# Anthony Nwakaeme

Anthony Nnaduzor "Tony" Nwakaeme (born 21 March 1989) is a Nigerian professional footballer who currently plays as a left winger for Turkish club Trabzonspor.

## Club career

In 2008 Tony played for Kristianstad BoIS, a lower division team. He was already then a very solid player with outstanding skills. He didn’t get signed by Kristianstad. He also stayed with his trainer at his home, who helped him when he got sick.

### Arieșul Turda

Anthony Nwakaeme began his career in 2010 at Romanian club Arieșul Turda of the Second Division, on loan from Universitatea Cluj. He played eight games and scored five goals.

### Universitatea Cluj

In January 2011, he returned to Universitatea Cluj and his most productive season came in 2011–12, when he appeared in 28 matches and scored seven goals.

### Petrolul Ploiești

In the 2012–13 season, he spent the first half at Petrolul Ploiești, playing just three matches.

### Return to Universitatea Cluj

In February 2013, he returned to Universitatea Cluj and appeared in ten matches and scored two goals.

### Hapoel Ra'anana

On 13 August 2013, Nwakaeme signed for Hapoel Ra'anana. On 31 August, he scored a goal on his Israeli Premier League debut, a 1–1 draw against Hapoel Haifa.

### Hapoel Be'er Sheva

On 24 June 2015, Nwakaeme signed to Hapoel Be'er Sheva. On 3 October 2015, he scored his debut goal for Be'er Sheva. This goal was also the debut goal in Turner Stadium.
Nwakaeme won the Israeli Premier League best player trophy in 2017.
Along with Nigerian midfielder John Ogu and Israeli strikers Ben Sahar and Elyaniv Barda, he led Hapoel Be'er Sheva to a historical series of three Israeli championship titles in a row in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

### Trabzonspor

In August 2018, Nwakaeme joined Turkish Süper Lig side Trabzonspor.

## International career

On 10 November 2017, he made his debut for Nigeria national team against Algeria in 1–1 draw counting for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
In April 2019, he said he deserved to make a further appearance for Nigeria.

## Personal life

Anthony Nwakaeme is the younger brother of professional footballer Dickson Nwakaeme.

## Career statistics

    As of 17 January 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Arieșul Turda | 2010–11 | Liga II | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 8 | 5 |
| Universitatea Cluj | 2010–11 | Liga I | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 9 | 1 |
| Universitatea Cluj | 2011–12 | Liga I | 28 | 7 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 29 | 7 |
| Universitatea Cluj | 2012–13 | Liga I | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 11 | 2 |
| Universitatea Cluj | Total | Total | 47 | 10 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 48 | 10 |
| Petrolul Ploiești | 2012–13 | Liga I | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 4 | 0 |
| Hapoel Ra'anana | 2013–14 | IPL | 30 | 6 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 32 | 6 |
| Hapoel Ra'anana | 2014–15 | IPL | 25 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 30 | 7 |
| Hapoel Ra'anana | Total | Total | 55 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 62 | 13 |
| Hapoel Be'er Sheva | 2015–16 | IPL | 34 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 46 | 13 |
| Hapoel Be'er Sheva | 2016–17 | IPL | 33 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 49 | 19 |
| Hapoel Be'er Sheva | 2017–18 | IPL | 28 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 45 | 17 |
| Hapoel Be'er Sheva | 2018–19 | IPL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| Hapoel Be'er Sheva | Total | Total | 95 | 35 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 30 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 145 | 50 |
| Trabzonspor | 2018–19 | Süper Lig | 27 | 10 | 4 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 31 | 11 |
| Trabzonspor | 2019–20 | Süper Lig | 29 | 11 | 6 | 2 | – | – | 8 | 1 | – | – | 43 | 14 |
| Trabzonspor | 2020–21 | Süper Lig | 34 | 7 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 | 36 | 7 |
| Trabzonspor | 2021–22 | Süper Lig | 30 | 13 | 2 | 1 | – | – | 4 | 1 | – | – | 36 | 15 |
| Trabzonspor | 2024–25 | Süper Lig | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 0 | 0 | – | – | 12 | 2 |
| Trabzonspor | Total | Total | 131 | 42 | 14 | 5 | – | – | 12 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 158 | 49 |
| Al-Fayha | 2022–23 | SPL | 25 | 9 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 | 28 | 9 |
| Al-Fayha | 2023–24 | SPL | 20 | 4 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 3 | 2 | – | – | 25 | 6 |
| Al-Fayha | Total | Total | 45 | 13 | 4 | 0 | – | – | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 53 | 15 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 377 | 117 | 31 | 7 | 12 | 2 | 45 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 470 | 140 |
* ↑ Includes Romanian Cup, Israel State Cup, Turkish Cup, King Cup
* ↑ Includes Toto Cup
* 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, seven appearances and two goals in UEFA Europa League
* 1 2 3 Appearance in Israel Super Cup
* ↑ Six appearances and four goals in UEFA Champions League, five appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Appearance in Turkish Super Cup
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
* ↑ Appearance in Saudi Super Cup
* ↑ Appearances in AFC Champions League

## Honours

Hapoel Be'er Sheva
* Israeli Premier League: 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18
* Toto Cup: 2016–17
* Israel Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Trabzonspor
* Süper Lig: 2021–22
* Turkish Cup: 2019–20
* Turkish Super Cup: 2020