Armstrong Oko-Flex

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
Personal life
Oko-Flex is the son of the Nigerian-Irish community organiser Reginald Oko-Flex Inya.
References
External links
2002 births
Living people
Association footballers from Dublin (city)
Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers
English men's footballers
England men's youth international footballers
Irish people of Nigerian descent
English sportspeople of Nigerian descent
Irish emigrants to the United Kingdom
Men's association football midfielders
Black Irish sportspeople
Republic of Ireland expatriate men's association footballers
Celtic F.C. players
Scottish Professional Football League players
Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland
Irish expatriate sportspeople in Scotland
West Ham United F.C. players
Swansea City A.F.C. players
English Football League players
FC Zürich players
Swiss Super League players
Expatriate men's footballers in Switzerland
Irish expatriate sportspeople in Switzerland