Tudor Olorunninbe Mendel-Idowu (born 15 January 2005) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for English side Ipswich Town.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Tudor Olorunninbe Mendel-Idowu[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 15 January 2005 | ||
| Place of birth | Slough, England[2] | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Ipswich Town | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2013–2023 | Chelsea | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023–2024 | RSCA Futures | 16 | (1) |
| 2024– | Ipswich Town | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2019 | England U15 | 2 | (1) |
| 2022 | England U17 | 4 | (3) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 April 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:34, 30 March 2022 (UTC) | |||
Early life
editBorn in Berkshire, England, Mendel-Idowu was regarded as a child prodigy academically, featuring numerous times in national and international competitions, most notably coming second in the 2014 edition of Child Genius.[3] Mendel-Idowu attended independent boys' preparatory boarding school Ludgrove School.[3] At the age of thirteen, he was made a King's Scholar at Eton College.[4]
Club career
editEarly career
editHe joined the youth academy of Chelsea at under-8 level, following interest from numerous other clubs including Arsenal and Tottenham.[5][4] In July 2021, he signed a new contract with the Blues.[6]
Following the conclusion of the 2022–23 season, with his contract set to expire, Mendel-Idowu was offered a new deal by Chelsea.[7] However, on 18 July 2023, it was reported by Spanish journalist Albert Rogé that Mendel-Idowu had rejected this offer, and was close to joining Spanish side Barcelona.[8]
Anderlecht
editDespite these links, on 27 July 2023, he officially signed for Belgian side Anderlecht.[9] Initially assigned to the club's reserve team, RSCA Futures, Mendel-Idowu scored on his debut in the Challenger Pro League in a 3–2 win against Dender.[10]
On 3 September 2024, Anderlecht confirmed that Mendal-Idowu had left the club to join Premier League side Ipswich Town on a permanent deal.[11]
International career
editEligible to represent both England and Nigeria at international level, Mendel-Idowu was first called up to the England national under-15 football team in 2019.[12] Tudor scored his first England U17 goal against Scotland on 8 February in a 3–0 win and followed that up with a further 2 goals in England U17's next game playing as a right winger. He later made substitute appearances against France and Luxembourg in the England U17 qualification games.
Personal life
editMendel-Idowu's maternal grandfather is John Adeleye-Abai, who played for the Nigeria national football team as a winger.[4] His paternal grandfather, Dr Fola Kayode Mendel-Idowu, was a gifted academic, who specialised in bio-aeronautics and was Africa's first 'flying doctor'.[4]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of 18 July 2023[13]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Chelsea U21 | 2022–23 | — | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| RSCA Futures | 2023–24 | Challenger Pro League | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Career total | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | ||
- ^ Appearances in the EFL Trophy
References
edit- ^ "Premier League clubs publish 2022/23 retained lists". premierleague.com. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ^ Tudor Mendel-Idowu at WorldFootball.net
- ^ a b Naylor, Mary (20 October 2015). "Wokingham Child Genius wins EuroTalk Junior Language Challenge". getreading.co.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Meet The King's Scholar aiming to make history". fifa.com. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ "Tudor Mendel-Idowu". chelseafc.com. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ Emmenuel, Ifeanyi (7 July 2021). "Official: Very intelligent left-footed attacking midfielder Mendel-Idowu inks new Chelsea deal". allnigeriasoccer.com. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ Emmanuel, Ifeanyi (17 June 2023). "Chelsea in negotiations with talented Anglo-Nigerian winger over new contract". allnigeriasoccer.com. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ Sanderson, Tom (18 July 2023). "FC Barcelona Sign Chelsea Player: Reports". forbes.com. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "RSCA welcomes Tudor Mendel-Idowu from Chelsea FC". R.S.C. Anderlecht. 27 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- ^ Crabbé, Scott (19 August 2023). "🎥 Débarqué de Chelsea, Tudor Mendel montre déjà de quoi il est capable à Anderlecht" [🎥 Landed from Chelsea, Tudor Mendel is already showing what he is capable of in Anderlecht]. walfoot.be (in French). Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- ^ "Tudor Mendel-Idowu leaves RSC Anderlecht". R.S.C. Anderlecht. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ Emmenuel, Ifeanyi (16 December 2019). "England Move To Beat Nigeria To Chelsea's Child Genius Mendel-Idowu". allnigeriasoccer.com. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ Tudor Mendel-Idowu at Soccerway
External links
edit- Tudor Mendel-Idowu at Soccerway