| Personal information | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Daryl Enyinnaya Dike[1] | ||||||||||
| Date of birth | (2000-06-03)June 3, 2000 (age 24) | ||||||||||
| Place of birth | Edmond, Oklahoma, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2] | ||||||||||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||
Current team | West Bromwich Albion | ||||||||||
| Number | 12 | ||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||
| 2013–2015 | Oklahoma FC | ||||||||||
| College career | |||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||
| 2018–2019 | Virginia Cavaliers | 36 | (15) | ||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||
| 2018 | OKC Energy U23 | 4 | (3) | ||||||||
| 2020–2021 | Orlando City | 35 | (18) | ||||||||
| 2021 | →Barnsley (loan) | 19 | (9) | ||||||||
| 2022– | West Bromwich Albion | 33 | (7) | ||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||
| 2021– | United States | 10 | (3) | ||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of March 15, 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of March 27, 2023 | |||||||||||
Daryl Enyinnaya Dike (born June 3, 2000) is an American professionalsoccer player who plays as astriker forEFL Championship clubWest Bromwich Albion and theUnited States national team.
Dike playedcollege soccer for theUniversity of Virginia and was selected in the first round (5th overall) of the2020 MLS SuperDraft by Orlando having already signed aGeneration Adidas contract.[3]
Born inEdmond, Oklahoma, Dike played soccer atEdmond North High School, captaining the side from his sophomore season onward. A three-time Oklahoma Offensive Player of the Year, he scored an Oklahoma 6A state record 70 goals and helped his team win a state championship. In 2018 he was namedGatorade Player of the Year for Oklahoma.[4]
Dike played forOKC Energy U23 in thePDL during the2018 season between high school and college soccer, making four appearances and scoring three goals.[5]
Ahead of the2018 NCAA Division I men's soccer season, Dike signed anational letter of intent to playcollege soccer for theVirginia Cavaliers. Originally a reserve, Dike became a regular starter for the Cavaliers a month into the season. He made his college soccer debut on September 18, 2018, playing 34 minutes in a 2–0 victory againstFIU. On September 21, 2018, Dike made his first start, playing 57 minutes in a 2–0 win atSyracuse. Dike scored his first collegiate goal on October 2, 2018, in a 2–1 victory againstWright State. He scored four more goals during the season before an injury sidelined him during the2018 ACC Men's Soccer Tournament. Dike returned on November 18, 2018, for theNCAA tournament, where he recorded his first collegiate assist in a 2–0 victory againstFurman.[6] Dike finished the 2018 season with 13 appearances, five goals, and an assist. Dike was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team and the ACC Academic Honor Roll.
Dike started all 23 matches for Virginia during his sophomore year. On August 30, 2019, in the opening game of the2019 season, Dike registered two assists in a 2–0 win againstPacific. Dike led the Cavaliers with goals and assists during the 2019 season, netting 10 goals and providing eight assists.[7] He scored both of Virginia's two goals on December 13, 2019, in the College Cup semifinals againstWake Forest.[8] On December 15, 2019, Dike scored the tying goal in the2019 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship Game againstGeorgetown to send the game to overtime, where Virginia ultimately lost in penalty kicks. Dike was named theNCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament Most Outstanding Player following the match, giving Dike his first national collegiate award. Additionally, Dike was named to the All-ACC Second Team.[9]
On January 9, 2020, Dike was selected in the first round (5th overall) of the2020 MLS SuperDraft byOrlando City having already signed aGeneration Adidas contract.[10] On July 25, 2020, he made his professional debut as an 75th-minute substitute forTesho Akindele in a 1–0 victory overMontreal Impact during theMLS is Back Tournament round of 16.[11] On August 22, Dike made his first start for the team in his first regular season MLS match and subsequently scored his first professional goal in a 3–2 defeat toInter Miami.[12] Four days later he scored his first career brace in a 3–1 win overNashville SC.[13] With three goals and two assists in five matches, Dike was namedMLS Player of the Month for August 2020.[14] In October, Dike was announced as #10 in the annual MLS 22 Under 22 list, the first Orlando player sinceCyle Larin in 2017 to be included.[15] With MLS electing to change the annual Rookie of the Year award toYoung Player of the Year in 2020, Dike was the highest-ranked rookie but came third in the voting behind five-year proDiego Rossi and second-year proBrenden Aaronson.[16]
On February 1, 2021, Dike joinedEFL Championship clubBarnsley on loan until the end of the2020–21 season with a reported $20 million option to buy and 20% sell-on fee clause.[17][18][19] He was only able to meet the criteria for a UK work permit because he had made his senior international debut the day before.[20] He made his Barnsley debut on February 11, as a 59th-minute substitute forVictor Adeboyejo in a 1–0FA Cup fifth round defeat toPremier League sideChelsea.[21] He made his league debut three days later, starting and playing 56 minutes of a 2–0 win overBrentford.[22] He scored his first goal for the club on February 24 in a 2–0 league win overStoke City.[23] With four goals in six appearances, Dike was named Barnsley's player of the month for March. He also won the club's goal of the month award for a thunderous strike in a 1–0 win overBirmingham City on March 6.[24][25] The strike was later voted as the club's goal of the season.[26] On April 21, Dike scored abicycle kick in a 1–0 win overHuddersfield Town.[27] The result moved Barnsley six points clear ofReading in the race for the final promotion play-off place with three games to go.[28] On April 28, Dike was named the club's player of the month for the second consecutive time having scored four goals in six games including two game-winners.[29] Having confirmed their playoff status, Barnsley came to an agreement with Orlando City on April 29 to prevent Dike from being recalled during the postseason.[30] He started the semifinal first leg at home as Barnsley lost 1–0 before appearing as a halftime substitute during a 1–1 draw in the second leg.[31] Dike's loan expired on May 31 with Orlando City announcing in a statement the following day that Barnsley had elected not to trigger the release clause.[32]
Having missed the first part of the season while finishing his Barnsley loan before joining up with the United States national team, Dike eventually made his 2021 season debut for Orlando as a second-half substitute on June 19 in a 3–2 win overToronto FC. He started the following game, scoring twice in a 5–0 victory againstSan Jose Earthquakes.[33] He made a further two appearances before again leaving on international duty at the2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He missed five games due to the tournament and returned with a shoulder injury and tendinitis, forcing him to miss a further five games including Orlando's continental debut in the2021 Leagues Cup.[34] With the team struggling to stay above the playoff line from early August, Dike started slow on his return to the side - scoring and assisting once (both in a 3–2 victory overColumbus Crew on September 4) in five games, of which the goal saw him awardedGoal of the Week.[35][36] He eventually found form, scoring in three consecutive games for the second time in his pro career. The streak notably included a penalty as Dike took duties away from veteran Portugal internationalNani who had failed to convert the previous game, Orlando's third miss on five attempts in 2021.[37] In October, it was announced that Dike was ranked #2 behind onlyRicardo Pepi on the annual MLS 22 Under 22, up from #10 on the previous year's list.[38]
On January 1, 2022, Dike signed forWest Bromwich Albion of the EnglishEFL Championship on a four-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[39] On January 16, Dike made his debut for West Bromwich Albion, coming on as a substitute in a 1–0 loss toQueen's Park Rangers. During his first start againstPeterborough United, Dike sustained a hamstring injury which ruled him out for the remainder of the season.[40] He scored his first goal for the club on December 12, 2022, in a 2–1 win againstSunderland.[41]
During a league game againstStoke City on April 15, 2023, Dike suffered an Achilles tendon injury in his right leg which ruled him out for nine months.[42]
On February 10, 2024, just over a month after his return, Dike suffered a left leg injury and was carted off during a 2–2 draw againstIpswich Town. ManagerCarlos Corberan stated after the match that the injury was "similar" to the one Dike suffered in 2023.[43][44] On February 12, it was confirmed that Dike has ruptured his left Achilles tendon, and would miss the remainder of 2024.[45]
In November 2020, Dike was called up to theUnited States national team for the first time for afriendly againstEl Salvador but did not appear after picking up an injury in training.[46] He made his debut for the United States on January 31, 2021, as a 65th-minute substitute forPaul Arriola in a 7–0 friendly win overTrinidad and Tobago.[47] In May 2021, Dike was called into training camp for the2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals but did not make the final squad.[48] He scored his first international goal on June 9, 2021, in a 4–0 friendly win overCosta Rica atRio Tinto Stadium.[49] In July 2021, Dike was named to the final 23-player roster for the2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[50] On July 15, Dike scored his first competitive goals when he scored abrace during a6–1 group stage win overMartinique.[51]
The youngest of five siblings, Dike's eldest brother,Bright Dike, was also a first round MLS Superdraft pick in2010 and has played for theNigerian national team.[52] His sister,Courtney, was capped byNigeria and made two appearances at the2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. He is the cousin ofNigeria international strikerEmmanuel Emenike.[53]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| OKC Energy FC U23 | 2018[5] | Premier Development League | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | |||
| Orlando City | 2020 | MLS | 17 | 8 | — | 2 | 0 | 3[c] | 0 | 22 | 8 | |
| 2021 | MLS | 18 | 10 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 19 | 11 | |||
| Total | 35 | 18 | — | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 41 | 19 | |||
| Barnsley (loan) | 2020–21 | Championship | 19 | 9 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[d] | 0 | 22 | 9 | |
| West Bromwich Albion | 2021–22 | Championship | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2022–23 | Championship | 23 | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 7 | |||
| 2023–24 | Championship | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 5 | 1 | |||
| 2024–25 | Championship | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 33 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 8 | ||
| Career total | 91 | 37 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 103 | 39 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2021 | 8 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 10 | 3 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 9, 2021[49] | Rio Tinto Stadium,Sandy, United States | 3 |  Costa Rica | 2–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | July 15, 2021 | Children's Mercy Park,Kansas City, United States | 5 |  Martinique | 1–0 | 6–1 | 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 3 | 4–0 |
Virginia Cavaliers
United States
Individual
