David Odogu

David Odogu

Personal information
Full name	David Uyoyo Odogu
Date of birth	(2006-06-03) 3 June 2006 (age 19)
Place of birth	Berlin, Germany
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) [1]
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	AC Milan
Number	27
Youth career
0000–2019	Steglitzer SC Südwest
2019–2020	Union Berlin
2020–2025	VfL Wolfsburg
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2023–2025	VfL Wolfsburg	3	(0)
2025–	AC Milan	0	(0)
2025–	Milan Futuro	1	(0)
International career‡
2021–2022	Germany U16	3	(0)
2022–2023	Germany U17	12	(0)
2024	Germany U18	3	(0)
2024–	Germany U19	3	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing   Germany FIFA U-17 World Cup Winner 2023 Indonesia UEFA European Under-17 Championship Winner 2023 Hungary
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21:45, 24 September 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 22:45, 25 March 2025 (UTC)

David Uyoyo Odogu (Berlin 3 June 2006) is a German professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Serie A club AC Milan. He is a German youth international. ^[2]

Club career

VfL Wolfsburg

Born in Berlin, Odogu played for the youth academy of Steglitzer SC Südwest, before spending a season with the Union Berlin youth academy. He moved to Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg in 2020, initially joining the youth academy. ^{[3] [4]} In December 2022, he signed a new contract with VfL Wolfsburg. ^[5] In January 2023, he attended mid-season training camp with the VfL Wolfsburg first-team squad. ^[6] Odogu finished runner-up with VfL Wolfsburg under-17 in the U17 Nachwuchsliga at the end of the 2022–23 season. ^[7]

AC Milan

On 1 September 2025, he moved to Italy and joined Serie A club AC Milan, permanently for an estimated €10 million transfer fee ahead of the 2025–26 season. ^{[8] [9]}

On 23 September, Odogu made his debut for the club in a 3–0 Coppa Italia home victory over Lecce, substituting Strahinja Pavlović. ^[10] One day later, he debuted for AC Milan's reserve team Milan Futuro on 24 September, starting in a goalless draw Serie D Group B away match against Casatese Merate. ^[11]

International career

A Germany youth international, ^[12] Odogu featured for the Germany side that won the final of the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Hungary, and the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia. ^{[13] [14] [15]}

Style of play

Odogu is described as a tall defender, capable of playing on the right or left side of central defence. ^[16] Combining physical strength, with speed and a good tackling ability he has been compared to German international defender Antonio Rüdiger. ^[17]

Personal life

Born in Germany, Odogu has Nigerian heritage through his father. ^{[18] [19]} His parents and his sister attended the 2023 UEFA European U17 Championship final, which Germany won against France, but Odogu didn't play however. While he was away he continued with his education, and even sat exams in History and Geography during the tournament. ^[20]

Career statistics

As of match played 24 September 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup [a]		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
VfL Wolfsburg	2024–25	Bundesliga	3	0	0	0	—		—		3	0
	Total		3	0	0	0	—		—		3	0
AC Milan	2025–26	Serie A	0	0	1	0	—		0	0	1	0
	Total		0	0	1	0	—		0	0	1	0
Milan Futuro	2025–26	Serie D	1	0	0	0	—		0	0	1	0
	Total		1	0	0	0	—		0	0	1	0
Career total			4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	5	0

Notes

1. Includes Coppa Italia

Honours

Germany U17

• UEFA European Under-17 Championship: 2023 ^[21]
• FIFA U-17 World Cup: 2023 ^[22]

References

1. "David Odogu". Bundesliga. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
2. David Odogu at Soccerway
3. Baingo, Andreas (12 June 2023). "There is a touch of the Iron Men from Köpenick in David Odog". Berliner-Zeiting. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
4. "David Odogu: Zwischen Schulbank und Profi-Traum". Braunsxhweiger-Zeitung. 7 April 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
5. "Talented German-Nigerian defender extends Wolfsburg contract". Allnigeriasoccer.com. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
6. Smuda, Yannick (8 January 2023). "Fairytale story included: Five exciting talents on the watchlist". sky.de. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
7. "Match winner Cherny: "An awesome feeling"". Kicker . 16 April 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
8. "Ufficiale: Depositato il contratto di David Odogu". tuttomercatoweb.com. 1 September 2025.
9. "Odogu è un nuovo giocatore del Milan, è ufficiale: le cifre e la formula dell'affare". Goal.com. 1 September 2025.
10. "CRUISING INTO THE ROUND OF 16". acmilan.com. 23 September 2025.
11. "GOALLESS DRAW AWAY AT MERATE". acmilan.com. 24 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
12. Mau, Daniel (21 November 2023). "VfL talent Odogu's World Cup adventure in Indonesia continues". Braunschweiger-Zeitung.de. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
13. "Osawe sees red, Odogu puts in solid shift as Germany lift Fifa U17 World Cup for the first time". All Nigeria Soccer. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
14. "Odogu - "There is an incredible mentality in the team"". Sportschau. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
15. "'Greatest success of our careers for me and the team' - Germany CB Odogu ahead of U17 World Cup final". All Nigeria Soccer. 2 December 2023.
16. Omachonu, Kelvin. "Eligible for Nigeria's Super Eagles, but soaring elsewhere: Meet Germany's World Cup star David Odogu". Soccernet.ng. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
17. Krause, Markus (1 January 2024). ""The next Antonio Rüdiger": Chelsea is courting German U17 talent". Fussballeck. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
18. Akawor, zuchukwu (29 November 2023). "Winners Osakwe and David Odogu: Nigeria-eligble stars help Germany reach U17WC fina". Pulsesports.ng. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
19. "VfL top talent Odogu: The son of a pianist is living the professional dream in Wolfsburg". Waz. 31 March 2003. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
20. "World champion Odogu: "Strangers clapped for me on the train". Kicker . 12 May 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
21. "Germany take title with shoot-out win over France". UEFA. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
22. "Germany win FIFA U-17 World Cup after shootout drama". FIFA.com. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.