Gozie Ugwu

Last updated

Gozie Ugw
Personal information
Full name Chigozie Eze Ugwu [1]
Date of birth (1993-04-22) 22 April 1993 (age 31) [1]
Place of birth Oxford, [1] England
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) [2]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Al-Ain
Number 99
Youth career
2006–2011 Reading
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2011–2014 Reading 0 (0)
2012 → Ebbsfleet United (loan) 9 (4)
2012–2013 → Yeovil Town (loan) 15 (3)
2013 → Plymouth Argyle (loan) 6 (0)
2013–2014 → Shrewsbury Town (loan) 7 (1)
2014 Dunfermline Athletic 14 (7)
2015 Yeovil Town 22 (5)
2015–2016 Wycombe Wanderers 29 (2)
2016–2017 Woking 43 (21)
2017–2019 Chesterfield 19 (0)
2018–2019 → Boreham Wood (loan) 21 (4)
2019 → Ebbsfleet United (loan) 8 (2)
2019–2020 Ebbsfleet United 38 (15)
2020–2021 Raith Rovers 13 (3)
2021–2022 Greenock Morton 31 (8)
2022–2023 Jeddah 30 (11)
2023–2024 Al-Entesar 9 (5)
2024– Al-Ain 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 November 2024 (UTC)

Chigozie Eze Ugwu (born 22 April 1993) is an English footballer who plays as a forward for Saudi First Division side Al-Ain. [3] He made his debut in the Football League in 2012, and his debut in the Scottish Professional Football League in 2014.

Contents

Club career

Reading

Ugwu was born in Oxford, Oxfordshire. [4] [5] He began his career with Reading and progressed through the club's academy to sign a first professional contract in June 2011. [2] [6] [7] He joined Conference National side Ebbsfleet United on a one-month loan in January 2012, [8] and made his debut in a 1–0 FA Trophy defeat at York City. [9] Ugwu his first goal for the club in a 3–2 win at Bath City, [10] and two more in his next three appearances, against Southport and Gateshead, before the loan was extended by a further month. [4] [11] He returned to Reading at the start of April to try and earn a new contract after scoring four goals in ten league and cup appearances for Ebbsfleet. [12] [13]

He signed a new two-year contract with Reading in July 2012 and joined League One side Yeovil Town on loan for six months. [14] [15] Ugwu made his debut in a 3–0 League Cup win against Colchester United in August, [16] and scored his first two goals for Yeovil in a 4–0 win at Scunthorpe United eleven days later. [17] [18] He scored one more goal, against Doncaster Rovers, [19] and returned to Reading at the start of January 2013 after making five starts and 13 substitute appearances for Yeovil. [20] [21] Soon after his return, Ugwu was included in a Reading match-day squad for the first time ahead of an FA Cup tie with Crawley Town. [22] He was named among the substitutes but did not make an appearance in a 3–1 win for Reading. [23]

Later in January, Ugwu joined League Two club Plymouth Argyle on a one-month youth loan. [7] [24] [25] In his second week with the club, he injured his ankle and was unavailable for two matches. [26] He resumed training in February and made his debut for Argyle two days later in a 2–1 win at Aldershot Town as a second-half substitute. [27] [28] Despite his injury hit start, manager John Sheridan was keen to extend Ugwu's stay and on 19 February his loan was extended for a further month. [29] [30] Having started only two games, and with Reading keen for Ugwu to get playing time, [31] he was recalled from loan on 11 March. [32]

On 14 November 2013, Ugwu signed on loan for Shrewsbury Town until January and made his debut two days later in a 3–1 defeat to Port Vale. [33] [34] He returned to Reading having scored once in seven appearances after Shrewsbury manager Graham Turner decided against renewing his loan. [35] On his decision not to extend Ugwu's stay, Turner commented that despite a positive start, he felt criticism from the fans had impacted on his performances. [36]

In May 2014 he left Reading following the expiry of his contract, [37] [38] going on to have trials with Oxford United and Dagenham & Redbridge. [39] [40]

Dunfermline Athletic

On 2 August 2014, Ugwu joined Scottish League One side Dunfermline Athletic. [41] He made his debut days later, coming on as a substitute in the 88th minute of the Scottish Challenge Cup match against Raith Rovers. [42] On 23 August 2014, Ugwu scored twice in 3–0 home victory over Airdrieonians, netting in the 24th and 80th minute. [43] On 22 November 2014, Ugwu scored his first career hat-trick in a 4–0 home victory against Stirling Albion, netting all three goals in the space of 60 minutes. [44]

Yeovil Town

Following his release from Dunfermline, Ugwu rejoined Yeovil Town on 15 January 2015 until the end of the season. [45] Despite finishing the season as Yeovil's joint top goalscorer with five, Ugwu was released by Yeovil at the end of the 2014–15 season following their relegation to League Two. [46]

Wycombe Wanderers

On 9 September 2015, Ugwu signed a permanent deal with Wycombe Wanderers to the end of the 2015–16 season. [47] Three days later, Ugwu was given his debut by manager Gareth Ainsworth in Wycombe's 2–1 home defeat against Plymouth Argyle, playing the full 90 minutes. [48] A week later, Ugwu went onto score his first goal for Wycombe Wanderers in their 1–1 draw with Leyton Orient, opening the scoring just before half time. [49] On 30 January 2016, Ugwu scored the winner in Wycombe's reverse fixture against Plymouth Argyle, netting the only goal of the game in the 3rd minute. [50]

On 9 May 2016, it was announced that Ugwu would leave the club upon the expiry of his contract on 30 June 2016, along with team-mates; Max Kretzschmar, Alex Lynch and Ryan Sellers. [51]

Woking

On 15 July 2016, Ugwu joined National League side Woking on a one-year deal. [52] On 6 August 2016, Ugwu made his Woking debut in a 3–1 home defeat against Lincoln City, playing the full 90 minutes. [53]

On 27 August 2016, Ugwu scored his first Woking goal in a 4–1 defeat against York City, netting the opener in the 8th minute. [54] Two days later, Ugwu went on to score Woking's third against Chester, in the Cards first victory of the 2016–17 campaign. [55] On 18 October 2016, in an FA Cup fourth qualifying round replay against Torquay United, Ugwu scored a brace to send Woking through to the first round. [56] In following round of the FA Cup, Ugwu once again scored a brace to assist Woking to a 4–2 victory over Stockport County. [57] On 26 November 2016, Ugwu scored his first Woking hat-trick in a 3–0 home victory against Gateshead, sealing his 12th goal of the season. [58] On 1 April 2017, Ugwu came off the bench to score the winner in Woking's 2–1 victory over Sutton United, after being dropped for new signing Jamie Lucas. [59] On 17 April 2017, Ugwu scored his 20th goal of the campaign, in Woking's 3–2 away victory against Chester, converting a penalty in the 91st minute. [60]

Chesterfield

On 25 May 2017, Ugwu joined League Two side Chesterfield on a two-year deal. [61] On 5 August 2017, Ugwu made his Chesterfield debut during their 3–1 home defeat against Grimsby Town, featuring for the entire 90 minutes. [62] Following sustaining a long-term thigh injury in late 2017, Ugwu returned to action during Chesterfield's penultimate fixture of the season, replacing Jerome Binnom-Williams with nineteen minutes to play in the 2–1 defeat. [63]

Ebbsfleet United

Having finished the 2018–19 season on loan at Ebbsfleet United, Ugwu joined the club on a permanent basis on 24 June 2019. [64]

Raith Rovers

Ugwu returned to Scotland on 20 August 2020, joining Scottish Championship club Raith Rovers. [65]

Morton

Ugwu then moved to another Scottish club, Greenock Morton, in June 2021. [66]

Saudi Arabia

In August 2022, Ugwu moved to Saudi Arabia to join second-tier Jeddah Club. [3]

On 2 October 2023, Ugwu joined Saudi Second Division side Al-Entesar. [67]

On 14 September 2024, Ugwu joined First Division side Al-Ain. [68]

Personal life

Born in England, Ugwu is of Nigerian descent. [69]

Career statistics

As of match played on 10 November 2024 [13] [35]
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Ebbsfleet United (loan) 2011–12 Conference Premier 9500—1 [a] 0105
Yeovil Town (loan) 2012–13 League One 15300201 [b] 0183
Plymouth Argyle (loan) 2012–13 League Two 6000000060
Shrewsbury Town (loan) 2013–14 League One7100000071
Dunfermline Athletic 2014–15 Scottish League One 14710102 [c] 0187
Yeovil Town 2014–15 League One225000000225
Wycombe Wanderers 2015–16 League Two292300000322
Woking 2016–17 National League 431744—2 [a] 04921
Chesterfield 2017–18 League Two12000101 [d] 0140
2018–19 National League7000—0070
Total190001010210
Boreham Wood (loan) 2018–19 National League21410—00224
Ebbsfleet United (loan) 2018–19 National League8200—0082
Ebbsfleet United 2019–20 National League241332—112816
Raith Rovers 2020–21 Scottish Championship 13321004 [e] 1196
Greenock Morton 2021–22 Scottish Championship 318000000318
Jeddah 2022–23 Saudi First Division League 30110010003111
Al-Entesar 2023–24 Saudi Second Division League 9500000095
Al-Ain 2024–25 Saudi First Division League 4000100050
Career total305861474011133396
  1. 1 2 Appearance(s) in the FA Trophy
  2. ↑ Appearance(s) in the Football League Trophy
  3. ↑ Appearance(s) in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  4. ↑ Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy
  5. ↑ Appearances in the Scottish Premiership play-offs

Honours

Club

Reading

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References

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  2. 1 2 "Gozie Ugwu". Reading F.C. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Gozie Ugwu". Twitter. Jeddah Club @Twitter. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
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  7. 1 2 "Striker Ugwu gets second shot at becoming a Pilgrim". The Herald. Plymouth. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
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  66. ↑ "BREAKING | Gozie Ugwu Signs for Morton". 28 June 2021.
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  68. ↑ "المهاجم الانجليزي ينضم لكتيبة العيـن".
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