Armstrong Oko-Flex

Armstrong Oko-Flex

Oko-Flex in 2022
Personal information
Full name	Armstrong Inya Echezolachuku Oko-Flex [1]
Date of birth	(2002-03-02) 2 March 2002 (age 23)
Place of birth	Dublin, Ireland
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position	Winger
Team information
Current team	Levski Sofia
Number	11
Youth career
2007–2009	Tolka Rovers
2009–2013	St Kevin's Boys
2013–2018	Arsenal
2018–2021	Celtic
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021	Celtic	2	(0)
2021–2023	West Ham United	0	(0)
2022–2023	→ Swansea City (loan)	13	(0)
2023–2025	Zürich	29	(2)
2025–2026	Botev Plovdiv	14	(6)
2026–	Levski Sofia	0	(0)
International career‡
2017	Republic of Ireland U15	3	(0)
2017	England U15	1	(0)
2017	Republic of Ireland U16	5	(2)
2017–2018	England U16	7	(3)
2018	England U17	4	(0)
2019	Republic of Ireland U19	5	(0)
2023–2024	Republic of Ireland U21	6	(4)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:17, 14 January 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 11:15, 15 January 2026 (UTC)

Armstrong Inya Echezolachuku Oko-Flex (born 2 March 2002) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Bulgarian First League club Levski Sofia. ^[2]

Club career

Youth 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 St Kevin's Boys, with Oko-Flex then signing for the London club in 2013. He played in the same youth team as future first-team player Bukayo Saka and in 2018 the pair were among 10 of their squad that signed a first-year scholarship with the club. ^[3]

Celtic

He joined Celtic on a three-year deal from Arsenal in September 2018. ^[4] He made his first team debut for the club as a substitute against Hibernian in January 2021. ^[5] He made just two senior appearances during his time with the club, later stating that he and other young players found it first team opportunities difficult to come by having come through the academy. ^[6]

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. ^[7] 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. ^[8] 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. ^[9] 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. ^{[10] [11]} He departed the club at the end of the 2022–23 season having made one first team appearance and featured on 35 occasions for the U21 side scoring 14 goals. ^[12]

Swansea City (loan)

On 30 August 2022, Oko-Flex joined Swansea City on loan for the remainder of the 2022–23 season. ^[13] He made 13 EFL Championship appearances before being recalled from his loan in January 2023. ^[14]

FC Zürich

On 14 August 2023, he signed a two-year contract with Swiss Super League club FC Zürich. ^{[15] [16]} 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. ^[17]

Botev Plovdiv

On 25 August 2025, Oko-Flex joined Bulgarian First League club Botev Plovdiv. ^[18] He impressed with Botev Plovdiv, scoring 7 goals in 15 appearances in all competitions, earning a move away from the club in January 2026. ^[19]

Levski Sofia

On 14 January 2026, Oko-Flex joined fellow Bulgarian First League club Levski Sofia on a three-year contract, after the club triggered his €300,000-worth release clause. ^[20]

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. ^{[21] [22]} 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. ^[23] On 13 October 2023, he scored both of his sides goals in a 2–1 win away to Latvia U21. ^[24]

Personal life

Oko-Flex is the son of the Nigerian-Irish community organiser Reginald Oko-Flex Inya. ^[25]

Career statistics

As of match played 13 December 2025 ^[26]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup [a]		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Celtic U21	2019–20	—			—		—		2 [b]	1	2	1
Celtic	2020–21	Scottish Premiership	2	0	0	0	0	0	—		2	0
West Ham United U21	2021–22	—			—		—		2 [c]	1	2	1
West Ham United	2022–23	Premier League	0	0	0	0	1 [d]	0	—		1	0
Swansea City (loan)	2022–23	Championship	13	0	—		—		—		13	0
FC Zürich	2023–24	Swiss Super League	17	2	3	1	—		—		20	3
	2024–25	Swiss Super League	12	0	1	0	4 [d]	0	—		17	0
	2025–26	Swiss Super League	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	Total		29	2	4	1	4	0	—		37	3
Botev Plovdiv	2025–26	Bulgarian First League	14	6	1	1	—		—		15	7
Levski Sofia	2025–26	Bulgarian First League	0	0	—		—		—		0	0
Career total			58	8	5	2	5	0	4	2	72	12

1. Includes Swiss Cup, Bulgarian Cup
2. Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup
3. Appearances in EFL Trophy
4. Appearance(s) in UEFA Conference League

References

1. "2021/22 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
2. "Levski signed with Armstrong Oko-Flex". levski.bg (in Bulgarian). 14 January 2026.
3. "Arsenal offer 10 first-year scholarships and release six others". dailycannon.com. 18 January 2018.
4. FC, Celtic. "Official Celtic Football Club Website | celticfc.com". Celtic FC.
5. "Celtic 1-0 Hibernian - Turnbull crashes in stunning free-kick for late lead". BBC Sport. 11 January 2021.
6. Evans, Anthony (12 December 2025). "Celtic fans thought I was the next big thing but here's why it didn't work out". Daily Record.
7. "West Ham United sign promising forward Armstrong Oko-Flex | West Ham United". www.whufc.com.
8. Flood, George (16 August 2021). "New signing Oko-Flex nets treble as West Ham U23s thrash Arsenal 6-1". www.standard.co.uk.
9. "Arsenal 2-0 West Ham". www.bbc.co.uk. 15 December 2021.
10. "Irish underage international makes first-team debut as West Ham cruise past Danish side". The42. Press Association. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
11. "West Ham beat Viborg to cruise into group stage". BBC Sport. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
12. "West Ham United issue Retain List". West Ham United F.C. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
13. "Armstrong Okoflex joins Swansea City on loan". West Ham United F.C. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
14. "Armstong Oko-Flex recalled from Swansea City loan spell". www.swanseacity.com. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
15. "News". FC Zürich.
16. "Irish striker Armstrong Oko-Flex signs deal with Swiss side FC Zurich". Independent.ie. 14 August 2023.
17. Fennessy, Paul (17 September 2023). "Irish duo score amid encouraging starts at new clubs abroad". The 42.
18. "News". FC Zürich (in German). Retrieved 25 August 2025.
19. "'I was taught how to win but never how to fight' – Irish striker Armstrong Oko-Flex on his transformative move to Bulgaria". www.independent.ie. 12 December 2025.
20. "ПФК "Левски" подписа с Армстронг Око-Флекс". 14 January 2026.
21. "U-21 call-up for West Ham's Armstrong Oko-Flex". 3 November 2021 – via www.rte.ie.
22. "Crawford names squad for Italy/Sweden qualifiers | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
23. "REPORT | U21 | Ireland 2-2 Ukraine | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
24. "REPORT | U21 | Oko-Flex at the double for Ireland | Football Association of Ireland".
25. Ifeanyi, Emmanuel (10 April 2017). "Nigeria and England Battling Republic of Ireland For Arsenal Prodigy Okoflex". All Nigeria Soccer. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
26. "Republic of Ireland - A. Oko-Flex - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 31 August 2022.

External links

• Armstrong Oko-Flex at Soccerway