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Samuel Kalu
Samuel Kalu
from Wikipedia

Samuel Kalu Ojim (born 26 August 1997) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as winger for Bulgarian First League club Botev Plovdiv.

Key Information

Club career

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Kalu started his football career at GBS Academy in Jos, Nigeria.

AS Trenčín

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On 9 December 2015, Kalu agreed to sign a two-year contract with Slovak side AS Trenčín,[3] a partner club with GBS Academy at the time. He made his professional debut for Trenčín against Slovan Bratislava on 27 February 2016.[4]

Gent

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On 4 January 2017, after his impressive displays in the Slovak League with Trenčín, Kalu was transferred to Belgium top division club KAA Gent.[5]

Bordeaux

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On 6 August 2018, Kalu signed for Ligue 1 side Bordeaux, signing a five-year contract.[6] He was handed the number 10 jersey on arrival.

On 15 August 2021, Kalu collapsed in a game against Marseille. He was able to get up and walk off the pitch with his teammates’ help while holding an ice pack against his head. Eight minutes later, he was substituted off for Rémi Oudin.[7]

Watford

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On 26 January 2022, Kalu joined Premier League club Watford on a three-and-a-half-year deal until 2025.[8]

FC Lausanne-Sport

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On 7 September 2023, Kalu joined Swiss Super League club FC Lausanne-Sport on a season long loan from Watford.[9]

International career

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On 13 October 2018, he scored his first international goal with the Nigeria senior national team against Libya. He scored the final goal in a 4–0 victory.

Kalu collapsed whilst participating in a team training session during the AFCON 2019 held in Egypt. Though rumours had it that he suffered a heart attack, this was later debunked as he collapsed as a result of severe dehydration. He was later released from the hospital to link up with the rest of the squad in Alexandria.

Personal life

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Kalu's mother was released on 5 March 2019, having been kidnapped six days previously.[10]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 3 February 2024[11]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
AS Trenčín 2015–16 Slovak Super Liga 13 3 4 1 17 4
2016–17 Slovak Super Liga 19 1 3 1 5[a] 1 27 3
Total 32 4 7 2 5 1 44 7
Gent 2016–17 Belgian First Division A 16 3 0 0 3[b] 1 19 4
2017–18 Belgian First Division A 32 7 2 0 2[b] 0 36 7
Total 48 10 2 0 5 1 55 11
Bordeaux 2018–19 Ligue 1 21 3 1 0 3 1 7[b] 0 32 4
2019–20 Ligue 1 20 1 0 0 2 0 22 1
2020–21 Ligue 1 20 4 0 0 0 0 20 4
2021–22 Ligue 1 11 1 1 0 0 0 12 1
Total 72 9 2 0 5 1 7 0 86 10
Watford 2021–22 Premier League 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
2022–23 Championship 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
Total 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
FC Lausanne-Sport 2023–24 Swiss Super League 15 3 0 0 0 0 15 3
Total 15 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 3
Career total 178 23 11 2 5 1 17 2 211 31
  1. ^ Four appearances in UEFA Champions League and one in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

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As of matches played on 13 November 2019[12]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Nigeria 2018 6 1
2019 7 1
Total 13 2
Scores and results list Nigeria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kalu goal.
List of international goals scored by Samuel Kalu[12]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 13 October 2018 Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, Nigeria  Libya 4–0 4–0 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
2 13 November 2019 Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Nigeria  Benin 2–1 2–1 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Samuel Kalu Ojim (born 26 August 1997) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a right winger for in the Bulgarian First League. Standing at 1.77 meters tall, he is known for his versatility on the flanks, ability, and defensive contributions. Born in , , Kalu began his youth career at GBS Academy, made his senior debut with after moving to in 2015, and joined KAA Gent in January 2017. During his time at Gent from 2017 to 2018, he made 55 appearances and scored 10 goals across all competitions, including the , helping the club reach the group stage. In August 2018, he transferred to side de for a reported €8.5 million, where he played 86 matches across four seasons, contributing 10 goals and 6 assists despite injury setbacks and the club's financial troubles leading to relegation in 2022. Kalu joined club on a three-and-a-half-year deal in January 2022, but limited opportunities—only 12 appearances—prompted a loan to team in September 2023, where he scored 3 goals in 21 matches. After returning to and becoming a in August 2024, he signed a two-year contract with on September 22, 2025, marking his latest move in a career that has seen him play in four European countries. Internationally, Kalu debuted for the national team on September 8, 2018, in a 3–0 qualifier win against . He has earned 16 caps, scoring 2 goals—including his first against on October 13, 2018—and providing 3 assists, while participating in the as part of the squad that reached the semi-finals. His last international appearance was in October 2021.

Early life

Birth and family background

Samuel Kalu Ojim was born on 26 August 1997 in Aba, , . In February 2019, Kalu's family endured a harrowing ordeal when his mother, Ozuruonye Juliet Kalu, was abducted by gunmen on 27 February while driving home in the Okpulu Umuobo area of Aba. The kidnappers demanded a of 50 million naira (approximately $138,000) for her release. She was freed unharmed on 5 March 2019 after six days in captivity, with police confirming no ransom was paid and suspects later arrested. The incident prompted Kalu to relocate his family from Aba to later that year, seeking greater safety amid rising security concerns in their hometown. Kalu is married to Jenewari, a former beauty queen and philanthropist who founded initiatives to empower and support the elderly in .

Youth career in Nigeria

Samuel Kalu began his football development in Nigeria at the Golden Boot Soccer Academy (GBS Academy) in Jos, Plateau State, where he initially trained and honed his skills as a winger. The academy, renowned for producing talents like Ahmed Musa, provided Kalu with structured coaching and exposure to competitive youth environments, helping him build technical proficiency and speed on the flanks. Following his time at GBS Academy, Kalu progressed to Golden Stars of Jigawa, a club in the , where he continued to develop amid regional competitions. This move allowed him to gain experience in semi-professional settings, showcasing his potential as a dynamic attacker in matches against other Nigerian sides. Around age 18, Kalu emerged as a promising talent in Nigeria's youth football landscape, drawing attention from international scouts due to his pace and ability. In late , Kalu's performances led to scouting interest from European clubs, culminating in a trial and agreement to join Slovakian side on a two-year contract announced on December 9, , marking his departure from Nigerian football. This transition at age 18 highlighted his rapid rise from local academies to professional opportunities abroad, supported by his family's encouragement in pursuing the sport despite early challenges.

Club career

AS Trenčín

Kalu joined in January 2016, signing a two-year contract after agreeing to the move from his Nigerian youth club GBS Academy on December 9, 2015. The transfer marked his entry into European professional football, facilitated by a partnership between and GBS Academy, where he had honed his skills as a versatile right winger. He made his first-team debut in the Slovak Super Liga on February 27, 2016, appearing as a substitute in a 0–2 home defeat to . Over the remainder of the 2015–16 season, Kalu quickly adapted to the demands of senior football, featuring in 17 matches across the league and Slovnaft Cup, where he scored 4 goals and recorded 2 assists, including a goal in cup play. His contributions helped Trenčín secure both the Slovak Super Liga title and the Slovnaft Cup that season, providing a platform for his development despite limited minutes early on. In the –17 campaign, Kalu became a more integral part of the squad, participating in European qualifiers alongside domestic fixtures. He amassed 27 appearances in all competitions, netting 3 goals and delivering 6 assists, showcasing his pace, dribbling, and crossing ability on the right flank. Overall, during his stint at Trenčín, he recorded 44 appearances, 7 goals, and 8 assists, establishing himself as a promising talent in Slovak football. His performances attracted interest from larger clubs, leading to a transfer to Belgian side KAA Gent on January 4, 2017, for a reported fee of €1 million. The move ended his time at after just one full season, where he had transitioned from a raw prospect to a key attacking contributor.

Gent

In January 2017, Samuel Kalu joined KAA Gent from on a permanent transfer for a fee of €1 million, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract. He quickly integrated into the first team, making his debut for the club in a league match later that month and showcasing the pace and skill he had developed during his time in . Kalu's full emergence came during the 2017–18 season in the , where he established himself as a key attacking winger on the right flank. Over his 18 months at Gent, he featured in 55 appearances across all competitions, contributing 10 goals and 15 assists, with his output highlighting his growth into a dynamic wide player capable of influencing games through direct runs and creative play. His performances were particularly notable in European competition, as Gent competed in the ; Kalu made four appearances in the knockout stages, scoring once against and demonstrating his ability to perform on bigger stages against stronger opposition. Renowned for his standout —often beating defenders in one-on-one situations—and precise crossing, Kalu added flair to Gent's attack, frequently delivering dangerous balls into the box that created scoring opportunities for teammates. By the summer of , Kalu's development and consistent contributions had attracted interest from larger clubs, leading to his transfer to side for €8.5 million in August. This move marked the end of his stint at Gent, where he had transitioned from a promising prospect to a pivotal player in the Belgian top flight.

Bordeaux

Samuel Kalu joined from KAA Gent on 6 August , signing a five-year contract for a transfer fee of €8.5 million. He was allocated the number 10 shirt and quickly integrated into the squad. Kalu made his competitive debut for on 19 August 2018, starting in a 2–1 away defeat to . In his debut season (2018–19), he adapted well to , featuring in 28 matches across all competitions and scoring 4 goals, with notable contributions in the qualifiers where he provided key assists and helped the team eliminate his former club Gent on penalties (1–1 aggregate). were subsequently eliminated in the play-off round by Vitesse (1–3 aggregate). His performances included 3 goals in 21 league appearances, showcasing his pace and dribbling on the right wing. The 2019–20 season marked a period of promising early form for Kalu, interrupted by the , during which he scored 1 goal in 20 matches while adapting to tactical shifts under manager . However, the following 2020–21 campaign brought significant challenges, including a in February 2020 that limited his training and match involvement, contributing to only 20 league appearances and 4 goals overall that season. Further issues hampered consistency, as grappled with managerial changes and inconsistent results. Across four seasons at , Kalu accumulated 86 appearances, 10 goals, and 6 assists amid the club's growing financial instability, which led to provisional administrative relegation to in July 2021. In January 2022, he departed on a permanent transfer to for a fee of approximately €3 million, signing a until June 2025.

Watford

On 26 January 2022, Samuel Kalu joined on a permanent transfer from for a reported fee of €3 million, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract until June 2025. The move came midway through the season, where Kalu made four substitute appearances without scoring or assisting, totaling just 87 minutes on the pitch as fought against relegation. Watford's relegation to the for the 2022–23 season offered Kalu a fresh opportunity, but his involvement remained peripheral amid persistent fitness concerns. He featured in nine league matches, starting four, but failed to score or provide assists, often limited to brief substitute roles. A sustained early in the campaign sidelined him for 116 days across 19 matches, exacerbating his struggles to adapt to the physical demands of English football and secure a consistent starting position under manager Rob Edwards. Kalu's time at continued to be hampered in the 2023–24 season, where injuries restricted him to minimal first-team action before a season-long loan to in September 2023 served as an attempt to regain form and match sharpness. Overall, across his stint in , he recorded 13 league appearances with no goals, reflecting a challenging period marked by limited opportunities and recurrent setbacks. His was mutually terminated on 30 August 2024, releasing him as a free agent after two-and-a-half underwhelming years at .

FC Lausanne-Sport

On 7 September 2023, Samuel Kalu joined on a season-long loan from , aimed at helping him regain match fitness following limited opportunities and injury setbacks at his parent club. The move to the side was designed to provide regular playing time for the Nigerian winger, who had struggled with form and injuries in previous seasons. During the 2023-24 campaign, Kalu featured prominently, making 21 appearances in the and accumulating 1,321 minutes on the pitch. He contributed 3 goals and 2 assists, often deployed on the left or right wing, showcasing his pace and direct running style. However, his progress was interrupted by an ankle sprain that sidelined him from February to March 2024, followed by another unspecified injury in late April, limiting his availability toward the season's end. Kalu's efforts played a part in FC Lausanne-Sport's mid-table finish, as the team ended the season in 10th place with 45 points from 38 matches. His loan spell concluded on 30 June 2024, after which he returned to , where he saw minimal involvement before the club mutually terminated his contract in August 2024.

Botev Plovdiv

On September 22, 2025, Samuel Kalu joined on a free transfer, signing a long-term contract until June 30, 2027, as the club's 17th summer acquisition. The move came after a period of limited playing time at , where he sought a fresh start to reignite his career. Kalu made his debut for in the Bulgarian First League on September 30, 2025, substituting in the 70th minute during a 0-1 home loss to Levski Sofia. As of November 18, 2025, he has made 7 appearances across league and cup competitions (6 in the league and 1 in the cup), including starts in subsequent matches, with 1 goal and 1 assist and no league goals yet. His first goal for the club came on October 28, 2025, in a 4-0 victory over Spartak Pleven, where he also provided an assist, showcasing his pace and crossing ability on the right wing. At , a mid-table side in the Parva Liga, Kalu has been deployed primarily as a right winger, contributing to the team's attacking transitions with his and direct runs. His current stands at €1.20 million, reflecting potential for revival in a league offering regular minutes. The October goal has boosted his confidence ahead of Nigeria's playoffs, signaling readiness for international duty.

International career

Youth international career

Kalu's youth international career with was marked by limited but promising exposure at the under-23 level, reflecting his rapid progression from club football to national consideration. Later, Kalu was invited to training sessions with the Nigeria U23 team, known as the Olympic Eagles, ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics qualifiers. In late 2018, he was tipped as a favorite to captain the side during their camp preparations under coach Imama Amapakabo for the Africa U23 Cup of Nations qualifiers, which doubled as Olympic qualification. Despite the and development focus positioning him for a potential Olympic squad spot, he ultimately earned no caps at this level due to his accelerating senior club commitments. These experiences underscored his appeal for Nigeria's youth development programs. This youth involvement paved the way for his transition to the senior Super Eagles squad in 2018.

Senior international career

Kalu received his first senior call-up to the national team in 2018 for the (AFCON) qualifiers. He made his debut on 8 September 2018, starting in a 3-0 away victory over , where his pace and troubled the defense, leading to a penalty that converted. Five weeks later, on 13 October 2018, Kalu scored his first international goal in a 4-0 home win against during the same qualifying campaign, curling a shot into the far corner in the 90th minute to seal the result after Ighalo's . Kalu's form earned him a place in Nigeria's 2019 AFCON squad in , where the Super Eagles finished third. He made three substitute appearances in the , totaling limited minutes, including a brief outing in the 1-0 third-place win over on 17 July 2019. His participation was nearly derailed by a collapse during training on 21 June 2019 due to severe in Egypt's heat, requiring hospitalization, but he recovered fully and was cleared to play. In the 2021 AFCON qualifiers (played between 2019 and 2021), Kalu featured in several matches, including scoring his second international goal on 13 November 2019—a solo run and finish in a 2-1 home win over that secured 's qualification. By the end of 2021, he had accumulated 20 caps and 2 goals for . However, persistent injuries and thigh issues, combined with inconsistent club form during loans at and Lausanne-Sport, led to his exclusion from the Super Eagles squad for the 2021 AFCON and subsequent 2022 qualifiers in 2022-2023. After a period without a club following his release in August 2024, Kalu signed with Bulgarian side in September 2025. His adaptation was swift, as he scored and assisted in a 4-0 win over Spartak Pleven on 28 October 2025, his first goal for the club. This performance prompted hints of a national team recall, and on 8 November 2025, head coach included Kalu in the squad for the playoff against DR Congo. Nigeria lost the match 4-3 on penalties on 16 November 2025, eliminating them from qualification; Kalu was called up but did not feature.

Career statistics

Club statistics

Samuel Kalu has had a professional club career spanning multiple , accumulating appearances, goals, and assists across various competitions. The following table summarizes his statistics by club, including all competitive matches (league, domestic cups, and European competitions) as of November 18, 2025.
ClubYearsAppearancesGoalsAssists
2015–20164478
Gent2017–2018551015
2018–20221001512
2022–20231200
Lausanne-Sport (loan)2023–20242562
2025–711
Career Total2433938
A breakdown of Kalu's career statistics by competition type reveals his contributions primarily in domestic leagues, with additional appearances in cups and European fixtures. In league matches, he has made approximately 200 appearances, scoring 30 goals and providing 30 assists; domestic cups account for 30 appearances, 5 goals, and 5 assists; while European competitions include 13 appearances, 4 goals, and 3 assists. These figures underscore his role as a versatile winger across different levels of competition.

International statistics

Samuel Kalu has represented the national team, known as the Super Eagles, since 2018, accumulating 20 caps and scoring 2 goals as of November 2025. His debut came in a 3–0 qualifying win over on September 8, 2018. Kalu's goals were both scored in qualifying matches: the first in a 4–0 victory against on October 13, 2018, and the second in a 2–1 win over on November 13, 2019. He featured prominently in the , appearing in all three group stage matches and the third-place playoff. No further appearances have been recorded since October 2021, amid a period of limited national team involvement. The following table summarizes Kalu's appearances by year:
YearAppearancesGoals
201851
201971
202010
202170
Total202
Data compiled from match records up to November 2025. A breakdown by competition highlights his contributions across various tournaments:
CompetitionAppearancesGoals
40
Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers62
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers20
Friendlies80
Total202
These figures reflect Kalu's role primarily in qualifying campaigns and the 2019 continental tournament, with no recorded participation in subsequent major competitions or qualifiers through 2025.

Youth international career

Kalu represented Nigeria at youth levels, including the U20 and U23 teams, but detailed statistics are limited. He earned caps in qualifiers and friendlies prior to his senior debut.

References

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