Caleb Ekuban

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Caleb Ekuban
Frosinone Calcio - Benito Stirpe - vs Genoa 14 5 2023 - ANT 7399 - Caleb Ekuban (cropped).jpg
Ekuban playing for Genoa in 2023
Personal information
Full name Caleb Ansah Ekuban [1]
Date of birth (1994-03-23) 23 March 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth Villafranca di Verona, Italy
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) [2]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Genoa
Number 18
Youth career
2004–2010 Mantova 1911
2010–2012 Chievo
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2012–2017 Chievo 0 (0)
2013–2014Südtirol (loan) 7 (1)
2014–2015Lumezzane (loan) 48 (7)
2015–2016Renate (loan) 31 (4)
2016–2017Partizani (loan) 34 (17)
2017–2019 Leeds United 20 (1)
2018–2019Trabzonspor (loan) 29 (5)
2019–2021 Trabzonspor 54 (15)
2021– Genoa 73 (7)
International career
2019– Ghana 13 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 June 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 December 2022 (UTC)

Caleb Ansah Ekuban (born 23 March 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Serie A club Genoa. Born in Italy, Ekuban represents the Ghana national team.

Contents

Ekuban is a striker known for his pace, technical ability and strong physique. His style of play and prolific goal scoring as a youngster in the Chievo youth team saw him likened to compatriot Mario Balotelli [3] [4]

Early life

Caleb Ekuban was born in Villafranca di Verona, Italy, [5] to Ghanaian parents, Rev. Kobina and Sabina Ekuban. Caleb's father is the district elder of the Pentecostal Assembly of Churches in Italy as well as an accountant and business entrepreneur.

Ekuban was one of seven children growing up in Italy. At the age of 10 his father was transferred to Mantova for ministerial duties and registered Ekuban along with two of his brothers with the Mantova youth team. Ekuban stood out and went on to be signed up by Chievo. He is fluent in Italian and is also able to speak Fanti, the major local dialect in the Central Region of Ghana. [6]

One of his brothers Joseph is now a professional footballer as well, playing in Italy. [7]

Club career

Chievo Verona

After progressing through the youth system at Chievo, Ekuban was called up for the first time to the senior squad by the coach Eugenio Corini on 26 January 2013 for the Serie A match against Lazio, he remained an unused substitute as Chievo won 1–0 at Stadio Olimpico. [8] Ekuban never appeared professionally for Chievo and was loaned out to four clubs over a four-year period and despite being contracted to the club until 2018, he was transferred to Leeds in July 2017. [9]

Loan at Südtirol

In July 2013, Ekuban was sent on loan at Südtirol to gain more playing experience. [10] In August he was the subject of racial abuse in a Coppa Italia first round match against Matera with the perpetrator later receiving a 10 match suspension. [11] He made his professional debut on 1 September by playing in the last 31 minutes of the 1–1 home draw against Reggiana. [12] He scored his first goal later on 13 October, giving his side a point in the match against Venezia. [13] However, his spell at the club was short-lived, and after making only seven league appearances, which only two of them as a starter, Ekuban left the club in January 2014. [14]

Loan at Lumezzane

In January 2014, Ekuban was loaned to fellow Lega Pro side Lumezzane for one and a half seasons. During his spell there, he played 48 league matches, scoring seven goals.

Loan at Renate

On 6 August 2015, Ekuban was loaned to Renate until the end of 2015–16 season. [15] He played his first match for Renate on 6 September in a 1–0 away defeat to Mantova, playing the full 90 minutes. [16] Ekuban scored his first goal of the season in his second league appearance for the new team on 13 September in the 1–1 home draw against Giana Erminio. [17] He finished the 2015–16 season by playing 31 league matches, 24 of them as a starter, scoring 4 goals as Renate finished Group A in 11th position.

Loan at Partizani

On 4 July 2016, Ekuban completed a season long loan move to Kategoria Superiore side Partizani for the 2016–17 season and was given the number 45. [18] Six days later, was named in Partizani's final 23-man UEFA Champions League squad. [19] He made his competitive debut on 13 July in the first leg of Champions League second qualifying round against Ferencváros, playing in the last 23 minutes of the 1–1 draw at Elbasan Arena. [20] In the returning leg one week later, Ekuban played again as a substitute, and after the regular and extra time had finished in a 1–1 draw, the game was decided on penalty shootout where Ekuban successfully converted his penalty shootout attempt, helping Partizani to win 3–1. [21]

Ekuban played full-90 minutes in both legs of Champions League third qualifying round against Red Bull Salzburg, who eliminated Partizani with the aggregate 3–0. [22] Then, Partizani moved to Europa League play-off round where they faced Krasnodar, losing 4–0 on aggregate; Ekuban played full-90 minutes in both legs, and finished his European campaign with six appearances. [23]

Ekuban made his domestic debut on 7 September in the opening league match against Luftëtari, finished in a 1–0 away win. [24] He opened his scoring account later on 18 September in the matchday 3 against Teuta, scoring the second goal of the 2–0 away win. [25]

He made his Albanian Cup debut on 7 October in the returning leg of the first round against Kevitan, scoring the fourth goal of the 4–0 win, helping the team to secure the progression to the next round with the aggregate 9–1. [26] On 13 October, in Sulejman Starova's first match in charge, Ekuban scored both goals in a 2–0 away win at Laçi, returning Partizani in the winning ways after two matches. [27] Ekuban finished the 16/17 season as second top scorer in the Kategoria Superiore finishing the season with 17 league goals to his name (with 18 in all competitions). With his goals helping Partizani to a second-place finish in the league and UEFA Europa League qualification. [28]

Leeds United

On 11 July 2017, Leeds United announced the signing of Ekuban on a four-year contract from Serie A side Chievo Verona for an undisclosed fee. [29] On 13 July, Ekuban laughably revealed he was hoping to score goals like former Leeds legend and countryman Tony Yeboah. [30] On 9 August 2017, he made his first-team debut in the League Cup tie 4–1 victory against Port Vale, with Ekuban scoring on his debut after an assist from Ezgjan Alioski, he also provided an assist for Samuel Saiz's hat trick goal in the same game. [31]

On 19 August, Ekuban made his League debut against Sunderland replacing regular striker Chris Wood who pulled himself out the squad due to interest from a Premier League side. [32] Ekuban however picked up an injury breaking a bone in his foot and had to be substituted in the second half. [33]

He returned from injury against Middlesbrough on 19 November 2017, however Ekuban broke his foot again on 10 December in Leeds' 1–3 victory against QPR. [34] Ekuban returned to the match day squad on 10 February against Sheffield United. [35] On 30 March 2018, Ekuban scored his first league goal for Leeds against Bolton Wanderers. [36]

With speculation that he was not in Marcelo Bielsa's plans, on 26 July 2018, Ekuban was not given a shirt number for Leeds for the upcoming 2018–19 season for Leeds. [37]

Loan at Trabzonspor

On 29 August 2018, Ekbuan joined Turkish Süper Lig side Trabzonspor on a season long loan. [38] Ekuban made his debut coming on for Hugo Rodallega against Galatasaray in the 86th minute on 1 September 2018, scoring on his debut in a 4–0 victory. This goal held significance for some Leeds United fans due to a rivalry with the Turkish side Galatasaray. [39] Ekuban was praised after scoring an emotional goal for Trabzonspor in a 2–0 win against Kayserispor after playing after the passing of his mother, the goal sparked an emotional celebration with his team-mates as he burst into tears. [40]

On 19 December 2018, Ekuban took his tally to 5 goals in all competitions, after scoring a brace in a 5–0 win over Sivas Belediyespor in the Turkish Cup. [41] He scored his 6th goal of the season against İstanbul Başakşehir on 20 January 2019 in a 4–2 defeat.

Trabzonspor

On 1 July 2019, Trabzonspor made the loan deal permanent and signed Caleb Ekuban for three years.

International career

Ekuban was eligible to play for both Ghana and Italy at international level. [42] On 12 July 2017, Ekuban revealed it is his intention to represent Ghana. [43]

On 20 April 2018, Ekuban met with Ghana national team head coach Akwasi Appiah. In March 2019, Ekuban was called up to represent Ghana for 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification. [44] He scored his first competitive goal for the Black Stars of Ghana on his debut against the Harambee Stars of Kenya in an AFCON Qualifier on 23 March 2019 at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 5 May 2024 [45] [46] [47]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Chievo Verona 2012–13 Serie A 000000
Südtirol (loan) 2013–14 Lega Pro 712192
Lumezzane (loan) 2013–14 Lega Pro13200132
2014–15 35520375
Total48720507
Renate (loan) 2015–16 Lega Pro31420334
Partizani (loan) 2016–17 Kategoria Superiore 3417216 [lower-alpha 1] 04218
Leeds United 2017–18 Championship 2010011212
Trabzonspor 2018–19 Süper Lig 29573368
2019–20 Süper Lig225715 [lower-alpha 2] 43410
2020–21 Süper Lig3210001 [lower-alpha 3] 13311
Total8320144541110329
Genoa 2021–22 Serie A30131332
2022–23 Serie B 14210152
2023–24 Serie A26410284
Total71751768
Career total28456277111141133469
  1. Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. Appearance in Turkish Super Cup

International

As of match played 11 November 2021 [48]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Ghana 201962
202041
202130
Total133
Scores and results list Ghana's goal tally first. [48]
List of international goals scored by Caleb Ekuban
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.23 March 2019 Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, GhanaFlag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 1–01–0 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
2.26 March 2019Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania 2–13–1 Friendly
3.12 October 2020 Mardan Sports Complex, Aksu, TurkeyFlag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 5–15–1

Honours

Trabzonspor

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