Tochi Chukwuani Explained

Tochi Chukwuani
Fullname:Tochi Phil Chukwuani
Birth Date:24 March 2003
Birth Place:Herlev, Denmark[1]
Height:1.87 m
Currentclub:Lyngby
Clubnumber:42
Position:Midfielder
Youthclubs1:B. 73, Herlev
Youthclubs2:AB
Youthclubs3:Nordsjælland
Years1:2019–2022
Caps1:33
Goals1:3
Years2:2022–2024
Caps2:54
Goals2:5
Years3:2024–
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Nationalyears1:2018–2019
Nationalteam1:Denmark U16
Nationalcaps1:6
Nationalgoals1:2
Nationalyears2:2019–2020
Nationalteam2:Denmark U17
Nationalcaps2:15
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2020–2021
Nationalteam3:Denmark U19
Nationalcaps3:8
Nationalgoals3:3
Nationalyears4:2021
Nationalteam4:Denmark U20
Nationalcaps4:1
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:2023–
Nationalteam5:Denmark U21
Nationalcaps5:2
Nationalgoals5:0
Club-Update:29 May 2024
Nationalteam-Update:15 May 2023

Tochi Phil Chukwuani (born 24 March 2003) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Danish Superliga club Lyngby Boldklub.

Club career

Nordsjælland

Born in Herlev to Nigerian parents, Chukwuani started playing football in the youth of B.93 before moving to the youth academy of Superliga club FC Nordsjælland. He practiced with the first team at age 14, and head coach Flemming Pedersen stated that he was "one of the top players of the future".[2] In July 2019, Chukwuani signed a three-year contract, keeping him in Nordsjælland until 2022.[3]

On 22 September 2019, Chukwuani made his professional debut in the Superliga in a 2–1 home win over AaB, thereby becoming the sixth youngest player to appear in a game in the league.[4] He came on as a substitute in the 82nd minute for Magnus Kofod Andersen.[5] On 17 July 2020, Chukwuani scored his first senior goal in a 6–3 away loss to eventual champions Midtjylland.[6] With the goal, he became the club's youngest scorer in league history, a record that was broken the following season by teammate Andreas Schjelderup at 16 years and 284 days.[7] He finished the season with 9 total appearances his which he scored one goal.[8]

On 5 April 2022, it was reported that Chukwuani had signed with Italian Serie A club Hellas Verona. Among others, the well-known transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano posted a picture of Chukwuani back in April, wearing a Verona jersey.[9] However, according to an Italian newspaper on 14 July 2022, Chukwuani failed the medical check in Verona because the medical staff had found a minor heart defect and as there were strict rules in Italy regarding heart problems, the transfer was no longer possible.[10]

Lyngby

After training with Lyngby Boldklub for several weeks, the club confirmed on 31 August 2022, that Chukwuani had signed a two-year deal with the newly promoted Danish Superliga team.[11] He made his debut for the club on 4 September, starting in a 2–0 home loss to Randers.[12] On 7 May 2023, he scored his first goal for De Kongeblå, opening the score in the second minute of a 2–1 league victory against Midtjylland.[13]

Sturm Graz

On 20 March 2024, it was announced that Chukwuani will be joining Austrian club Sturm Graz from the summer.[14]

International career

He is a youth international for Denmark.[15]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubvvvvSeasonLeagueDanish CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Nordsjælland2019–20Superliga712091
2020–21Superliga2621050
2021–22Superliga000000
Total33330363
Lyngby2022–23Superliga231231
2023–24Superliga31440182
Total54540413
Career total726500000776

Notes and References

  1. News: Erboe Vestergaard . Andreas . I FC Nordsjælland coacher Superligaspillerne de unge: Inspirationen til den specielle ordning kommer blandt andet fra Paul Scholes . 28 October 2020 . . 27 November 2017 . Danish . Tochi Chukwuani, [...] er født og opvokset i Herlev og går i 9. klasse..
  2. News: Blond . Mikael . FCN-træner teaser: 16-årig stortalent er på vej . 29 October 2020 . bold.dk . 4 August 2018 . Danish.
  3. News: Schmidt . Martin . FC Nordsjælland forlænger med 16-årig midt . 29 October 2020 . bold.dk . 25 July 2019 . Danish.
  4. News: Schmidt . Martin . FCN-boss roser 16-årig: AGF slipper for ham . 29 October 2020 . bold.dk . 23 September 2019 . Danish.
  5. News: Hebo . Benjamin Alexander . Chanceorgie da FC Nordsjælland slog AaB . 29 October 2020 . bold.dk . 22 September 2019 . Danish.
  6. News: Frigaard . Anders . MINUT FOR MINUT Midtjylland tager sejren i målfest mod Nordsjælland . 29 October 2020 . DR . 17 July 2020 . Danish . Stik mod spil og chancer lykkedes det den indskiftede Tochi Chukwuani at udligne med 20 minutter igen..
  7. Web site: ANDREAS SCHJELDERUP ER YNGSTE FCN-MÅLSCORER I SUPERLIGAEN NOGENSINDE. FCN. 12 March 2021. 21 March 2021. Danish.
  8. Web site: T. Chukwuani - Soccerway . int.soccerway.com . Perform Group . 29 October 2020.
  9. https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/superliga/se-billedet-superliga-spiller-rykker-til-serie Se billedet: Superliga-spiller rykker til Serie A
  10. https://www.bt.dk/fodbold/medie-tochi-chukwuani-glipper-serie-a-skifte-grundet-hjerteproblemer Medie: Tochi Chukwuani glipper Serie A-skifte grundet hjerteproblemer
  11. Web site: Talentfulde Tochi skifter til De Kongeblå . Talented Tochi moves to the Royal Blues . Lyngby Boldklub . 30 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220831155909/https://lyngby-boldklub.dk/2022/08/31/talentfulde-tochi-skifter-til-de-kongeblaa/ . 31 August 2022 . da-DK . 31 August 2022.
  12. Web site: Lyngby vs. Randers 0–2: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 30 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130205059/https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/09/04/denmark/superliga/lyngby-boldklub/randers-fc/3795505/ . 30 November 2023.
  13. Web site: Bitsch . Ole . FCM smeltede i forårssolen: Tabte til bundholdet . Herning Folkeblad . 30 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230507122922/https://www.herningfolkeblad.dk/artikel/8de5902b-8225-4a28-8846-f10b461fbf94/ . 7 May 2023 . da . 7 May 2023.
  14. Web site: Lyngby sælger Tochi til danskerklub. Lyngby sells Tochi to "Danish club". da. bold.dk. 20 March 2024. 29 May 2024.
  15. Web site: Official : Denmark U17 Star Of Nigerian Descent Chukwuani Signs New Deal With FC Nordsjaelland All Nigeria Soccer . allnigeriasoccer.com . 30 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190726151233/https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=33049 . 26 July 2019 . 25 July 2019.