 Iheanacho playing forLeicester City in 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kelechi Promise Iheanacho[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1996-10-03)3 October 1996 (age 29)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Owerri,Imo State, Nigeria | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Forward | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Celtic | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2014 | Taye Academy | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | Manchester City | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2017 | Manchester City | 46 | (12) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2024 | Leicester City | 173 | (35) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–2025 | Sevilla | 9 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | →Middlesbrough (loan) | 15 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Celtic | 4 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2015 | Nigeria U17 | 7 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2017 | Nigeria U20 | 2 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015– | Nigeria | 59 | (15) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15:35, 19 October 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 23:24, 31 May 2025 (UTC) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Kelechi Promise IheanachoMON (listenⓘ;Igbo:Ịheanachọ;[4] born 3 October 1996) is a Nigerian professionalfootballer who plays as aforward forScottish Premiership clubCeltic and theNigeria national team.
Iheanacho began his senior career atManchester City during the2015–16 season, winning theFootball League Cup.[5][6][7] He moved to Leicester City in 2017 for a reported £25 million fee, the largest ever transfer amount for a Nigerian player at the time and the second-largest for an African player after EgyptianMohamed Salah.[8] Iheanacho was instrumental in Leicester City's2020–21 FA Cup success, scoring a joint-high four goals across the edition as the club won the trophy for the first time.[9][10] He also scored the match's sole goal from the penalty spot as Leicester lifted the2021 FA Community Shield.
At international level, Iheanacho represented Nigeria'sunder-17 team at the2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, being named the tournament's best player and finishing as the second-highest goalscorer as he led the side to their record fourth title.[11] He would then be included in Nigeria'sunder-20 team for the2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup,[12][13] before making his senior international debut later the same year. Since then, he has represented the country at the2018 FIFA World Cup, as well as the2021 and2023 Africa Cup of Nations, finishing as runner-up in the latter tournament. Iheanacho was voted theMost Promising African Talent twice in 2013 and 2016 and named as a substitute for the 2016CAF Team of the Year.
Iheanacho was born inOwerri,Imo State.[14] As a youth, he represented Taye Academy inOwerri, the capital city of Imo. His performances for Nigeria in the2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup led to interest from clubs in Europe; teams following his progress includedArsenal,[15]Sporting CP andPorto.[16] In December 2012, Iheanacho travelled to England to discuss a move toManchester City. He signed a pre-contract agreement with the club, stating his intent to formally sign for City on his 18th birthday in October 2014.[17] In the interim, he returned to Nigeria. As the year drew to a close, theConfederation of African Football (CAF) named him the Most Promising Talent of the Year for 2013 at theCAF Awards of 2013.[18]
Iheanacho joinedManchester City's Academy on 10 January 2015. Before the2014–15 season, City visited the United States on a pre-season tour, and although still not formally a City player, he joined up with the squad. He played and scored in the first match of the tour, a 4–1 win againstSporting Kansas City,[19] and scored again againstAC Milan in a 5–1 win.[20] After the conclusion of the tour, Manchester City arranged for Iheanacho to train with theColumbus Crew until mid-October.[21]
Delays in obtaining a work permit meant Iheanacho was unable to play in England until February 2015. He made his debut at under-19 level in aUEFA Youth League match againstSchalke 04, but sustained an injury after only 11 minutes.[22] After his recovery, he began to represent Manchester City at both youth and under-21 level in the latter part of the season. He played in theFA Youth Cup final, where he scored, but ended on the losing side afterChelsea claimed a 5–2 aggregate victory.[23] The following week, he scored the only goal as Manchester City beat Porto in the final of the2014–15 Premier League International Cup.[24]
In July 2015, Iheanacho was included in City's pre-season tour team in Australia.[25] On the tour, he set up the first goal forRaheem Sterling and scored the second goal in the win againstRoma in the2015 International Champions Cup. He also set up Sterling for the fourth goal in City's 8–1 victory against theVietnam national team. In City's last preseason game, againstVfB Stuttgart, he came on as a substitute, scoring late in a 4–2 defeat. Due to his impressive pre-season, Iheanacho was promoted to the Manchester City senior squad.[26]
On 10 August 2015, Iheanacho was included in a first-team matchday squad for the first time in a competitive fixture, however he remained an unused substitute in their 3–0 win atWest Bromwich Albion in their first game of thePremier Leagueseason.[27] Nineteen days later, he made his competitive debut, replacing Raheem Sterling for the final minute of a 2–0 win againstWatford at theCity of Manchester Stadium.[28] He scored his first competitive goal on 12 September, replacingWilfried Bony in the final minute in a match away toCrystal Palace and scoring the only goal of the game.[29]
Iheanacho scored his first career hat-trick on 30 January 2016 againstAston Villa in the fourth round of theFA Cup, also setting up City's fourth goal, scored by Raheem Sterling.[30] The following month, he was put in City'sUEFA Champions League squad at the expense of the injuredSamir Nasri.[31] During February, Iheanacho scored againstTottenham Hotspur in a 2–1 home defeat for City.[32]
Iheanacho's next goals came on 23 April 2016, where he scored twice againstStoke City in a 4–0 victory.[33] He followed this up with a Champions League semi-final substitute appearance on 26 April 2016.[34] Five days later, on 1 May 2016, he scored a brace again, albeit in a 4–2 defeat at the hands ofSouthampton.[35][36] Iheanacho ended the 2015–16 season with eight Premier League goals and had the best goals-per-minute ratio of any player, averaging a goal every 93.9 minutes.[37] In all competitions he finished with a record of 14 goals and 5 assists from 35 appearances, although he only started 11 of these games.[38] His goals total also meant he ended the season as City's third-highest scorer.[39]
On 10 September 2016, Iheanacho started in theManchester derby. He recorded an assist and his first goal of the season in a 2–1 win for City.[40] Four days later, Iheanacho came off the bench to score the final goal in City's 4–0 home win in the Champions League, againstBorussia Mönchengladbach.[41] This was his first European goal for Manchester City. Three days after the 4–0 win, Iheanacho scored the second goal, also assisting the third, in City's game againstAFC Bournemouth.[42] That goal took his tally in the Premier League to 10, allowing him to join an exclusive list of players to have scored 10 Premier League goals before the age of 20. This list includes players such asWayne Rooney,Ryan Giggs,Nicolas Anelka,Michael Owen andRomelu Lukaku.[36][43]
In October 2016, Iheanacho was nominated for theFIFA Golden Boy award, which was eventually won byBayern Munich's midfielderRenato Sanches.[44] Previous winners of the award include teammatesRaheem Sterling andSergio Agüero.
Iheanacho's next goal would come in the Champions League, againstCeltic, in a 1–1 home draw on 6 December 2016.[45] Iheanacho's final goal of the season, and subsequently final goal for City, came againstHuddersfield in a 5–1FA Cup fifth round replay win, in which Iheanacho scored the final goal of the game.[46]
Iheanacho was signed by Premier League clubLeicester City on a five-year contract on 3 August 2017,[47] for a reported £25 million fee.[48] He made his debut for the club in a 4–3 defeat toArsenal on 11 August 2017.[49] He scored his first goal for Leicester in anEFL Cup tie againstLeeds United on 24 October 2017.[50] On 16 January 2018, Iheanacho became the first player in English football to be awarded a goal due tovideo assistant referee, as the referee deemed that the player had been incorrectly ruled offside for his second goal. The goal was Iheanacho's second in a 2–0 win overFleetwood Town in theFA Cup Third Round replay.[51]
Iheanacho wasn't in the first-choice starting eleven at the start of the season, and only started two of Leicester's first 21 Premier League games. However, several injuries to key players meant that Iheanacho got an extended run of games.[52] Iheanacho then went on a goal-scoring run of 12 goals in 10 games in all competitions during March and April.
Iheanacho scored his firstPremier League hat-trick in a 5–0 win againstSheffield United on 14 March 2021.[53] A week later, Iheanacho netted a brace in Leicester's 3–1 win overManchester United in the quarter-finals of theFA Cup, sending the club into the semi-finals of the competition for the first time since1981–82.[54] The two strikes were Iheanacho's eighth and ninth goals in his last nine matches in all competitions.[55] Iheanacho won the Premier LeaguePlayer of the Month award in March 2021 after scoring five goals in three league appearances.[56]
On 3 April, Iheanacho signed a new three-year contract with Leicester, keeping him at the club until at least 2024.[57] On 18 April, Iheanacho scored the only goal in a 1–0 win overSouthampton in theFA Cup semi-final atWembley Stadium. The win took the Foxes to their first FA Cupfinal since1969.[58]
Iheanacho and Leicester started the2021–22 season with the2021 FA Community Shield againstManchester City. Iheanacho was substituted on during the 79th minute and scored the winning goal, an 89th-minute penalty against his former club.[59][60][61]
Iheanacho received Leicester's Player of the Year award following a season that resulted in the club's relegation from thePremier League.[62]
Iheanacho scored six goals in 26 matches in all competitions, as his club managed to achieve theEFL Championship title, securing promotion back to the Premier League. On 7 June 2024, Leicester confirmed that Iheanacho would not sign a new contract with the club and would be released.[63]
On 31 July 2024, Iheanacho joined Spanish clubSevilla on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract at Leicester City.[64] On 1 September 2025, the club agreed to terminate his contract by mutual consent, after he scored 3 goals in 11 appearances in all competitions during his time in Spain.[65]
On 3 February 2025, Iheanacho moved toChampionship clubMiddlesbrough on loan until the end of the season.[66] He scored 1 goal in 15 games during his loan spell at the club.[67]
On 2 September 2025, Iheanacho signed forScottish Premiership sideCeltic on a one-year contract, with the club having an option for another year. His arrival meant that he would reunite with his former manager at Lecicester CityBrendan Rodgers as well as his former teammateKasper Schmeichel.[68][69] Iheanacho made his debut for Celtic againstKilmarnock on 14 September, coming on as a substitute and scoring a last-minute penalty to win the match 2–1.[70]
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Iheanacho has represented Nigeria at youth levels from under-13 upwards.[71] His first experience of a major international tournament was the2013 African U-17 Championship in Morocco. For Iheanacho, the highlight was a hat-trick in a win against Botswana. He dedicated his goals to his mother, who died two months before the tournament.[72] Nigeria reached the final of the competition, where they were defeated on penalties by the Ivory Coast.[73]
Iheanacho played a significant role in the2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he won the Golden Ball award for player of the tournament.[74] Nigeria won the competition, in which Iheanacho scored six times, including once in the final, and provided seven assists.[74][75] In the run-up to the2014 African Nations Championship, Iheanacho trained with thesenior Nigeria squad but was released from the squad in order to travel to England to sign with Manchester City.[76] He was part of theNigeria squad for the2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand, and featured in two matches.[77]
He was selected byNigeria for their 35-man provisional squad for the2016 Summer Olympics, but failed to make the final 18.[78]
Iheanacho made his senior debut as a substitute in a2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match againstEswatini in which Nigeria drew 0–0.[79] His first start for the senior team was on 25 March 2016, a 1–1 draw withEgypt in a2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.[80]
Iheanacho was selected by Nigeria in friendly matches againstMali andLuxembourg in May 2016. He scored in the two games, providing an assist against Luxembourg.[81][82]
His performance in the friendly matches inspired further confidence within football circles in the nation and was invited to make his competitive debut againstEgypt in anAfrican Cup of Nations qualifying series where he provided an assist forOghenekaro Etebo in the home game.[83]
Despite the change made in the coaching personnel in August 2016, he distinguished himself again as one of the most important players in the team when he scored two superb goals in the two matches againstTanzania in Uyo andZambia in Ndola, during the AFCON and2018 World Cup qualifications respectively.[84][85]
In June 2018, he was named in Nigeria's 23-man squad for the2018 World Cup in Russia.[86]
On 25 December 2021, Iheanacho was shortlisted in Nigeria's2021 Africa Cup of Nations 28-man squad by caretaker coachAustin Eguavoen.[87] He scored Nigeria's first goal of the tournament in the 30th minute of their opening match victory againstEgypt.[88]
In December 2023, he was called up for the2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.[89] In the semi-final match againstSouth Africa, Iheanacho, coming off the bench,[90] scored the winning penalty in a 4–2 victory during the shootouts following a 1–1 draw, which qualified his country to the final.[91]
Affectionately known as theSenior Man in his native Nigeria, Iheanacho is known for his vision, dribbling, speed, finishing and athleticism.[92][93][94] Although mainly a striker, he is able to play anywhere in the final third,[95][96] and is generally described by pundits as one of the most efficient strikers in England.[97][98][99][100][101]
Iheanacho first rose to prominence in 2013 after theFIFA U-17 World Cup as an attacking midfielder.[102]Manuel Pellegrini has profiled him as an important and hard working player.[103] His manager,Brendan Rodgers described him as an incredible, hardworking, and a highly talented player with no ego, in an interview withBBC andSky Sports.[104][105]FA Cup named him one of the most iconic black players in the history of the competition.[106] BBC and other several media outlets profiled him as the “deadliest striker in Europe”,[107] and has been deemed as the most in-form striker inPremier League while praising his speed rate at scoring goals.[108] Former British strikers and sports pundits,Gary Lineker andAlan Shearer, described him as “bag of talents” and a player who has a great pace and massive potentials.[109] His manager,Craig Shakespeare proclaimed him as an enormously talented player that has shown a huge amount of promise at every level in which he’s played.[110] His teammate,Isaac Success described him as the best player he has ever played with in his entire career.[111]
As of 2015-2016, Iheanacho emerged as the player who has the best goals-per-minute record in Premier League history and currently the only African to do so, and was proclaimed Premier League and Europe's "Most Prolific Goal Scorer" byThe Telegraph, Sky Sports and various othermedia outlets.[112][113] Former EnglishBallon d'Or nominee and punditRio Ferdinand has described him, saying toSports Extra; 'Kelechi at the moment is the best Nigerian player playing in the EPL this season, because he scores goals man, he’s a goalscorer'.[114] Emerging Nigerian football talents often consider Iheanacho a role model.[115] He idolizesKaka,Wayne Rooney,Didier Drogba andLeo Messi,[116][117] and has profiledRonaldinho andSergio Aguero as his inspirations,[118] alsoJamie Vardy who has been described by pundits as his rival.[119][120] But he has rejected this and cited him as a legend and a motivation for him to become a better player.[121] He has also expressed his interest to emulate attacking midfielderJay-Jay Okocha and forwardNwankwo Kanu in the Premier League and they have both cited Iheanacho as a great player and one of the best strikers in the world.[122][123][124]
After scoring a goal, Iheanachogoal celebration trademark is going on his knees and pointing with both hands to the sky, inspired by[125][126] his favorite wrestlerBryan Danielson. In 2013, the wrestler acknowledged him after he was instrumental in Nigeria's win over Mexico, scoring four goals.[127]
Iheanacho is from theIgbo ethnic group of Nigeria.[4] He is aChristian.[128]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manchester City | 2015–16[129] | Premier League | 26 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4[c] | 0 | — | 35 | 14 | |
| 2016–17[130] | Premier League | 20 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4[c] | 2 | — | 29 | 7 | ||
| Total | 46 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 2 | — | 64 | 21 | |||
| Leicester City | 2017–18[131] | Premier League | 21 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 28 | 8 | ||
| 2018–19[132] | Premier League | 30 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 35 | 2 | |||
| 2019–20[133] | Premier League | 20 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | — | — | 26 | 10 | |||
| 2020–21[134] | Premier League | 25 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 7[d] | 3 | — | 39 | 19 | ||
| 2021–22[135] | Premier League | 26 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 12[e] | 1 | 1[f] | 1 | 43 | 8 | |
| 2022–23[136] | Premier League | 28 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 8 | |||
| 2023–24[137] | Championship | 23 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 26 | 6 | |||
| Total | 173 | 35 | 19 | 13 | 20 | 8 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 232 | 61 | ||
| Sevilla | 2024–25[67] | La Liga | 9 | 0 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | 11 | 3 | |||
| Middlesbrough (loan) | 2024–25[67] | Championship | 15 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 1 | ||||
| Celtic | 2025–26[138] | Scottish Premiership | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[d] | 1 | — | 8 | 3 | |
| Career total | 247 | 50 | 27 | 21 | 25 | 10 | 30 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 330 | 89 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | 2015 | 1 | 0 |
| 2016 | 6 | 4 | |
| 2017 | 7 | 4 | |
| 2018 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2021 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2023 | 6 | 3 | |
| 2024 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 59 | 15 | |
Manchester City
Leicester City
Nigeria U17
Nigeria
Individual
Orders
Member of theOrder of the Niger[152]
Nigeria squads | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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