Chituru Odunze

Chituru Odunze
Personal information
Full name Chituru Ethan Odunze[1]
Date of birth (2002-10-14) October 14, 2002
Place of birth Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
Height 2.00 m (6 ft 6+1⁄2 in)
Position Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Phoenix Rising FC (on loan from Charlotte FC)
Youth career
2007 Kingfishers
2008 Thames Moorings
2009–2010 Royal Greenwich
2010–2013 Chelsea
2014 Calgary Villains FC
2015 Calgary Blizzard SC
2015–2016 Calgary Foothills FC
2017–2019 Vancouver Whitecaps
2019–2023 Leicester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023–2025 Crown Legacy 23 (0)
2024– Charlotte FC 0 (0)
2026– → Phoenix Rising FC (loan) 0 (0)
International career‡
2018–2019 United States U17 5 (0)
2020 United States U20 1 (0)
2023– United States U23 2 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of October 26, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals as of November 11, 2020

Chituru Ethan Odunze (born October 14, 2002) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Phoenix Rising FC in the USL Championship on loan from Major League Soccer club Charlotte FC.

Early life

Born in Raleigh, North Carolina,[2] Odunze moved to London, England as a child and played for local youth teams before spending time in the Chelsea academy.[3][4] He moved to Calgary, Alberta when he was eleven and played for local sides Calgary Villains FC and Calgary Blizzard SC.[2] During this time, he went on trial with Welsh side Cardiff City, training with the first team despite only being fourteen.[2][5] In January 2019, he joined the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy from Calgary Foothills.[4] Later in the same year, Odunze signed with English side Leicester City.[6] He went on to train with the senior squad.[7]

Club career

On August 2, 2023, Odunze signed a professional contract with Crown Legacy FC in MLS Next Pro.[8]

Odunze signed with the Charlotte FC first team on January 18, 2024. His Major League Soccer contract is guaranteed through 2027 with a club option for 2028.[9]

In February 2026, Odunze was loaned from Charlotte FC to USL Championship side Phoenix Rising ahead of the 2026 season.[10]

Personal life

Chituru is of Igbo Nigerian descent.[11]

International

Odunze is eligible for the United States, England, Canada, and Nigeria. He was called up to the Canada under-15 side in 2017 but has represented the United States at under-17 and under-20 levels.[12] He represented the United States at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup, playing in two group-stage games.[2]

In November 2020, Odunze was called up to the senior United States national team for the first time.[13][14]

References

  1. ^ "FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019: List of Players: USA" (PDF). FIFA. October 31, 2019. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 27, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d Frain, Riley (November 6, 2020). "November Camp Spotlight: Chituru Odunze". onegoal.us. Archived from the original on November 6, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  3. ^ "Player Bio - Chituru Odunze". ussoccer.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Profile". whitecapsfc.com. Archived from the original on August 1, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  5. ^ Sousa, Justin (May 27, 2020). "After a long youth journey, Odunze progressing at Leicester City". americansoccernow.com. Archived from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  6. ^ Sigal, Jonathan (August 9, 2019). "Vancouver Whitecaps transfer goalkeeper Chituru Odunze to Leicester City". mlssoccer.com. Archived from the original on August 4, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  7. ^ Kemble, Jamie (November 22, 2019). "'Role models' - Leicester City youngster on long road from America to England... and facing Jamie Vardy in training". leicestermercury.co.uk. Archived from the original on November 23, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  8. ^ FC, Crown Legacy. "Crown Legacy FC Signs U.S. Youth International Goalkeeper Chituru Odunze from Leicester City". Crown Legacy FC.
  9. ^ "Charlotte FC Signs Crown Legacy FC Goalkeeper Chituru Odunze and Defender João Pedro". CharlotteFootballClub.ccom. Charlotte FC. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  10. ^ Staff, USLChampionship com (February 6, 2026). "Phoenix Rising brings aboard goalkeeper Chituru Odunze on loan from Charlotte FC". USL Championship. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  11. ^ "Odunze the biggest man on campus with Crown Legacy FC". www.thecharlottepost.com. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  12. ^ Tomes, Elliott (April 16, 2019). "Goalkeeper Chituru Odunze a star in the making for Vancouver Whitecaps FC". mlssoccer.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  13. ^ Tolmich, Ryan (November 3, 2020). "Pulisic joined by newcomers Reyna, De la Fuente & Musah in latest USMNT squad". goal.com. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  14. ^ Blum, Ronald (November 3, 2020). "Gio Reyna among 10 players who could make US debuts at Wales". sfchronicle.com. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
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