# Armstrong Oko-Flex

Armstrong Inya Echezolachuku Oko-Flex (born 2 March 2002) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Swiss Super League club FC Zürich and the Republic of Ireland under-21 national team.

## Club career

Oko-Flex was born in Dublin and started out playing with a local academy, Tolka Rovers, then St Kevin's Boys before being spotted by Arsenal scout Liam Brady, who had also come through the St Kevin's, with Oko-Flex then signing for the London club. He joined Celtic on a three-year deal from Arsenal in September 2018. He made his first team debut for the club as a substitute against Hibernian in January 2021.

### West Ham United

On 25 June 2021, Oko-Flex joined West Ham United on a two-year contract with an option for a third year.
On 16 August 2021, Oko-Flex scored a hat-trick in his Premier League 2 debut against his boyhood club Arsenal in a 6–1 home win. On 15 December 2021, Oko-Flex was an unused substitute for West Ham's Premier League fixture at the Emirates Stadium, a match won 2–0 by Arsenal. This was the first time he had made a first-team squad for the club. Oko-Flex made his debut for West Ham United on 25 August 2022 coming on as an 82nd minute substitute for Manuel Lanzini in a 3–0 away win against Viborg in the second leg of a play-off round game in the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League. He left the club at the end of the 2022-23 season. He made one first team appearance, in the UEFA Europa Conference League Play-Off round and featured on 35 occasions for the U21 side scoring 14 goals.

#### Swansea City (loan)

On 30 August 2022, Oko-Flex joined Swansea City on loan for the remainder of the 2022-23 season. He was recalled from his loan in January 2023.

### FC Zürich

On 14 August 2023, he signed a two-year contract with Swiss Super League club FC Zürich. On 17 September 2023, he scored on his debut for the club, in a 3–0 win away to FC Tuggen in the Swiss Cup.

## International career

Oko-Flex was called up to the Republic of Ireland U21 squad for the first time in November 2021, for their 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers against Italy & Sweden. Oko-Flex made his Republic of Ireland U21 debut on 16 June 2023, in a 2–2 draw with Ukraine U21 in a friendly played in Bad Blumau, Austria. On 13 October 2023, he scored both of his sides goals in a 2–1 win away to Latvia U21.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 1 September 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Celtic | 2019–20 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Celtic | 2020–21 | Scottish Premiership | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Celtic | Total | Total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| West Ham United U21 | 2021–22 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| West Ham United | 2022–23 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Swansea City (loan) | 2022–23 | Championship | 13 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 0 |
| FC Zürich | 2023–24 | Swiss Super League | 17 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 20 | 3 |
| FC Zürich | 2024–25 | Swiss Super League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| FC Zürich | Total | Total | 21 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 0 | 28 | 3 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 36 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 48 | 5 |
* ↑ Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
* ↑ Appearances in the EFL Trophy
* ↑ Appearances in the UEFA Europa Conference League
* ↑ Appearances in the UEFA Conference League

## Personal life

Oko-Flex is the son of the Nigerian-Irish community organiser Reginald Oko-Flex Inya.