Philip Otele

Philip Otele

Personal information
Full name	Philip Porwei Otele
Date of birth	(1999-04-15) 15 April 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth	Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	CFR Cluj
Number	17
Youth career
0000–2017	Teesside University
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2019	Wolviston FC
2019–2021	Kauno Žalgiris	64	(13)
2022–2023	UTA Arad	50	(10)
2023–	CFR Cluj	40	(18)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18 May 2024

Philip Porwei Otele (born 15 April 1999) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays mainly as winger for Liga I club CFR Cluj.

Career

Early career / Kauno Žalgiris

Otele started his senior career at Wolviston FC, competing in the English lower leagues between 2017 to 2019. In May 2019, he signed a contract with Lithuanian club Kauno Žalgiris. Otele established himself as a regular starter in the 2021 season, scoring ten goals and helping Kauno to a consecutive third place in the national league.

UTA Arad

On 13 January 2022, Otele moved to Romanian side UTA Arad. ^{[1] [2]} He made his competitive on 5 February, coming on as a substitute for Karolis Laukžemis in a 1–0 home Liga I win over Sepsi OSK. ^[3] One month later, he scored his first goal in a 2–1 home victory over Mioveni.

CFR Cluj

In January 2023, with his UTA Arad deal set to run out in the summer, Otele signed a pre-contract agreement with defending champions CFR Cluj. ^[4] He was officially unveiled by the club on 16 June, ^[5] and made his debut one month later, in 2–0 home Liga win over Politehnica Iași.

On 21 August 2023, Otele scored his first CFR goal in a 4–3 away league victory over city rivals Universitatea Cluj. Five days later, he netted a double in a 3–1 home defeat of Botoșani. On 21 December, he scored another double in 4–0 home derby thrashing of Universitatea Cluj. On 23 February 2024, Otele took his league tally to 11 goals after scoring twice in a 4–0 home defeat of Dinamo București.

In April 2024, amid interest from fellow league team FCSB, CFR Cluj owner Ioan Varga stated that he was negotiating Otele's transfer to Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion for £6 million and a 20% sell-on clause. ^[6] On 5 May, he scored his fourth double in a 3–2 home defeat of Rapid București, and six days later netted an overhead kick in a 1–0 away win over eventual champions FCSB. ^[7]

Otele finished the 2023–24 season as the Liga I top scorer with 18 goals, shared with FCSB's Florinel Coman, while CFR Cluj came second in the league table. ^[8]

Style of play

Naturally right-footed, Otele is typically deployed as a left winger, but can also play on the right flank or in the centre as a striker. ^[1]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 18 May 2024 ^[9]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Kauno Žalgiris	2019	A Lyga	14	0	2	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	—		17	0
	2020	A Lyga	18	3	2	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	1	—		21	4
	2021	A Lyga	32	10	1	2	4 [lower-alpha 2]	0	—		37	12
	Total		64	13	5	2	6	1	—		75	16
UTA Arad	2021–22	Liga I	16	5	—		—		—		16	5
	2022–23	Liga I	34	5	6	0	—		2 [lower-alpha 3]	1	42	6
	Total		50	10	6	0	—		2	1	58	11
CFR Cluj	2023–24	Liga I	40	18	3	0	2 [lower-alpha 2]	0	—		45	18
Career total			154	41	14	2	8	1	2	1	178	45

1. Appearance in UEFA Europa League
2. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
3. Appearances in Liga I promotion/relegation play-offs

Honours

Individual

• Liga I top scorer: 2023–24 (shared with Florinel Coman) ^[8]
• Liga I Team of the Season: 2023–24

References

1. "UTA a transferat un mijlocaș de bandă nigerian: "Le vom aduce victorii fanilor și vom accede în play-off"" [UTA transferred a Nigerian lateral midfielder: "We will bring victories to the fans and we will reach the play-offs"] (in Romanian). ProSport. 13 January 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
2. "UTA l-a transferat pe mijlocaşul nigerian Philip Otele" [UTA transferred Nigerian midfielder Philip Otele] (in Romanian). AGERPRES. 13 January 2022.
3. "Nigerianul Otele a debutat la UTA! Cum a evoluat în primul meci pentru echipa din Arad + Primele declarații" [The Nigerian Otele made his debut for UTA! How he performed in the first match for the team from Arad + First statements] (in Romanian). ProSport. 5 February 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
4. "Philip Otele a semnat cu CFR Cluj: "Clubul ne-a informat azi!"" [Philip Otele signed with CFR Cluj: "The club informed us today!"] (in Romanian). Antena Sport. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
5. "Transfer anunțat oficial de CFR Cluj: e al cincilea cel mai bun dribler din SuperLigă!" [Official transfer announced by CFR Cluj: he is the fifth-best dribbler in the SuperLiga!]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 16 June 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
6. "Au început negocierile! 7 milioane de euro pentru Philip Otele" [The negotiations have begun! 7 million euros for Philip Otele] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
7. "FCSB - CFR Cluj 0-1. Foarfeca lui Otele a decis meciul la care "roș-albaștrii" au fost încoronați campioni" [FCSB - CFR Cluj 0–1. Otele's scissor kick decided the match in which the "the red-blues" were crowned champions] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 11 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
8. "Ei sunt premianții sezonului în Superliga » Deac scrie istorie! Coman a fost egalat în clasamentul golgheterilor" [They are the prizewinners of the season in the Superliga » Deac is writing history! Coman was tied in the top scorers table]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 20 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
9. Philip Otele at Soccerway. Retrieved 11 April 2024.

External links

• Philip Otele – Romanian league stats at LPF (in Romanian)