Kelechi John
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kelechi Christian John | ||
| Date of birth | 7 September 1998 | ||
| Place of birth | Kaduna, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Portimonense | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2016 | El-Kanemi | ||
| 2017-2020 | Rio Ave | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2022 | Casa Pia | 55 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Central Coast Mariners | 3 | (0) |
| 2023 | B-SAD | 14 | (2) |
| 2023–2024 | Oliveirense | 32 | (2) |
| 2024– | Portimonense | 0 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 January 2024 | |||
Kelechi John (born 7 September 1998) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Liga Portugal 2 club Portimonense.
Career
[edit]John started his career in Nigeria, before moving to Portugal and signing with Rio Ave F.C. where he played in their youth and reserve teams
Central Coast Mariners
[edit]John moved from Portugal to Australia and signed for the Central Coast Mariners in the A-League Men competition.,[1] becoming their sixth signing of the 2022-23 season. He made his debut for the Gosford side for their Round 2 away trip to Wellington Phoenix in a 2–2 draw.[2]
After suffering an re-occurring injury and struggling to return to the first team due to excellent performances from his injury replacement Brian Kaltak, the Mariners agreed to sell him to B-SAD in the Liga Portugal 2 for an undisclosed amount.[3]
On 11 July 2023 Liga Portugal 2's Oliveirense announced the signing of John for an undisclosed fee.[4]
International career
[edit]John has been called up to represent the Nigerian U-23s.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "NIGERIAN UNDER-23 INTERNATIONAL KELECHI JOHN SIGNS FOR MARINERS". Central Coast Mariners. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
- ^ "Starting Formation". Keep Up. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
- ^ "KELECHI JOHN DEPARTS THE CENTRAL COAST FOR PORTUGAL". Central Coast Mariners. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
- ^ "Kelechi oficializado como reforço da UD Oliveirense" [Kelechi officialized as reinforcement by UD Oliveirense] (in European Portuguese). Record. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
- ^ Comito, Matt. "Mariners sign Nigerian U23 international with 'big ambitions'". Keep Up. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
External links
[edit]- Kelechi John at Soccerway
- 1998 births
- Living people
- Nigerian men's footballers
- Footballers from Kaduna
- Men's association football defenders
- Men's association football central defenders
- Liga Portugal 2 players
- A-League Men players
- El-Kanemi Warriors F.C. players
- Rio Ave F.C. players
- Casa Pia A.C. players
- Central Coast Mariners FC players
- B-SAD players
- U.D. Oliveirense players
- Nigerian expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in Portugal
- Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Portugal
- Expatriate men's soccer players in Australia
- Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Australia
- 21st-century Nigerian sportsmen