| Gozie Ugwu (Goz) | |
| Fullname: | Chigozie Eze Ugwu |
| Birth Date: | 22 April 1993 |
| Birth Place: | Oxford, England |
| Height: | [1] |
| Position: | Forward |
| Currentclub: | Al-Ain |
| Clubnumber: | 99 |
| Youthyears1: | 2006–2011 |
| Youthclubs1: | Reading |
| Years1: | 2011–2014 |
| Clubs1: | Reading |
| Caps1: | 0 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2012 |
| Clubs2: | → Ebbsfleet United (loan) |
| Caps2: | 9 |
| Goals2: | 4 |
| Years3: | 2012–2013 |
| Clubs3: | → Yeovil Town (loan) |
| Caps3: | 15 |
| Goals3: | 3 |
| Years4: | 2013 |
| Clubs4: | → Plymouth Argyle (loan) |
| Caps4: | 6 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 2013–2014 |
| Clubs5: | → Shrewsbury Town (loan) |
| Caps5: | 7 |
| Goals5: | 1 |
| Years6: | 2014 |
| Clubs6: | Dunfermline Athletic |
| Caps6: | 14 |
| Goals6: | 7 |
| Years7: | 2015 |
| Clubs7: | Yeovil Town |
| Caps7: | 22 |
| Goals7: | 5 |
| Years8: | 2015–2016 |
| Clubs8: | Wycombe Wanderers |
| Caps8: | 29 |
| Goals8: | 2 |
| Years9: | 2016–2017 |
| Clubs9: | Woking |
| Caps9: | 43 |
| Goals9: | 21 |
| Years10: | 2017–2019 |
| Clubs10: | Chesterfield |
| Caps10: | 19 |
| Goals10: | 0 |
| Years11: | 2018–2019 |
| Clubs11: | → Boreham Wood (loan) |
| Caps11: | 21 |
| Goals11: | 4 |
| Years12: | 2019 |
| Clubs12: | → Ebbsfleet United (loan) |
| Caps12: | 8 |
| Goals12: | 2 |
| Years13: | 2019–2020 |
| Clubs13: | Ebbsfleet United |
| Caps13: | 38 |
| Goals13: | 15 |
| Years14: | 2020–2021 |
| Clubs14: | Raith Rovers |
| Caps14: | 13 |
| Goals14: | 3 |
| Years15: | 2021–2022 |
| Clubs15: | Greenock Morton |
| Caps15: | 31 |
| Goals15: | 8 |
| Years16: | 2022–2023 |
| Clubs16: | Jeddah |
| Caps16: | 30 |
| Goals16: | 11 |
| Years17: | 2023–2024 |
| Clubs17: | Al-Entesar |
| Caps17: | 9 |
| Goals17: | 5 |
| Years18: | 2024– |
| Clubs18: | Al-Ain |
| Caps18: | 4 |
| Goals18: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 10 November 2024 (UTC) |
Chigozie Eze Ugwu Also known as Gozie Ugwu or Goz Ugwu (born 22 April 1993) is an English footballer who plays as a forward for Saudi First Division side Al-Ain.[2] He made his debut in the Football League in 2012, and his debut in the Scottish Professional Football League in 2014.
Ugwu was born in Oxford, Oxfordshire.[3] [4] He began his career with Reading and progressed through the club's academy to sign a first professional contract in June 2011.[1] [5] [6] He joined Conference National side Ebbsfleet United on a one-month loan in January 2012,[7] and made his debut in a 1–0 FA Trophy defeat at York City.[8] Ugwu his first goal for the club in a 3–2 win at Bath City,[9] and two more in his next three appearances, against Southport and Gateshead, before the loan was extended by a further month.[3] [10] He returned to Reading at the start of April to try and earn a new contract after scoring four goals in ten league and cup appearances for Ebbsfleet.[11] [12]
He signed a new two-year contract with Reading in July 2012 and joined League One side Yeovil Town on loan for six months.[13] [14] Ugwu made his debut in a 3–0 League Cup win against Colchester United in August,[15] and scored his first two goals for Yeovil in a 4–0 win at Scunthorpe United eleven days later.[16] [17] He scored one more goal, against Doncaster Rovers,[18] and returned to Reading at the start of January 2013 after making five starts and 13 substitute appearances for Yeovil.[19] [20] Soon after his return, Ugwu was included in a Reading match-day squad for the first time ahead of an FA Cup tie with Crawley Town.[21] He was named among the substitutes but did not make an appearance in a 3–1 win for Reading.[22]
Later in January, Ugwu joined League Two club Plymouth Argyle on a one-month youth loan.[6] [23] [24] In his second week with the club, he injured his ankle and was unavailable for two matches.[25] He resumed training in February and made his debut for Argyle two days later in a 2–1 win at Aldershot Town as a second-half substitute.[26] [27] Despite his injury hit start, manager John Sheridan was keen to extend Ugwu's stay and on 19 February his loan was extended for a further month.[28] [29] Having started only two games, and with Reading keen for Ugwu to get playing time,[30] he was recalled from loan on 11 March.[31]
On 14 November 2013, Ugwu signed on loan for Shrewsbury Town until January and made his debut two days later in a 3–1 defeat to Port Vale.[32] [33] He returned to Reading having scored once in seven appearances after Shrewsbury manager Graham Turner decided against renewing his loan.[34] On his decision not to extend Ugwu's stay, Turner commented that despite a positive start, he felt criticism from the fans had impacted on his performances.[35]
In May 2014 he left Reading following the expiry of his contract,[36] [37] going on to have trials with Oxford United and Dagenham & Redbridge.[38] [39]
On 2 August 2014, Ugwu joined Scottish League One side Dunfermline Athletic.[40] He made his debut days later, coming on as a substitute in the 88th minute of the Scottish Challenge Cup match against Raith Rovers.[41] On 23 August 2014, Ugwu scored twice in 3–0 home victory over Airdrieonians, netting in the 24th and 80th minute.[42] On 22 November 2014, Ugwu scored his first career hat-trick in a 4–0 home victory against Stirling Albion, netting all three goals in the space of 60 minutes.[43]
Following his release from Dunfermline, Ugwu rejoined Yeovil Town on 15 January 2015 until the end of the season.[44] Despite finishing the season as Yeovil's joint top goalscorer with five, Ugwu was released by Yeovil at the end of the 2014–15 season following their relegation to League Two.[45]
On 9 September 2015, Ugwu signed a permanent deal with Wycombe Wanderers to the end of the 2015–16 season.[46] Three days later, Ugwu was given his debut by manager Gareth Ainsworth in Wycombe's 2–1 home defeat against Plymouth Argyle, playing the full 90 minutes.[47] A week later, Ugwu went onto score his first goal for Wycombe Wanderers in their 1–1 draw with Leyton Orient, opening the scoring just before half time.[48] On 30 January 2016, Ugwu scored the winner in Wycombe's reverse fixture against Plymouth Argyle, netting the only goal of the game in the 3rd minute.[49]
On 9 May 2016, it was announced that Ugwu would leave the club upon the expiry of his contract on 30 June 2016, along with team-mates; Max Kretzschmar, Alex Lynch and Ryan Sellers.[50]
On 15 July 2016, Ugwu joined National League side Woking on a one-year deal.[51] On 6 August 2016, Ugwu made his Woking debut in a 3–1 home defeat against Lincoln City, playing the full 90 minutes.[52]
On 27 August 2016, Ugwu scored his first Woking goal in a 4–1 defeat against York City, netting the opener in the 8th minute.[53] Two days later, Ugwu went on to score Woking's third against Chester, in the Cards first victory of the 2016–17 campaign.[54] On 18 October 2016, in an FA Cup fourth qualifying round replay against Torquay United, Ugwu scored a brace to send Woking through to the first round.[55] In following round of the FA Cup, Ugwu once again scored a brace to assist Woking to a 4–2 victory over Stockport County.[56] On 26 November 2016, Ugwu scored his first Woking hat-trick in a 3–0 home victory against Gateshead, sealing his 12th goal of the season.[57] On 1 April 2017, Ugwu came off the bench to score the winner in Woking's 2–1 victory over Sutton United, after being dropped for new signing Jamie Lucas.[58] On 17 April 2017, Ugwu scored his 20th goal of the campaign, in Woking's 3–2 away victory against Chester, converting a penalty in the 91st minute.[59]
On 25 May 2017, Ugwu joined League Two side Chesterfield on a two-year deal.[60] On 5 August 2017, Ugwu made his Chesterfield debut during their 3–1 home defeat against Grimsby Town, featuring for the entire 90 minutes.[61] Following sustaining a long-term thigh injury in late 2017, Ugwu returned to action during Chesterfield's penultimate fixture of the season, replacing Jerome Binnom-Williams with nineteen minutes to play in the 2–1 defeat.[62]
Having finished the 2018–19 season on loan at Ebbsfleet United, Ugwu joined the club on a permanent basis on 24 June 2019.[63]
Ugwu returned to Scotland on 20 August 2020, joining Scottish Championship club Raith Rovers.[64]
Ugwu then moved to another Scottish club, Greenock Morton, in June 2021.[65]
In August 2022, Ugwu moved to Saudi Arabia to join second-tier Jeddah Club.[2]
On 2 October 2023, Ugwu joined Saudi Second Division side Al-Entesar.[66]
On 14 September 2024, Ugwu joined First Division side Al-Ain.[67]
Born in England, Ugwu is of Nigerian descent.[68]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Ebbsfleet United (loan) | 2011–12 | Conference Premier | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[69] | 0 | 10 | 5 | ||
| Yeovil Town (loan) | 2012–13 | League One | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[70] | 0 | 18 | 3 | |
| Plymouth Argyle (loan) | 2012–13 | League Two | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| Shrewsbury Town (loan) | 2013–14 | League One | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | |
| Dunfermline Athletic | 2014–15 | Scottish League One | 14 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[71] | 0 | 18 | 7 | |
| Yeovil Town | 2014–15 | League One | 22 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 5 | |
| Wycombe Wanderers | 2015–16 | League Two | 29 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 2 | |
| Woking | 2016–17 | National League | 43 | 17 | 4 | 4 | — | 2 | 0 | 49 | 21 | ||
| Chesterfield | 2017–18 | League Two | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[72] | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| 2018–19 | National League | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |||
| Total | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 0 | |||
| Boreham Wood (loan) | 2018–19 | National League | 21 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 22 | 4 | ||
| Ebbsfleet United (loan) | 2018–19 | National League | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | ||
| 2019–20 | National League | 24 | 13 | 3 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 28 | 16 | |||
| Raith Rovers | 2020–21 | Scottish Championship | 13 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 19 | 6 | |
| Greenock Morton | 2021–22 | Scottish Championship | 31 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 8 | |
| Jeddah | 2022–23 | 30 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 11 | ||
| Al-Entesar | 2023–24 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 5 | ||
| Al-Ain | 2024–25 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 305! | 86 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 333 | 96 | |||