Ike Orji

Ike Orji

Personal information
Full name	Ikechukwu Sunny Smart Orji [1]
Date of birth	(2003-04-30) 30 April 2003 (age 21) [2]
Place of birth	England
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Cray Wanderers
Youth career
	Maidstone United
	Chatham Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2023	Chatham Town	71	(2)
2023–2024	Gillingham	1	(0)
2023	→ Chatham Town (loan)	13	(0)
2023	→ Welling United (loan)	4	(0)
2024	→ Hemel Hempstead Town (loan)	6	(0)
2024	Chelmsford City	3	(0)
2024–	Cray Wanderers	0	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:01, 27 September 2024 (UTC)

Ikechukwu Sunny Smart Orji is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Isthmian League Premier Division club Cray Wanderers.

Career

Orji began his senior career with Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division club Chatham Town in 2019, following time in the academies at both Maidstone United and Chatham Town. ^{[3] [4]} In March 2021, Orji went on trial with League One club Gillingham. ^[5] He was a part of the Chatham squad that were promoted as runners-up from the 2021–22 SCEFL Premier Division. ^[6]

In January 2023, Orji attracted interest from League Two clubs Crawley Town and Gillingham, ^[7] joining the latter on 9 February, returning to Chatham Town on loan until the end of the season. ^[8] Following his return to the club, he played a key role as the club achieved back-to-back promotions as Isthmian League South East Division Champions. ^[9]

In October 2023, he made his first-team professional debut for Gillingham, featuring in a 5–1 EFL Trophy defeat to Portsmouth, ^[10] making his first league appearance eleven days later as a 79th minute substitute in a 1–2 loss to Notts County. ^{[11] [12]} On 4 December 2023, he joined National League South club Welling United on an initial one-month loan deal. ^[13] On 16 March 2024 he joined Hemel Hempstead Town, also of the National League South, on loan. ^[14]

On 15 May 2024, Gillingham announced he would be released in the summer when his contract expired. ^[15]

On 7 August 2024, following a successful trial, Orji signed for National League South side Chelmsford City. ^[16] In September 2024, he joined Cray Wanderers. ^[17]

Style of play

Upon signing for Gillingham, manager Neil Harris described Orji as an "attack-minded wing-back" with "great end product, huge pace and energy", with the Kent Messenger likening Orji's playing style to West Ham United right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. ^[18]

Career statistics

As of end of 2023–24 season

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Chatham Town	2022–23 [19]	Isthmian League South East Division	18	1	3	0	—		1 [a]	0	22	1
Gillingham	2022–23	League Two	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2023–24 [20]	League Two	1	0	0	0	0	0	1 [b]	0	2	0
	Total		1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	0
Chatham Town (loan)	2022–23 [19]	Isthmian League South East Division	13	0	0	0	—		0	0	13	0
Welling United (loan)	2023–24 [2]	National League South	4	0	0	0	—		2 [a]	0	6	0
Hemel Hempstead Town (loan)	2023–24 [2]	National League South	6	0	—		—		0	0	6	0
Career total			42	1	3	0	0	0	4	0	49	1

1. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
2. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

References

1. "SQUAD LIST 2023/24 & U21 REGISTERED CONTRACT PLAYERS" (PDF). EFL. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
2. Ike Orji at Soccerway. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
3. "Kennington JFC lift U16s Boys Youth Cup". Kent Sports News. 22 April 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
4. "Chatham Town academy". Chatham Town F.C. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
5. "Chatham Town youngster joins Gillingham on Trial". www.scefl.com. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
6. Cawdell, Luke (9 April 2022). "Chatham Town thrash Erith & Belvedere 10-1 to clinch promotion to the Isthmian League". Kent Online. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
7. Dunford, Mark (31 January 2023). "Transfer Deadline Day: Crawley Town and Gillingham 'in battle' for 'the next Aaron Wan-Bissaka'". Sussex Express. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
8. "Ike Orji signs for Gills". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
9. "Chats Take The Title!". www.isthmian.co.uk. 16 April 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
10. "Report | Portsmouth 5–1 Gillingham". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
11. "Gillingham 1–2 Notts County". BBC Sport. 21 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
12. Cawdell, Luke (23 October 2023). "Ike Orji makes Football League debut for Gillingham against Notts County, eight months after joining from Isthmian League side Chatham Town". Kent Online. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
13. @wellingunited (4 December 2023). "✍️ Some pre-match news... Welling United are delighted to welcome defender Ike Orji on an initial one-month loan from @TheGillsFC. Welcome to the Wings, Ike! 🤝 #WeAreWings🪽" (Tweet). Retrieved 5 December 2023– via Twitter.
14. Hemel Hempstead Town [@hemelfc] (16 March 2024). "𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗜𝗸𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗷𝗶 ✍️ Ahead of this afternoon's fixture vs Hampton & Richmond, we are pleased to announce the loan signing of defender Ike Orji from @TheGillsFC . #COYT" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
15. "Gillingham FC Released and Retained List 2024". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
16. "Ike Orji joins the Clarets". Chelmsford City F.C. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
17. @OfficialWands (24 September 2024). "Tonight's @OfficialWands lineup vs @ChathamTownFC A few new faces including new signings Ike Orji, a former Chatham player + Toby King and keeper Max Huxter and U23s players Ed Mare and Bobby Parkes making their debuts and Andy Dzontoh on the bench" (Tweet). Retrieved 27 September 2024– via Twitter.
18. "Gillingham have signed defender Ike Orji from Isthmian League side Chatham Town on a permanent deal". Kent Online. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
19. "Chatham Town – Appearances – Ike Orji – 2022-2023". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
20. "Games played by Ike Orji in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 October 2023.