Uche Ikpeazu
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name |
Karl Anthony Uchechuckwu Mubiru Ikpeazu[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 28 February 1995 | ||
| Place of birth | Harrow, London, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[2] | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Cambridge United | ||
| Number | 26 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2010–2013 | Reading | ||
| 2011–2012 | → Didcot Town (loan) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013–2016 | Watford | 0 | (0) |
| 2014 | → Crewe Alexandra (loan) | 15 | (4) |
| 2014–2015 | → Crewe Alexandra (loan) | 8 | (2) |
| 2015 | → Doncaster Rovers (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2015 | → Crewe Alexandra (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 2015 | → Port Vale (loan) | 21 | (5) |
| 2016 | → Blackpool (loan) | 12 | (0) |
| 2016– | Cambridge United | 16 | (4) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14 November 2016 (BST). | |||
Karl Anthony Uchechuckwu Mubiru "Uche" Ikpeazu (born 28 February 1995) is a footballer born and raised in England, of Nigerian descent, who plays as a forward for League Two club Cambridge United.
A former Reading Academy player, he joined Watford in 2013. He spent three with the club without making a first team appearance, and instead played on loan at Crewe Alexandra, Doncaster Rovers, Port Vale, and Blackpool. He signed with Cambridge United in August 2016.
Playing career
Watford
Born in Harrow, London to Nigerian parents, Ikpeazu joined Reading's Academy in late 2010.[3][4] He signed for Southern League side Didcot Town on loan in November 2011 and scored twice in three games,[4] including the 3–1 FA Trophy win against Conference Premier side Bromley.[5] In the 2012–13 season, his final for the under-18s, he scored 28 goals in as many games, finishing as the top scorer in the country at academy level.[6]
He was offered a professional contract by Reading but turned it down and instead signed a three-year contract with fellow Championship side Watford in July 2013.[6][7] Due to his age Watford were required to pay compensation which, after six months of negotiations, was agreed in January 2014 with the fee remaining undisclosed.[8] The same month, having yet to make his first-team debut for Watford, Ikpeazu joined League One side Crewe Alexandra on loan until the end of the season.[9] He made his debut at Gresty Road as a second-half substitute in a 2–1 defeat to Leyton Orient on 18 January,[10] and scored his first goals in professional football with a brace against Bradford City three weeks later.[11]
Ikpeazu returned to Crewe on 26 November 2014, on a loan deal until 25 January 2015.[12] Two days later he scored in a 1–1 home draw with Doncaster Rovers.[13] After the loan deal ended he joined Doncaster Rovers on loan.[14] He was reported to have been viewed as a possible permanent signing by manager Paul Dickov, but returned to Watford in March after failing to impress at the Keepmoat Stadium.[15][16] He then returned to Crewe on loan after manager Steve Davis admitted that he was unable to replace Ikpeazu during his absence.[17]
Ikpeazu joined League One side Port Vale on a six-month loan in July 2015, having impressed manager Rob Page playing against the Vale for Crewe the previous season.[18] He started the campaign as the club's main striker, and though he dropped out of the first eleven against Oldham Athletic on 29 September he came off the bench to score an equalising goal.[19] Page was hopeful of extending the loan deal until the end of the season, as Ikpeazu was the club's top-scorer throughout the early stages of the campaign.[20] However he lost his first team place after being sent off against Burton Albion on 24 October as AJ Leitch-Smith entered the side and found a rich vein of form.[21] Despite Ikpeazu still being the club's top-scorer his loan spell was not extended in January.[22] He remained in League One however, as he joined Blackpool on loan until the end of the 2015–16 season.[23] Ikpeazu was then released by Watford upon the expiry of his contract.[24]
Cambridge United
Ikpeazu had a trial at Championship side Norwich City in July 2016, and scored in a pre-season friendly against Dereham Town.[25] He signed a short-term contract with League Two club Cambridge United the following month.[26] He scored his first goal for Cambridge in a 2–1 win over Newport County at Rodney Parade on 24 September.[27]
Style of play
Ikpeazu is an athletic 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) forward who possesses pace and power.[28]
Statistics
- As of 5 November 2016.
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Didcot Town (loan) | 2011–12[29] | Southern League | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 1 | 3 | 2 | |
| Watford | 2013–14[30] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2014–15[31] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2015–16[32] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Crewe Alexandra (loan) | 2013–14[30] | League One | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 4 |
| Crewe Alexandra (loan) | 2014–15[31] | League One | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 |
| Doncaster Rovers (loan) | 2014–15[31] | League One | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Port Vale (loan) | 2015–16[32] | League One | 21 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 2] | 1 | 28 | 6 |
| Blackpool (loan) | 2015–16[32] | League One | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Cambridge United | 2016–17[33] | League Two | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 3] | 1 | 12 | 2 |
| Career total | 83 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 94 | 16 | ||
- ↑ Appearance in the FA Trophy.
- ↑ Appearances and goal in the EFL Trophy.
- ↑ Two appearances and goal in the EFL Trophy.
References
- ↑ "Clubs submit retained and released lists". The Premier League. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
- ↑ "Uche Ikpeazu". Watford F.C. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
- ↑ Aiyejina, Tana (21 December 2014). "I'll never forget my hat-trick against Arsenal — Ikpeazu". Punch. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
- 1 2 "Official: Hornets sign Ikpeazu". Watford F.C. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
- ↑ "Didcot pull off a big shock". Didcot Herald. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
- 1 2 "Uche Ikpeazu: Watford sign prolific teenager on pro contract". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
- ↑ "Carrico update". Reading F.C. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
- ↑ Smith, Frank (8 January 2014). "Reading and Watford agree compensation fee for Uche Ikpeazu". Watford Observer. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
- ↑ "Crewe sign Uche!". Crewe Alexandra F.C. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
- ↑ "Crewe 1–2 Leyton Orient". Crewe Alexandra F.C. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
- ↑ "Bradford City 3–3 Crewe Alexandra". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ↑ "Crewe Alexandra sign Nicky Ajose and Uche Ikpeazu on loan". BBC Sport. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
- ↑ "Crewe Alexandra 1–1 Doncaster Rovers". BBC Sport. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
- ↑ "Uche Ikpeazu: Doncaster sign Watford striker after Crewe recall". BBC Sport. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
- ↑ "Loan striker Ikpeazu returns to Watford". Yorkshire Post. 10 March 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
- ↑ Hoden, Liam (11 March 2015). "Doncaster Rovers: 'Lack of opportunity' behind Uche Ikpeazu departure". The Star. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
- ↑ "Crewe Alexandra: Uche Ikpeazu rejoins on loan from Watford". BBC Sport. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
- ↑ "Watford striker Uche Ikpeazu seals six-month loan move". BBC Sport. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
- ↑ "Goal ace Uche Ikpeazu determined to be the best after lapse earns him Vale axe". The Sentinel. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
- ↑ "Rob Page keen to do deal with Watford for Uche Ikpeazu". The Sentinel. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
- ↑ Baggaley, Mike (15 December 2015). "Uche Ikpeazu's future at Vale yet to be decided". The Sentinel. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- ↑ "Uche Ikpeazu: Watford striker needs consistency - Rob Page". BBC Sport. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- ↑ "Uche Ikpeazu: Blackpool sign Watford striker on loan". BBC Sport. 21 January 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
- ↑ "OFFICIAL: Hornets Confirm Retained & Released Players". Watford F.C. 3 June 2016.
- ↑ Emery, Daniel (16 July 2016). "Ikpeazu on trial at Norwich". readnorwich.com. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
- ↑ "Uche Ikpeazu: Former Watford striker joins Cambridge United". BBC Sport. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
- ↑ "Newport 1-2 Cambridge". BBC. 24 September 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
- ↑ "Boss Page delighted to see Ikpeazu with Valiants". The Sentinel. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
- ↑ "Didcot pull off a big shock". Didcot Herald. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
"Abingdon salvo destroys Didcot". Didcot Herald. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
"Ikpeazu stars on Didcot debut". Didcot Herald. Retrieved 24 January 2014. - 1 2 "Games played by Uche Ikpeazu in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
- 1 2 3 "Games played by Uche Ikpeazu in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
- 1 2 3 "Games played by Uche Ikpeazu in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
- ↑ "Games played by Uche Ikpeazu in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
