Samuel Chukwueze
Samuel Chimerenka Chukwueze (born 22 May 1999) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays for Spanish club Villarreal and the Nigeria national team as a winger. Early life and education. Chukwueze was born in Umuahia Abia state. He is of Igbo descent and was brought up in a Christian family with a younger brother and a younger sister. He attended Government College Umuahia and Evangel Secondary School. He started playing football at the age of 8 and he admired Jay-Jay Okocha as his football idol growing up. He has been mentored by Hon. Victor Apugo whom he  saw as a father, as stated in his earlier interview. Club career. Born in Amaokwe Ugba Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State, Chukwueze joined Villarreal CF's prolific youth setup in 2017, from local side Diamond Football Academy. After being initially assigned to the club's "Juvenil A" squad, he made his senior debut with the reserves on 15 April 2018, coming on as a second-half substitute for Sergio Lozano in a 1–1 Segunda División B away draw against CE Sabadell FC. Chukwueze scored his first senior goal on 20 May 2018, netting his team's second in a 3–1 away  defeat of Bilbao Athletic. He contributed with two goals in 11 appearances during his first season, as his side missed out promotion in the play-offs. Chukwueze made his first-team debut on 20 September 2018, replacing Nicola Sansone in a 2–2 home draw against Rangers, for the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League. He also made his league debut on 5 November 2018, playing a 90-minute full play in a 1–1 home draw against Levante, for the 2018–19 La Liga. In April 2019, he won the Nigeria Football Federation's 2018 Young Player of the Year award. On 12 April  2022, in the second leg of the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League quarter-final away to Bayern Munich, Chukwueze scored the equaliser for 1–1 in the 88th minute, helping Villarreal progress to the semi-finals of the tournament. International career. After playing for Nigeria at under-17 level, he received his first call-up to the senior team in October 2018. He made his debut for the Nigerian senior team on 20 November 2018 as a starter in a 0–0 friendly draw against Uganda. In May 2019, Chukwueze was invited to represent Nigeria's senior team at the Africa Cup of Nations  and the Under-20 team at the Under-20 World Cup. However, Villarreal said he could only play in one of the tournaments. He ultimately decided to take part with Nigerian's senior squad for Africa Cup of Nations hosted in Egypt and scored his first senior goal in Nigeria's 2–1 win over South Africa in the quarter finals. Playing style. He has been compared to Arjen Robben because of his skillset. Honours. Villarreal International. Nigeria U17