Philip Otele
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Philip Porwei Otele | ||
| Date of birth | 15 April 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Port Harcourt, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | CFR Cluj | ||
| 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– | CFR Cluj | 36 | (14) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 April 2024 | |||
Philip Porwei Otele (born 15 April 1999) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays mainly as winger for Liga I club CFR Cluj.
Career[edit]
Early career / Kauno Žalgiris[edit]
Otele started his senior career at Wolviston FC, competing in the English lower leagues between 2017 to 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[edit]
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[edit]
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 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]
Style of play[edit]
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[edit]
Club[edit]
- As of match played 19 April 2024[7]
| 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 | 35 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | — | 40 | 14 | |
| Career total | 149 | 37 | 14 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 173 | 41 | ||
- ^ a b Appearance in UEFA Europa League
- ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
- ^ Appearances in Liga I promotion/relegation play-offs
References[edit]
- ^ 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.
- ^ "UTA l-a transferat pe mijlocaşul nigerian Philip Otele" [UTA transferred Nigerian midfielder Philip Otele] (in Romanian). AGERPRES. 13 January 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Philip Otele at Soccerway. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
External links[edit]
- Philip Otele – Romanian league stats at LPF (in Romanian)
- 1999 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Port Harcourt
- Nigerian men's footballers
- Nigerian emigrants to the United Kingdom
- Men's association football forwards
- A Lyga players
- FK Kauno Žalgiris players
- Liga I players
- FC UTA Arad players
- CFR Cluj players
- Nigerian expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in Lithuania
- Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Lithuania
- Expatriate men's footballers in Romania
- Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Romania