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Philip Otele

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Philip Otele
Personal information
Full name Philip Porwei Otele
Date of birth (1999-04-15) 15 April 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Al-Wahda
Number 17
Youth career
–2017 Teesside University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2019 Wolviston FC
2019–2021 Kauno Žalgiris 64 (13)
2022–2023 UTA Arad 50 (10)
2023–2024 CFR Cluj 40 (18)
2024– Al-Wahda 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 September 2024

Philip Porwei Otele (born 15 April 1999) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays mainly as winger for UAE Pro League club Al Wahda.

Career

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Early career / Kauno Žalgiris

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Otele started his senior career at Wolviston FC, competing in the English lower leagues between 2017 and 2019. In May 2019, he signed a contract with Lithuanian club Kauno Žalgiris. Otele established himself as a regular starter in the 2021 season, scoring ten goals and helping Kauno to a consecutive third place in the national league.

UTA Arad

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On 13 January 2022, Otele moved to Romanian side UTA Arad.[1][2] He made his competitive on 5 February, coming on as a substitute for Karolis Laukžemis in a 1–0 home Liga I win over Sepsi OSK.[3] One month later, he scored his first goal in a 2–1 home victory over Mioveni.

CFR Cluj

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In January 2023, with his UTA Arad deal set to run out in the summer, Otele signed a pre-contract agreement with defending champions CFR Cluj.[4] He was officially unveiled by the club on 16 June,[5] and made his debut one month later, in 2–0 home Liga win over Politehnica Iași.

On 21 August 2023, Otele scored his first CFR goal in a 4–3 away league victory over city rivals Universitatea Cluj. Five days later, he netted a double in a 3–1 home defeat of Botoșani. On 21 December, he scored another double in 4–0 home derby thrashing of Universitatea Cluj. On 23 February 2024, Otele took his league tally to 11 goals after scoring twice in a 4–0 home defeat of Dinamo București.

In April 2024, amid interest from fellow league team FCSB, CFR Cluj owner Ioan Varga stated that he was negotiating Otele's transfer to Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion for £6 million and a 20% sell-on clause.[6] On 5 May, he scored his fourth double in a 3–2 home defeat of Rapid București, and six days later netted an overhead kick in a 1–0 away win over eventual champions FCSB.[7]

Otele finished the 2023–24 season as the Liga I top scorer with 18 goals, shared with FCSB's Florinel Coman, while CFR Cluj came second in the league table.[8]

Style of play

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Naturally right-footed, Otele is typically deployed as a left winger, but can also play on the right flank or in the centre as a striker.[1]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 26 August 2024[9]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Kauno Žalgiris 2019 A Lyga 14 0 2 0 1[a] 0 — 17 0
2020 A Lyga 18 3 2 0 1[a] 1 — 21 4
2021 A Lyga 32 10 1 2 4[b] 0 — 37 12
Total 64 13 5 2 6 1 — 75 16
UTA Arad 2021–22 Liga I 16 5 — — — 16 5
2022–23 Liga I 34 5 6 0 — 2[c] 1 42 6
Total 50 10 6 0 — 2 1 58 11
CFR Cluj 2023–24 Liga I 40 18 3 0 2[b] 0 — 45 18
Al Wahda 2024–25 UAE Pro League 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Career total 156 41 14 2 8 1 2 1 180 45
  1. ^ a b Appearance in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  3. ^ Appearances in Liga I promotion/relegation play-offs

Honours

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Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b "UTA a transferat un mijlocaș de bandă nigerian: "Le vom aduce victorii fanilor și vom accede în play-off"" [UTA transferred a Nigerian lateral midfielder: "We will bring victories to the fans and we will reach the play-offs"] (in Romanian). ProSport. 13 January 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  2. ^ "UTA l-a transferat pe mijlocaşul nigerian Philip Otele" [UTA transferred Nigerian midfielder Philip Otele] (in Romanian). AGERPRES. 13 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Nigerianul Otele a debutat la UTA! Cum a evoluat în primul meci pentru echipa din Arad + Primele declarații" [The Nigerian Otele made his debut for UTA! How he performed in the first match for the team from Arad + First statements] (in Romanian). ProSport. 5 February 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Philip Otele a semnat cu CFR Cluj: "Clubul ne-a informat azi!"" [Philip Otele signed with CFR Cluj: "The club informed us today!"] (in Romanian). Antena Sport. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Transfer anunțat oficial de CFR Cluj: e al cincilea cel mai bun dribler din SuperLigă!" [Official transfer announced by CFR Cluj: he is the fifth-best dribbler in the SuperLiga!]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 16 June 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Au început negocierile! 7 milioane de euro pentru Philip Otele" [The negotiations have begun! 7 million euros for Philip Otele] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  7. ^ "FCSB - CFR Cluj 0-1. Foarfeca lui Otele a decis meciul la care "roș-albaștrii" au fost încoronați campioni" [FCSB - CFR Cluj 0–1. Otele's scissor kick decided the match in which "the red-blues" were crowned champions] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 11 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Ei sunt premianții sezonului în Superliga » Deac scrie istorie! Coman a fost egalat în clasamentul golgheterilor" [They are the prizewinners of the season in the Superliga » Deac is writing history! Coman was tied in the top scorers table]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 20 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  9. ^ Philip Otele at Soccerway. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
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