars in the Premier League in September 2022.[14]

Personal life

Chiwome has a Zimbabwean father and a British mother. He was born in Brighton in Sussex.[15]

Honours

England U18s

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 16 March 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 2022–23[17] — — — — 2[a] 0 2 0
2023–24[18] — — — — 2[a] 0 2 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 4 0
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2023–24[18] Premier League 0 0 1 0 0 0 — — 1 0
Career total 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 5 0
  1. ^ a b Appearances in EFL Trophy

References

  1. ^ "2023/24 Premier League squad lists". Premier League. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  2. ^ Hemmings, Matthew (15 February 2023). "Remember the name: Ditchling's Leon Chiwome". CommunityAd. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  3. ^ Chigandiwa, Tafadzwa (6 July 2022). "Zim teen Leon Chiwome signs for EPL side Wolverhampton Wanderers". Nehandaradio.com. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  4. ^ Nhakaniso, Daniel (February 12, 2023). "Chiwome signs pro deal at Wolves". Newsday.co.zw. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Zim duo shines in Wolves draw". Herald.co.zw. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Chiwome - 'I'm feeling better and taking it game-by-game'". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 4 October 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  7. ^ Keen, Liam (16 March 2024). "FA Cup: Wolves 2 Coventry 3". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  8. ^ Keen, Liam (20 January 2023). "Wolves star Leon Chiwome making his mark for his country". Express & Star. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  9. ^ Cox, Lewis (20 May 2023). "Wolves and Aston Villa forwards jet off for under-17s European Championship". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  10. ^ Rushwaya, Simba (1 November 2023). "Warriors coach Brito names provisional squad for World Cup qualifiers". Zim Live. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  11. ^ "Brito Justifies Warriors Team Selection". Zimeye.net. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  12. ^ "5 England based players shun invitation by Zimbabwe to play against Super Eagles in World Cup qualifiers". Owngoalnigeria. 18 November 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  13. ^ Walker, Sam (20 March 2024). "Report: England MU18s 2-1 Czechia". England Football. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  14. ^ Fisher, Ben (10 October 2023). "Next Generation 2022: 20 of the best talents at Premier League clubs". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  15. ^ Dicken, Alex (27 September 2022). "Who is Leon Chiwome? Wolves wonderkid named among 'best talents' in the Premier League". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  16. ^ "Report: England MU18s 2-1 Netherlands". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  17. ^ "Games played by Leon Chiwome in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Games played by Leon Chiwome in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 March 2024.