| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Chukwuemeka Somto Eneli | ||
| Date of birth | (1999-10-18)October 18, 1999 (age 25) | ||
| Place of birth | Lansing,Michigan, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Real Salt Lake | ||
| Number | 14 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2012–2017 | Columbus Crew | ||
| 2017–2018 | Ohio Premier | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2022 | Cornell Big Red | 60 | (20) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2020 | Lionsbridge | 16 | (3) |
| 2022 | Flint City Bucks | 12 | (4) |
| 2023– | Real Salt Lake | 54 | (1) |
| 2023 | Real Monarchs | 1 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2025– | United States | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 10, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of January 22, 2025 | |||
Chukwuemeka Somto "Emeka" Eneli (born October 18, 1999) is an American professionalsoccer player who plays as amidfielder forMajor League Soccer clubReal Salt Lake and theUnited States national team.
Eneli was born inLansing, Michigan, but moved toDublin, Ohio was he was eight years old.[1] He attendedDublin Coffman High School, where he played one year of varsity soccer. He also played soccer with theColumbus Crew academy between 2012 and 2017, before spending a season with Ohio Premier, who he helped to the ENPL national title in 2018 and was named to the ECNL All-American and ECNL All-Midwest teams.[2][3][4]
In 2018, Eneli attendedCornell University graduating in 2022 with a major in Biological Engineering and a minor in Business. He playedcollege soccer, serving as team captain in his junior and senior years. In four seasons with Big Red spanning across five years due to theCOVID-19 pandemic leading to the cancellation of the 2020 season, Eneli made 60 appearances, scoring 20 goals and tallying 17 assists. In 2021, Eneli earned All-Ivy League First Team and Second Team United Soccer Coaches Men's Northeast Region honors. 2022 saw Eneli named a Second Team All-American and helped Cornell qualify for the NCAA Sweet Sixteen for the first time in nearly three decades.[2] Eneli earned 2018 Rookie of the Year for the Ivy League Mens Soccer conference.[5] Eneli finished the season second in the Ivy League in points (16) and goals (7).
While at college, Eneli also competed in theUSL League Two. He spent 2019 and 2020 withLionsbridge FC, scoring three goals in 16 games.[6] In 2022, he spent the season withFlint City Bucks, making 16 appearances across the regular season and playoffs, netting four goals and adding an assist.[7]
Following the 2022 season, Eneli was announced as an eligible player in the2023 MLS SuperDraft.[8] Eneli was drafted by Real Salt Lake with the 25th pick of the first round.[9]
Eneli made his MLS debut for RSL on March 25, 2023, starting in a 4–0 loss at home toSt. Louis City SC.[10][11] Eneli scored his first career MLS goal on March 9, 2024, in a 2-1 loss to theColorado Rapids.[12] On November 2, 2024, Eneli's scored his second goal for the club, an equalizer in theMLS Cup Playoffs againstMinnesota United that forced penalties. RSL would lose the shootout.[13]
Born in the United States, Eneli is ofNigerian descent.[14]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 0 | |
