Caleb Chukwuemeka Explained

Caleb Chukwuemeka
Fullname:Chigozier Caleb Chukwuemeka[1]
Birth Date:25 January 2002[2]
Birth Place:Austria
Position:Forward
Currentclub:AC Bellinzona
Clubnumber:7
Youthyears1:–2020
Youthclubs1:Northampton Town
Years1:2020–2021
Clubs1:Northampton Town
Caps1:22
Goals1:1
Years2:2020
Clubs2:Corby Town (loan)
Caps2:3
Goals2:1
Years3:2021–2023
Clubs3:Aston Villa
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2022
Clubs4:Livingston (loan)
Caps4:8
Goals4:0
Years5:2022–2023
Clubs5:Crawley Town (loan)
Caps5:10
Goals5:0
Years6:2024
Clubs6:Tabor Sežana
Caps6:8
Goals6:2
Years7:2024–
Clubs7:AC Bellinzona
Caps7:0
Goals7:0
Club-Update:22:12, 26 July 2024 (UTC)

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

Chukwuemeka is a product of the Northampton Town academy and debuted for their senior side in 2020, making 28 appearances that season before a transfer to Aston Villa in August 2021.

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.

AC Bellinzona

In July 2024, Chukwuemeka signed for Swiss Challenge League club AC Bellinzona on a two-year contract.[24] 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.[25]

Personal life

Chukwuemeka was born in Austria to Nigerian parents.[26] His younger brother Carney plays for Chelsea, they had previously been at both Northampton Town and Aston Villa together.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Northampton Town2019–20League Two0000000000
2020–21League One221101041282
Total221101041282
Corby Town (loan)2019–20Southern League Division One Central31000031
Aston Villa U212021–222020
Aston Villa2021–22Premier League0000100010
2022–23Premier League0000000000
Total0000100010
Livingston (loan)2021–22Scottish Premiership8010000090
Crawley Town (loan)2022–23League Two100101020140
Tabor Sežana2023–24[27] Slovenian Second League520052
Career total484303081625

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 23 June 2020 . Club list of registered players: As at 23rd June 2020: Northampton Town . 16 September 2020 . 69 .
  2. Web site: Caleb Chukwuemeka . 16 September 2020 . ntfc.co.uk . Northampton Town F.C. . 19 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210519200556/https://www.ntfc.co.uk/teams/first-team/forward/caleb-chukwuemeka/ . dead .
  3. News: Heneghan . James . 8 February 2020 . Cobblers send young striker on loan to Corby . en . Northampton Chronicle & Echo . 16 September 2020.
  4. Web site: Caleb Chukwuemeka . 16 September 2020 . aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk . Aylesbury United F.C..
  5. News: Heneghan . James . 15 September 2020 . 'Very gifted' Chukuewmeka backed by Curle to earn more first-team minutes . en . Northampton Chronicle & Echo . 16 September 2020.
  6. News: Heneghan . James . 16 September 2020 . Classy Bristol City too strong for Cobblers in Carabao Cup . en . Northampton Chronicle & Echo . 16 September 2020.
  7. Web site: 6 October 2020 . Northampton Town 5 Southampton Under 21s 0 . 1 November 2020 . ntfc.co.uk . Northampton Town F.C..
  8. News: Heneghan . James . 31 October 2020 . Chukwuemeka helps Cobblers to edgy but vital win over Wigan Athletic . en . Northampton Chronicle & Echo . 1 November 2020.
  9. News: Heneghan. James. 16 August 2021. Young striker Chukwuemeka leaves Cobblers and signs for Aston Villa. Northampton Chronicle. 16 August 2021.
  10. Web site: 16 August 2021. Caleb Chukwuemeka joins Villa Academy. live. 16 August 2021. Aston Villa F.C.. https://web.archive.org/web/20210816153841/https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/august/Caleb-Chukwuemeka-joins-Villa-Academy/ . 16 August 2021 .
  11. Web site: Chapman. Joseph. Townley. John. 24 August 2021. Cameron Archer bags hat-trick as Aston Villa demolish Barrow. 24 August 2021. BirminghamLive. en.
  12. Web site: 11 October 2021. Chukwuemeka wins PL2 Player of the Month. live. 11 October 2021. premierleague.com. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20211011143804/https://www.premierleague.com/news/2286124 . 11 October 2021 .
  13. Web site: 12 January 2022. Caleb Chukwuemeka joins Livingston on loan. live. 12 January 2022. Aston Villa Football Club. https://web.archive.org/web/20220112124351/https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2022/january/12/caleb-chukwuemeka-joins-livingston-on-loan/ . 12 January 2022 .
  14. Web site: Black. Dave. 12 January 2022. Caleb Chukwuemeka joins on-loan from Aston Villa.. 19 January 2022. Livingston FC. en-GB.
  15. News: Livingston sink Dundee with Anderson double. en-GB. BBC Sport. 19 January 2022.
  16. Web site: McDougall . Mark . 9 February 2022 . David Martindale explains harsh Caleb Chukwuemeka sub after seven minute cameo . 11 March 2022 . footballscotland.
  17. Web site: Caleb Chukwuemeka joins the Reds. crawleytownfc.com. Crawley Town F.C.. 1 September 2022. 1 September 2022.
  18. News: 3 September 2022 . Salford City 2-2 Crawley Town . en-GB . BBC Sport . 6 September 2022.
  19. Web site: Premier League clubs publish 2022/23 released lists. 1 July 2023. Premier League.
  20. Web site: Former Aston Villa striker starts for Bristol City Under-21s in victory over Ipswich Town. 25 September 2023. 7 January 2024. Bristol Post.
  21. Web site: Tabor has brought in the older brother of a Chelsea player: Forward Caleb Chukwuemeka, who last played for Aston Villa, joins in Sežana. 29 February 2024. Football Planet.
  22. Web site: 2 March 2024 . Brinje Grosuplje vs NK Tabor Sežana live score, H2H and lineups Sofascore . 5 March 2024 . sofascore.com . en.
  23. Web site: Tabor Sezana - Bilje 3:1 . 28 March 2024 . flashscore.com . en.
  24. Web site: Chukwu ha firmato!. 22 July 2024. Eco dello Sport. it-ch . 26 July 2024.
  25. Web site: Bellinzona battuto a Nyon. 26 July 2024. Ticinonline. it-ch . 26 July 2024.
  26. News: Townley . John . 15 December 2021 . Aston Villa's Chukwuemeka brothers and the story behind their rise . 26 July 2024 . Birmingham Mail . en.
  27. Web site: Austria - C. Chukwuemeka - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway . 5 March 2024 . uk.soccerway.com.