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Anthony Ujah

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Anthony Ujah
Ujah during his time with 1. FC Köln
Personal information
Date of birth (1990-10-14) 14 October 1990 (age 35)
Place of birth Ugbokolo, Nigeria
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2007 Abuja F.C.
2008–2009 Warri Wolves 22 (13)
2010–2011 Lillestrøm 36 (27)
2011–2013 Mainz 05 12 (2)
2012–2013 → 1. FC Köln (loan) 28 (13)
2013–2015 1. FC Köln 66 (21)
2015–2016 Werder Bremen 32 (11)
2016–2017 Liaoning Whowin 39 (10)
2018–2019 Mainz 05 33 (4)
2019–2022 Union Berlin 27 (3)
2022–2024 Eintracht Braunschweig 52 (13)
2024–2025 Botev Plovdiv 1 (0)
Total 348 (117)
International career
2013–2015 Nigeria 7 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Anthony Ujah (born 14 October 1990) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a forward, spending most of his career in Germany. He made seven appearances for the Nigeria national team between 2013 and 2015.

Early life

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Ujah grew up in the little town of Ugbokolo in Nigeria's Benue State.[2]

Club career

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Ujah began his career with Abuja F.C. In 2008, he was signed by Warri Wolves.[3] He left Warri Wolves in January 2010 to attend a trial with Lillestrøm.[4]

Lillestrøm

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2010 season

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Having impressed while attending the trial, Ujah signed a four-year contract with Lillestrøm and made his debut for the club on 14 March 2010 against Aalesunds FK.[5]

In January 2011, Ujah was linked with a move to England with Football League One clubs Swindon Town and Southampton reportedly interested.[6] On transfer deadline day, Ujah travelled to La Liga side Mallorca to discuss a move after Lillestrøm accepted a bid for the striker. However, no deal was signed, and Ujah started the 2011 campaign still in the Norway with Lillestrøm.[7]

2011 season

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In the first game of the season on 3 March 2011, Ujah scored four goals in Lillestrøm's 7–0 victory away against Stabæk.[8] Following his strong performance, it was reported that PSV Eindhoven, among other European clubs such as Rennes, Lille, Toulouse and Sunderland, were keeping tabs on Ujah.[9] Ujah added to his tally by scoring a brace in his side's 5–0 of FK Haugesund on 25 April.[10] In May 2011, following his return of eight goals from the first six league matches for Lillestrøm, Ujah was linked to a host of bigger clubs from strong continental leagues including the Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Eredivisie.[citation needed] A month later on 28 May, Ujah netted the winning goal in a 4–2 victory over Sarpsborg 08.[11] On 19 June 2011, Ujah again hit four goals for Lillestrøm, this time against Strømsgodset, helping his side to a 4–2 win in the Tippeligaen. After just 15 months in Norway, he built up a tremendous rapport with the club's supporters and arguably attained an almost legend-like status unheard of for a 20-year-old.[citation needed] He ended up scoring 30 goals in 42 matches across all official competitions for Lillestrøm.[12]

Mainz 05

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In June 2011, Ujah signed for Mainz 05, after being tracked by several clubs, most notably Danish outfits F.C. Copenhagen and Brøndby IF.[13][14] Early in his Mainz career, Ujah missed multiple chances and scored a crucial own goal as Mainz were knocked out of the UEFA Europa League by Gaz Metan Mediaș.[15] Ujah scored his first two goals for his new club in a 3–1 victory over VfB Stuttgart on 4 November, ending his side's winless run that stretched back to mid-August and moved them three points clear of the relegation zone; however, these were the only Bundesliga goals he scored that season, and he made only three substitute appearances after the winter break.[15][16][17][18]

1. FC Köln

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On the last day of the summer 2012 transfer window, Ujah signed for 1. FC Köln on a season-long loan.[19] He scored 13 goals in the 2012–13 2. Bundesliga and the transfer was made permanent at the end of the season.[18][20]

Köln won promotion to the Bundesliga in the 2013–14 season, with Ujah forming a strike partnership alongside Patrick Helmes. Ujah was the club's top scorer in the 2014–15 Bundesliga season, scoring 10 goals.[18][20] In March 2015, Ujah made headlines for his celebration after scoring a goal against Eintracht Frankfurt; the striker ran towards the club's goat mascot, Hennes, and grabbed its horns.[21]

In 2020 Ujah described his spell at Köln as the best time in his career.[22]

Werder Bremen

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On 5 May 2015, Werder Bremen announced that they had triggered Ujah's release clause and he would join the club for the 2015–16 season.[23][24] On 24 October, Ujah scored a brace against his former club Mainz as Werder earned a 3–1 away win following five successive defeats.[25] Four days later, he scored again, helping Werder to a 1–0 victory over his former club 1. FC Köln in the second round of the DFB-Pokal.[26] It was his first goal in a home match at the Weserstadion.[27]

Liaoning Whowin

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On 5 July 2016, Werder Bremen announced Ujah would be joining Liaoning Whowin pending a medical for a reported transfer fee of €13 million. Both player and club had rejected a similar offer from Liaoning Whowin in the previous winter transfer window.[28][29] Two days later, the move was finalised with Ujah signing a three-year contract.[30] On 8 July 2016, Ujah scored on his debut for Liaoning in a 2–1 win over Shijiazhuang Ever Bright.[31]

Return to Mainz 05

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In December, it was announced that Ujah would return to the Bundesliga having re-signed with former club Mainz 05 on a 3+1⁄2-year contract until 2021.[32] Although he only scored four league goals in his second spell at Mainz, Ujah did help Mainz beat rivals Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 in May 2019 with a brace.[15][18]

Union Berlin

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In June 2019, Ujah's move to Union Berlin, newly promoted to the Bundesliga, for the 2019–20 season was agreed. He signed a three-year deal.[33] Ujah contributed three goals in his first season for Union, but spent a long time out injured and was released in summer 2022.[34]

Eintracht Braunschweig

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On 2 August 2022, Ujah signed with Eintracht Braunschweig on a one-year contract, with an optional extra year.[35] His contract was renewed for a second season after Eintracht Braunschweig avoided relegation, with Ujah contributing ten goals and five assists in the 2. Bundesliga.[36]

Botev Plovdiv

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On 19 June 2024, Ujah moved to Bulgaria, signing a deal with Botev Plovdiv.[37] In July 2024, he scored in both legs of the UEFA Europa League qualifying matches against Maribor, which saw Botev Plovdiv prevail 4–3 on aggregate.[38] In August 2024, in the return encounter of the next round against Panathinaikos, Ujah suffered a torn ligament, which subsequently necessitated a knee operation and was expected to sideline him for a number of months.[39]

Ujah announced his retirement from playing on 30 August 2025.[40]

International career

[edit]

At the end of May 2011, Ujah was called up to the Nigeria national U23 team that faced Tanzania on 5 June 2011.

He was selected for Nigeria's squad at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.[41]

Career statistics

[edit]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Warri Wolves [42] Nigeria Premier League 2213—2213
Lillestrøm 2010[12] Tippeligaen 241433—2717
2011[12] 121330—1513
Total 362763004230
Mainz 05 2011–12[43] Bundesliga 122202[a]0162
2012–13[43] 0010—10
Total 1223020172
1. FC Köln (loan) 2012–13[43] 2. Bundesliga 281330—3113
1. FC Köln 2013–14[43] 2. Bundesliga 341130—3711
2014–15[43] Bundesliga 321032—3512
Total 662162007223
Werder Bremen 2015–16[43] Bundesliga 321153—3714
Liaoning Whowin 2016[44] Chinese Super League 15500—155
2017[44] 24500—245
Total 391000003910
Mainz 05 2017–18[43] Bundesliga 11010—120
2018–19[43] 22410—234
Total 3342000354
Union Berlin 2019–20[43] Bundesliga 24341—284
2020–21[43] 0000—00
2021–22[43] 3000—30
Total 2734100314
Eintracht Braunschweig 2022–23[43] 2. Bundesliga 291010—3010
2023–24[43] 23311—244
Total 521321005414
Botev Plovdiv 2024–25[44] Bulgarian First League 10004252
Career total 348117311440385129
  1. ↑ Appearances in the Europa League

References

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  1. ↑ "Anthony Ujah". 1. FC Union Berlin (in German). Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  2. ↑ "Vor Flug in die Heimat: Derby-Held Ujah öffnet sein Familienalbum" [Ahead of home-bound flight: Ujah opens his family album]. Express (in German). 23 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  3. ↑ "Nigeria: Ujah, Obaje Dazzle in Denmark". Daily Champion. 5 February 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  4. ↑ Sødal, Per Morten (23 January 2010). "Blir med til La Manga" [Joining to La Manga]. Romerikes Blad (in Norwegian). Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  5. ↑ Andersen, Truls (14 March 2010). "Her er Lillestrøms nye spissjuvel" [Here is Lillestrøms new striker jewel]. VG Sport (in Norwegian). Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  6. ↑ "Anthony Ujah Biography / Profile". Manpower. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  7. ↑ "Lillestrøm solgte ikke Ujah likevel" [Lillestrøm did not sell Ujah yet]. Dagbladet (in Norwegian). 1 February 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  8. ↑ "Stabæk - Lillestrøm". fotball.no. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  9. ↑ Mahadew, Vincent (19 April 2011). "PSV wil zich weer versterken met Nigeriaans talent". Elf Voetbal (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  10. ↑ "Lillestrøm - Haugesund". fotball.no. 25 April 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  11. ↑ "Sarpsborg 08 - Lillestrøm". fotball.no. 28 May 2011. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  12. 1 2 3 "Profile at Nifs.no". nifs.no. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  13. ↑ "Mainz 05 Signs Anthony Ujah From Lillestrom". SBNation.com. 28 June 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  14. ↑ Okeleji, Oluwashina (28 June 2011). "Nigeria under-23 striker Ujah joins German club Mainz". BBC News. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  15. 1 2 3 Meuren, Daniel; Schaechter, Tobias (2021). Thomas Tuchel: Rulebreaker. Biteback Publishing. pp. 143–145. ISBN 978-1-78590-723-4.
  16. ↑ "Two sent off as Mainz end drought". ESPN Soccernet. 4 November 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  17. ↑ "Gamecast: Mainz vs. VfB Stuttgart". ESPN Soccernet. 4 November 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  18. 1 2 3 4 "Anthony Ujah | Laufbahn | Spielerprofil". kicker (in German). Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  19. ↑ Okeleji, Oluwashina (31 August 2011). "Nigerian Anthony Ujah joins Cologne on loan from Mainz". BBC News. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  20. 1 2 "Köln striker Ujah agrees Bremen deal | SV Werder Bremen". bundesliga.com - the official Bundesliga website. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  21. ↑ sport, Guardian (9 March 2015). "Cologne's Anthony Ujah apologises to goat mascot after goal celebration". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  22. ↑ "Köln spielt für Ujah eine besonders große Rolle" [Cologne plays a particularly important role for Ujah]. Kicker (in German). 9 June 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  23. ↑ Harding, Jonathan (5 May 2015). "Anthony Ujah to join Werder Bremen". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  24. ↑ "Werder holt Ujah als Selke-Nachfolger". dfb.de. 5 May 2015.
  25. ↑ "Bremen end losing streak with stunning six-minute spell". Bundesliga. 24 October 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  26. ↑ "Werder Bremen 1 - 0 Köln Team line-ups 10/28/15 - DFB Pokal - Goal.com". Goal. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  27. ↑ "Anthony Ujah" (in German). Kicker. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  28. ↑ "Von Bremen nach China: Ujah-Wechsel ist perfekt". kicker Online (in German). 5 July 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  29. ↑ Klemm, Hans-Günter (5 July 2016). "Geldregen für Werder: Ujah erliegt Lockruf aus China". kicker Online (in German). Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  30. ↑ "辽足2亿先生：压力就是动力 首秀服从教练安排". Sina Sports (in Chinese). 7 July 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  31. ↑ "Ujah trifft bei seinem Debüt für Liaoning". kicker Online (in German). 10 July 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  32. ↑ Okeleji, Oluwashina (21 December 2017). "Nigeria's Anthony Ujah re-joins Mainz from China's Liaoning". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  33. ↑ Taiwo, Taiye (20 June 2019). "Newly-promoted Bundesliga club Union Berlin snap up Nigeria's Anthony Ujah". Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  34. ↑ "Nigeria duo Ujah, Abdullahi part ways with Bundesliga side Union Berlin | Goal.com UK". www.goal.com. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  35. ↑ "Anthony Ujah wird ein Löwe" [Anthony Ujah becomes a lion]. www.eintracht.com (in German). 2 August 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  36. ↑ "Vertrag von Anthony Ujah verlängert". www.eintracht.com (in German). 31 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  37. ↑ "Ботев привлече нападател с над 100 мача в Бундеслигата" [Botev signs striker with over 100 games in the Bundesliga]. Dsport (in Bulgarian). Darik Digital AD. 19 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  38. ↑ "В Гърция отличиха Попето, Уджа и Акере" (in Bulgarian). temasport.com. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  39. ↑ "Звездата на Ботев Пд мина операцията, неподвижен ще е над месец" (in Bulgarian). gong.bg. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  40. ↑ Akinbo, Peter (30 August 2025). "Anthony Ujah Retires from Football at 34". The Punch. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  41. ↑ "Nigeria to take new-look squad to Confederations Cup". BBC Sport. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  42. ↑ Anthony Ujah at National-Football-Teams.com
  43. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Anthony Ujah » Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  44. 1 2 3 "A. Ujah". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
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