Tawanda Chirewa

Tawanda Chirewa

Personal information
Full name	Tawanda Blessing Chirewa [1]
Date of birth	(2003-10-11) 11 October 2003 (age 20)
Place of birth	Chelmsford, England
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Right winger
Team information
Current team	Wolverhampton Wanderers
Number	62
Youth career
0000–2019	Ipswich Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2023	Ipswich Town	0	(0)
2023–	Wolverhampton Wanderers	8	(0)
International career‡
2024–	Zimbabwe	2	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 May 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 June 2024

Tawanda Blessing Chirewa (born 11 October 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers. Born in England, he represents Zimbabwe internationally.

Club career

Ipswich Town

Chirewa made his debut for Ipswich Town on 12 November 2019, appearing as a second-half substitute in a 0–1 away loss to Colchester United in an EFL Trophy group stage match, he became the second youngest player to make his first-team debut for the club, after Connor Wickham, at 16 years and 31 days old. ^[2] On 14 July 2020 it was announced that Chirewa had signed a two-year scholarship with Ipswich. ^[3]

He signed his first professional contract with Ipswich on 2 November 2020, signing a deal until 2022, with the option of an additional year extension. ^[4]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

On 18 September 2023, Chirewa signed for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, joining the club's Under-21s side. ^[5]

Chirewa made his debut Wolves First XI appearance, as a second-half substitute, in the FA Cup away to Brentford on 5 January 2024. ^[6]

Chirewa made his Premier League debut, as a second-half substitute, in a 0–0 draw away to Brighton & Hove Albion on 22 January 2024. ^[7]

Chirewa made his first appearance in a Black Country derby in the Fourth Round of the F.A. Cup, in a 2–0 victory against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns on 28 January 2024. His appearance came as a second-half substitute after crowd unrest breaking out in sections of the ground designated for West Brom supporters led the game to be suspended for half an hour. ^[8]

International career

In March 2024, Chirewa was called up by the Zimbabwe national team. ^[9]

Chirewa made his debut for Zimbabwe on 7 June 2024 in a World Cup qualifier against Lesotho at the Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. He started the game and played 68 minutes, as Lesotho won the game 2–0. ^[10] He scored his first international goal in the next game 4 days later, a 1–3 loss to South Africa. ^[11]

Personal life

Born in England, Chirewa is of Zimbabwean descent. ^[12]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 2 March 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		EFL Cup		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Ipswich Town	2019–20 [13]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	1	0
	2020–21 [14]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2021–22 [15]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2022–23 [16]	League One	0	0	1	0	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	2	0
	Total		0	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	3	0
Wolverhampton Wanderers	2023–24 [17]	Premier League	2	0	2	0	0	0	—		4	0
Career total			2	0	3	0	0	0	2	0	7	0

1. Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.

International

As of match played 11 June 2024 ^[18]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Zimbabwe	2024	2	1
Total		2	1

Scores and results list Zimbabwe's goal tally first.

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	11 June 2024	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa	South Africa	1–1	1–3	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

References

1. "SQUAD LIST 2021/22 & U21 REGISTERED CONTRACT PLAYERS" (PDF). 9 September 2021. p. 68. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
2. Warren, Andy (12 November 2019). "Ratings: How the Ipswich Town players performed in their 1–0 EFL Trophy defeat at Colchester United". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
3. "Seven Earn Academy Scholarship". Ipswich Town F.C. 14 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
4. "Tawanda Pens Pro Deal". Ipswich Town F.C. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
5. "Chirewa signs for under-21s". www.wolves.co.uk. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
6. Smith, Emma (5 January 2024). "Brentford 1–1 Wolves: Tommy Doyle thunderbolt earns replay after Joao Gomes' early red". BBC Sport.
7. Rindl, Joe (22 January 2024). "Brighton & Hove Albion 0–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Duo play out goalless draw in Premier League". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
8. Stone, Simon (28 January 2024). "West Brom 0–2 Wolves: Visitors progress after crowd trouble sees game suspended". BBC Sport.
9. "EPL honours Tawanda Chirewa as youngster receives first Warriors call-up".
10. "Zimbabwe v Lesotho game report". ESPN. 6 June 2024.
11. "South Africa v Zimbabwe game report". ESPN. 11 June 2024.
12. Reporter, Staff (19 September 2023). "Zim teenager Tawanda Chirewa turns down Ipswich deal, signs for Wolves".
13. "Games played by Tawanda Chirewa in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
14. "Games played by Tawanda Chirewa in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
15. "Games played by Tawanda Chirewa in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
16. "Games played by Tawanda Chirewa in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
17. "Games played by Tawanda Chirewa in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
18. "Tawanda Chirewa World Football.net". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 11 June 2024.