# Philip Otele

Philip Porwei Otele (born 15 April 1999) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays mainly as winger for Swiss club Basel on loan from the UAE Pro League club Al Wahda.

## Career
### Early career / Kauno Žalgiris

Otele started his senior career at Wolviston FC, competing in the English lower leagues between 2017 and 2019. In May 2019, he signed a contract with Lithuanian club Kauno Žalgiris. Otele established himself as a regular starter in the 2021 season, scoring ten goals and helping Kauno to a consecutive third place in the national league.

### UTA Arad

On 13 January 2022, Otele moved to Romanian side UTA Arad. He made his competitive on 5 February, coming on as a substitute for Karolis Laukžemis in a 1–0 home Liga I win over Sepsi OSK. One month later, he scored his first goal in a 2–1 home victory over Mioveni.

### CFR Cluj

In January 2023, with his UTA Arad deal set to run out in the summer, Otele signed a pre-contract agreement with defending champions CFR Cluj. He was officially unveiled by the club on 16 June, and made his debut one month later, in 2–0 home Liga win over Politehnica Iași.
On 21 August 2023, Otele scored his first CFR goal in a 4–3 away league victory over city rivals Universitatea Cluj. Five days later, he netted a double in a 3–1 home defeat of Botoșani. On 21 December, he scored another double in 4–0 home derby thrashing of Universitatea Cluj. On 23 February 2024, Otele took his league tally to 11 goals after scoring twice in a 4–0 home defeat of Dinamo București.
In April 2024, amid interest from fellow league team FCSB, CFR Cluj owner Ioan Varga stated that he was negotiating Otele's transfer to Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion for £6 million and a 20% sell-on clause. On 5 May, he scored his fourth double in a 3–2 home defeat of Rapid București, and six days later netted an overhead kick in a 1–0 away win over eventual champions FCSB.
Otele finished the 2023–24 season as the Liga I top scorer with 18 goals, shared with FCSB's Florinel Coman, while CFR Cluj came second in the league table.

### Loan to Basel

On 15 January 2025, Otele joined Basel in Swiss Super League on loan, with an option to buy.

## Style of play

Naturally right-footed, Otele is typically deployed as a left winger, but can also play on the right flank or in the centre as a striker.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 26 August 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Kauno Žalgiris | 2019 | A Lyga | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 0 |
| Kauno Žalgiris | 2020 | A Lyga | 18 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 21 | 4 |
| Kauno Žalgiris | 2021 | A Lyga | 32 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 12 |
| Kauno Žalgiris | Total | Total | 64 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 75 | 16 |
| UTA Arad | 2021–22 | Liga I | 16 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 5 |
| UTA Arad | 2022–23 | Liga I | 34 | 5 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 42 | 6 |
| UTA Arad | Total | Total | 50 | 10 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 58 | 11 |
| CFR Cluj | 2023–24 | Liga I | 40 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 45 | 18 |
| Al Wahda | 2024–25 | UAE Pro League | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 164 | 41 | 14 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 188 | 45 |
* 1 2 Appearance in UEFA Europa League
* 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
* ↑ Appearances in Liga I promotion/relegation play-offs

## Honours

Individual
* Liga I top scorer: 2023–24 (shared with Florinel Coman)
* Liga I Team of the Season: 2023–24