# Duncan Idehen

Duncan Nosahaere Idehen (born 3 July 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for NIFL Premiership club Ballymena United, on loan from League of Ireland Premier Division club Derry City.
Having played at academy level for Norwich City, Idehen joined Lincoln City where as well as being a youth team player he appeared twice on the substitute for the first team. In 2019 he joined Grimsby Town and made his full professional debut on the opening day of the 2020–21 season. In January 2022 he joined Bristol City on a six-month contract having briefly featured for Birmingham City in their Premier League 2 campaign. He has since spent time on loan with Carlisle United, Yeovil Town and Bath City.

## Career
### Lincoln City

Having previously played for the academy at Norwich City he joined Lincoln City. During the 2018–19 season although being part of the Imps academy he was named as a substitute in two first team games in the EFL Trophy defeats against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Accrington Stanley.

### Grimsby Town

Idehen moved across Lincolnshire and joined Grimsby Town's academy in 2019. He was offered a professional contract by the club in summer 2020. Idehen made his debut for the club on 8 September 2020, starting a 2–2 EFL Trophy draw with Harrogate Town. He made his league debut on 12 September 2020, starting in a 1–0 League Two defeat away to Walsall.
Following on from Grimsby's relegation from the Football League at the end of the 2020–21 season, Idehen was transfer listed by manager Paul Hurst with the player being made available subject to a sell on clause being activated in any potential deal. On 21 October 2021, having not featured for the first team during the 2021–22 season, Idehen was released from his contract by mutual consent.

### Bristol City

Following a spell with Birmingham City's under-23 side, he joined EFL Championship club Bristol City on a six-month contract on 1 January 2022.
Idehen was added to the Robins first team on the 13 February 2022, given the squad number 31 he was named as a substitute in a 3-1 defeat against Swansea City.
On 18 August 2022, Idehen joined Carlisle United on a half-season loan. He scored his first professional goal in an EFL Trophy tie with Fleetwood Town on 20 September 2022, scoring an equaliser in the 90th minute to take the game to penalties in which Carlisle would go on to win.
On 15 November 2023, Idehen joined National League South side Yeovil Town on loan until the end of January 2024. On 22 March 2024, Idehen joined National League South side Bath City on loan until the end of the 2023–24 season.

### Derry City

On 23 August 2024, Idehen signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club Derry City.

#### Ballymena United loan

On 3 February 2025, he joined NIFL Premiership club Ballymena United on loan until the summer.

## Personal life

Born in England, Idehen is of Nigerian descent.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 1 November 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 |
| Grimsby Town | 2020–21 | League Two | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Grimsby Town | 2021–22 | National League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grimsby Town | Total | Total | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Birmingham City | 2021–22 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Bristol City | 2021–22 | Championship | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Bristol City | 2022–23 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Bristol City | 2023–24 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Bristol City | Total | Total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Carlisle United (loan) | 2022–23 | League Two | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Yeovil Town (loan) | 2023–24 | National League South | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Bath City (loan) | 2023–24 | National League South | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Derry City | 2024 | LOI Premier Division | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| Derry City | 2025 | LOI Premier Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Derry City | Total | Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Ballymena United | 2024–25 | NIFL Premiership | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 26 | 1 |
* 1 2 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
* ↑ Appearance in FA Trophy