Chituru Odunze Explained
Chituru Odunze |
Fullname: | Chituru Ethan Odunze[1] |
Birth Date: | October 14, 2002 |
Birth Place: | Raleigh, North Carolina, United States |
Position: | Goalkeeper |
Currentclub: | Charlotte FC |
Clubnumber: | 26 |
Youthyears1: | 2007 |
Youthclubs1: | Kingfishers |
Youthyears2: | 2008 |
Youthclubs2: | Thames Moorings |
Youthyears3: | 2009–2010 |
Youthclubs3: | Royal Greenwich |
Youthyears4: | 2010–2013 |
Youthclubs4: | Chelsea |
Youthyears5: | 2014 |
Youthclubs5: | Calgary Villains |
Youthyears6: | 2015 |
Youthclubs6: | Calgary Blizzard |
Youthyears7: | 2015–2016 |
Youthclubs7: | Calgary Foothills |
Youthyears8: | 2017–2019 |
Youthclubs8: | Vancouver Whitecaps |
Youthyears9: | 2019–2023 |
Youthclubs9: | Leicester City |
Years1: | 2023– |
Clubs1: | Crown Legacy |
Caps1: | 5 |
Goals1: | 0 |
Years2: | 2024– |
Clubs2: | Charlotte FC |
Caps2: | 0 |
Goals2: | 0 |
Nationalyears1: | 2018–2019 |
Nationalteam1: | United States U17 |
Nationalcaps1: | 5 |
Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
Nationalyears2: | 2020 |
Nationalteam2: | United States U20 |
Nationalcaps2: | 1 |
Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
Nationalyears3: | 2023– |
Nationalteam3: | United States U23 |
Nationalcaps3: | 2 |
Nationalgoals3: | 0 |
Club-Update: | April 3, 2024 |
Nationalteam-Update: | November 11, 2020 |
Chituru Ethan Odunze (born October 14, 2002) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club Charlotte FC.
Early life
Born in Raleigh, North Carolina,[2] Odunze moved to England as a child and played for local youth teams before spending time in the Chelsea academy.[3] [4] He moved to Canada when he was eleven and played for local sides Calgary Villains and Calgary Blizzard SC.[2] During this time, he went on trial with Welsh side Cardiff City, training with the first team despite only being fourteen.[2] [5] In January 2019, he joined the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy from Calgary Foothills.[4] Later in the same year, Odunze signed with English side Leicester City.[6] He went on to train with the senior squad.[7]
Club career
On August 2, 2023, Odunze signed a professional contract with Crown Legacy FC in MLS Next Pro.[8]
Odunze signed with the Charlotte FC first team on January 18, 2024. His Major League Soccer contract is guaranteed through 2027 with a club option for 2028.[9]
Personal life
Chituru is of Igbo Nigerian descent.
International
Odunze is eligible for the United States, England, Canada, and Nigeria. He was called up to the Canada under-15 side in 2017 but has represented the United States at under-17 and under-20 levels.[10] He represented the United States at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup, playing in two group-stage games.[2]
In November 2020, Odunze was called up to the senior United States national team for the first time.[11] [12]
Notes and References
- Web site: FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019: List of Players: USA . FIFA . 24 . October 31, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191227222540/https://www.fifadata.com/documents/FU17WC/2019/pdf/FU17WC_2019_Squadlists.pdf . December 27, 2019.
- Web site: November Camp Spotlight: Chituru Odunze. Frain. Riley. onegoal.us. live. November 6, 2020. November 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201106154030/https://www.onegoal.us/articles/2020/11/6/november-camp-spotlight-chituru-odunze . 2020-11-06 .
- Web site: Player Bio - Chituru Odunze. ussoccer.com. live. November 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200929023506/https://www.ussoccer.com/players/o/chituru-odunze . 2020-09-29 .
- Web site: Profile. whitecapsfc.com. live. November 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20190801222714/https://www.whitecapsfc.com/players/chituru-odunze . 2019-08-01 .
- Web site: After a long youth journey, Odunze progressing at Leicester City. Sousa. Justin. americansoccernow.com. live. May 27, 2020. November 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200531163751/http://www.americansoccernow.com:80/articles/after-a-long-youth-journey-odunze-progressing-at-leicester-city . 2020-05-31 .
- Web site: Vancouver Whitecaps transfer goalkeeper Chituru Odunze to Leicester City. Sigal. Jonathan. mlssoccer.com. live. August 9, 2019. November 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20190804133349/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/08/01/vancouver-whitecaps-transfer-goalkeeper-chituru-odunze-leicester-city . 2019-08-04 .
- Web site: 'Role models' - Leicester City youngster on long road from America to England... and facing Jamie Vardy in training. Kemble. Jamie. leicestermercury.co.uk. live. November 22, 2019. November 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20191123125548/https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-city-chituru-odunze-vardy-3568967 . 2019-11-23 .
- Web site: Crown Legacy FC Signs U.S. Youth International Goalkeeper Chituru Odunze from Leicester City. Crown Legacy. FC. Crown Legacy FC.
- Web site: Charlotte FC Signs Crown Legacy FC Goalkeeper Chituru Odunze and Defender João Pedro . CharlotteFootballClub.ccom . . 18 January 2024.
- Web site: Goalkeeper Chituru Odunze a star in the making for Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Tomes. Elliott. mlssoccer.com. live. April 16, 2019. November 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201020001405/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/04/16/goalkeeper-chituru-odunze-star-making-vancouver-whitecaps-fc . 2020-10-20 .
- Web site: Pulisic joined by newcomers Reyna, De la Fuente & Musah in latest USMNT squad. Tolmich. Ryan. goal.com. live. November 3, 2020. November 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201111154114/https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/pulisic-joined-by-newcomers-reyna-de-la-fuente-musah-in/1qjbaa0rzyc041ximm94fjvkna . 2020-11-11 .
- Web site: Gio Reyna among 10 players who could make US debuts at Wales. Blum. Ronald. sfchronicle.com. live. November 3, 2020. November 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201113020658/https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/Gio-Reyna-among-10-players-who-could-make-US-15697278.php . 2020-11-13 .