External links
- Gozie Ugwu at Soccerbase
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Chigozie Eze Ugwu [1] | ||
| Date of birth | 22 April 1993 [1] | ||
| Place of birth | Oxford, [1] England | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) [2] | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2011 | Reading | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (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) |
| 2024–2025 | Al-Ain | 4 | (0) |
| 2025 | Nejmeh | 6 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 12:04, 19 September 2025 (UTC) | |||
Chigozie Eze Ugwu (born 22 April 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward. He made his debut in the Football League in 2012, and his debut in the Scottish Professional Football League in 2014.
Ugwu was born in Oxford, Oxfordshire. [3] [4] He began his career with Reading and progressed through the club's academy to sign a first professional contract in June 2011. [2] [5] [6] He joined Conference National side Ebbsfleet United on a one-month loan in January 2012, [7] and made his debut in a 1–0 FA Trophy defeat at York City. [8] Ugwu his first goal for the club in a 3–2 win at Bath City, [9] and two more in his next three appearances, against Southport and Gateshead, before the loan was extended by a further month. [3] [10] 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. [11] [12]
He signed a new two-year contract with Reading in July 2012 and joined League One side Yeovil Town on loan for six months. [13] [14] Ugwu made his debut in a 3–0 League Cup win against Colchester United in August, [15] and scored his first two goals for Yeovil in a 4–0 win at Scunthorpe United eleven days later. [16] [17] He scored one more goal, against Doncaster Rovers, [18] and returned to Reading at the start of January 2013 after making five starts and 13 substitute appearances for Yeovil. [19] [20] 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. [21] He was named among the substitutes but did not make an appearance in a 3–1 win for Reading. [22]
Later in January, Ugwu joined League Two club Plymouth Argyle on a one-month youth loan. [6] [23] [24] In his second week with the club, he injured his ankle and was unavailable for two matches. [25] 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. [26] [27] 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. [28] [29] Having started only two games, and with Reading keen for Ugwu to get playing time, [30] he was recalled from loan on 11 March. [31]
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. [32] [33] He returned to Reading having scored once in seven appearances after Shrewsbury manager Graham Turner decided against renewing his loan. [34] 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. [35]
In May 2014 he left Reading following the expiry of his contract, [36] [37] going on to have trials with Oxford United and Dagenham & Redbridge. [38] [39]
On 2 August 2014, Ugwu joined Scottish League One side Dunfermline Athletic. [40] He made his debut days later, coming on as a substitute in the 88th minute of the Scottish Challenge Cup match against Raith Rovers. [41] On 23 August 2014, Ugwu scored twice in 3–0 home victory over Airdrieonians, netting in the 24th and 80th minute. [42] 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. [43]
Following his release from Dunfermline, Ugwu rejoined Yeovil Town on 15 January 2015 until the end of the season. [44] 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. [45]
On 9 September 2015, Ugwu signed a permanent deal with Wycombe Wanderers to the end of the 2015–16 season. [46] 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. [47] 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. [48] 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. [49]
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. [50]
On 15 July 2016, Ugwu joined National League side Woking on a one-year deal. [51] On 6 August 2016, Ugwu made his Woking debut in a 3–1 home defeat against Lincoln City, playing the full 90 minutes. [52]
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. [53] Two days later, Ugwu went on to score Woking's third against Chester, in the Cards first victory of the 2016–17 campaign. [54] 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. [55] In following round of the FA Cup, Ugwu once again scored a brace to assist Woking to a 4–2 victory over Stockport County. [56] 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. [57] 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. [58] 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. [59]
On 25 May 2017, Ugwu joined League Two side Chesterfield on a two-year deal. [60] On 5 August 2017, Ugwu made his Chesterfield debut during their 3–1 home defeat against Grimsby Town, featuring for the entire 90 minutes. [61] 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. [62]
Having finished the 2018–19 season on loan at Ebbsfleet United, Ugwu joined the club on a permanent basis on 24 June 2019. [63]
Ugwu returned to Scotland on 20 August 2020, joining Scottish Championship club Raith Rovers. [64]
Ugwu then moved to another Scottish club, Greenock Morton, in June 2021. [65]
In August 2022, Ugwu moved to Saudi Arabia to join second-tier Jeddah Club. On 2 October 2023, Ugwu joined Saudi Second Division side Al-Entesar. [66] On 14 September 2024, Ugwu joined First Division side Al-Ain. [67]
After three years in Saudi Arabia, Ugwu joined Lebanese Premier League side Nejmeh in April 2025. [68]
Born in England, Ugwu is of Nigerian descent. [69]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Ebbsfleet United (loan) | 2011–12 | Conference Premier | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 [a] | 0 | 10 | 5 | |
| Yeovil Town (loan) | 2012–13 | League One | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 [b] | 0 | 18 | 3 |
| Plymouth Argyle (loan) | 2012–13 | League Two | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Shrewsbury Town (loan) | 2013–14 | League One | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| Dunfermline Athletic | 2014–15 | Scottish League One | 14 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 [c] | 0 | 18 | 7 |
| Yeovil Town | 2014–15 | League One | 22 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 5 |
| Wycombe Wanderers | 2015–16 | League Two | 29 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 2 |
| Woking | 2016–17 | National League | 43 | 17 | 4 | 4 | — | 2 [a] | 0 | 49 | 21 | |
| Chesterfield | 2017–18 | League Two | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 [d] | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| 2018–19 | National League | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| Total | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 0 | ||
| Boreham Wood (loan) | 2018–19 | National League | 21 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 22 | 4 | |
| Ebbsfleet United (loan) | 2018–19 | National League | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | |
| Ebbsfleet United | 2019–20 | National League | 24 | 13 | 3 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 28 | 16 | |
| Raith Rovers | 2020–21 | Scottish Championship | 13 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 [e] | 1 | 19 | 6 |
| Greenock Morton | 2021–22 | Scottish Championship | 31 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 8 |
| Jeddah | 2022–23 | Saudi First Division League | 30 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 11 |
| Al-Entesar | 2023–24 | Saudi Second Division League | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 5 |
| Al-Ain | 2024–25 | Saudi First Division League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Career total | 305 | 86 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 333 | 96 | ||
