Christantus Ugonna Uche (born 19 May 2003) is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a midfielder or forward for La Liga club Getafe CF.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Christantus Ugonna Uche[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 19 May 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | Owerri, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Getafe | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2023 | Moralo B | 6 | (1) |
| 2023 | Moralo | 11 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Ceuta | 34 | (0) |
| 2024– | Getafe | 12 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 2022 | Nigeria U23 | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 November 2024 | |||
Career
editMoralo
editBorn in Owerri, Uche played amateur football with his friends in his hometown[2] before receiving an offer from Spanish club Moralo CP in July 2022; he was officially announced by the club in November, and was initially assigned to the reserves in Primera División Extremeña.[3] He made his senior debut with the B's on 20 November, starting in a 2–1 away loss to CP Moraleja, and scored his first goal seven days later in a 4–0 home routing of CF Jaraíz.[4]
Uche made his first team debut for Moralo on 8 January 2023, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 4–1 Tercera Federación home success over SP Villafranca.[5] He subsequently established himself as a regular starter, as his side missed out promotion in the play-offs.
Ceuta
editOn 15 July 2023, Uche signed for Primera Federación side AD Ceuta FC, being initially assigned to the B-team but making the pre-season with the main squad.[6] However, he did not feature for the B's, and established himself as a key unit in the Caballas; in January 2024, Spanish media outlet Mundo Deportivo reported that he was a target of Real Betis.[7]
Getafe
editOn 21 February 2024, it was reported that Uche had agreed to a deal with La Liga side Getafe CF,[8] with Ceuta manager José Juan Romero confirming the transfer two days later.[9] Both clubs officially announced the transfer on 13 June, with the player signing a four-year contract with the Madrid outskirts side.[10][11]
Uche made his professional – and top tier – debut on 15 August 2024, starting as a forward and scoring the equalizer in a 1–1 away draw against Athletic Bilbao.[12][13]
References
edit- ^ "Uche" (in Spanish). Getafe CF. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "Done deal: Getafe beat Real Betis to the signing of Nigerian youngster Christantus Uche". Soccernet.ng. 20 February 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ Moralo CP [@MORALO_CP] (12 November 2022). "La espera ha merecido la pena. Directamente desde la Copa de Africa como jugador de la selección Sub-23 de Nigeria y con solo 19 años llega UCHE Mediocentro de enorme calidad y proyección. Bienvenido UCHE" [The wait has paid off. Straight from the Africa Cup of Nations as player of the Nigeria under-23 national team and only 19 years old arrives UCHE central midfielder of enormous quality and prospect. Welcome UCHE] (Tweet) (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 June 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Un Jaraíz desconocido pierde su primer encuentro ante el Moralo C.P. "B"" [An unknown Jaraíz lose their first match against Moralo C.P. "B"] (in Spanish). Diario de Jaraíz. 27 November 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ "Goleada del Moralo a un indulgente Villafranca, 4–1" [Thrashing of Moralo over an indulgent Villafranca, 4–1] (in Spanish). Hoy. 8 January 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ "El Ceuta incorpora a su filial al joven mediocentro nigeriano Uche, ex del Moralo" [Ceuta sign for their reserves the young Nigerian central midfielder Uche, formerly of Moralo] (in Spanish). Ceuta Deportiva. 15 July 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ "El Betis se fija en Uche, pivote nigeriano del Ceuta" [Betis set sights on Uche, Nigerian defensive midfielder of Ceuta] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ "El Getafe ficha al mediocentro nigeriano Uche" [Getafe sign Nigerian central midfielder Uche] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 21 February 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ "José Juan Romero confirma el fichaje de Uche con el Getafe por "cuatro temporadas"" [José Juan Romero confirms the signing of Uche with Getafe for "four seasons"] (in Spanish). Ceuta Televisión. 23 February 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ "Gracias, Uche" [Thank you, Uche] (in Spanish). AD Ceuta FC. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ "Comunicado oficial | Christantus Uche" [Official announcement | Christantus Uche] (in Spanish). Getafe CF. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ "Nico no es suficiente" [Nico is not enough] (in Spanish). Marca. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "Christantus Uche, la primera revelación de LaLiga: de los campos de tierra de Nigeria a marcar en San Mamés en dos años" [Christantus Uche, the first revelation of LaLiga: From the fields of land of Nigeria to scoring at the San Mamés within two years] (in Spanish). Marca. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
External links
edit- Christantus Uche at BDFutbol
- Christantus Uche at LaPreferente.com (in Spanish)
- Christantus Uche at Soccerway