Azubuike Okechukwu

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Azubuike Okechukwu

|image = Colômbia e Nigéria na Arena Corinthians em São Paulo 1036780-10082016-dsc 2287 (cropped).jpg

|image_size = 150

|caption = Okechukwu at the 2016 Olympics.

|fullname = Azubuike Godson Okechukwu

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|4|19|df=y}}

|birth_place = Katsina, Nigeria

|height = 1.70m

|position = Defensive midfielder

|currentclub = Erzurumspor

|clubnumber = 25

|youthyears1 =

|youthclubs1 =

|years1 = 2013–2015

|clubs1 = Bayelsa United

|caps1 =

|goals1 =

|years2 = 2015–2018

|clubs2 = Yeni Malatyaspor

|caps2 = 83

|goals2 = 0

|years3 = 2018–2020

|clubs3 = Pyramids FC

|caps3 = 6

|goals3 = 0

|years4 = 2019

|clubs4 = → Çaykur Rizespor (loan)

|caps4 = 14

|goals4 = 1

|years5 = 2019–2020

|clubs5 = → İstanbul Başakşehir (loan)

|caps5 = 17

|goals5 = 0

|years6 = 2020–2023

|clubs6 = İstanbul Başakşehir

|caps6 = 12

|goals6 = 0

|years7 = 2021

|clubs7 = → Sivasspor (loan)

|caps7 = 10

|goals7 = 0

|years8 = 2022

|clubs8 = → Yeni Malatyaspor (loan)

|caps8 = 15

|goals8 = 0

|years9 = 2023–2024

|clubs9 = Çaykur Rizespor

|caps9 = 13

|goals9 = 0

|years10 = 2024–

|clubs10 = Erzurumspor

|caps10 = 29

|goals10 = 0

|nationalyears1 =

|nationalteam1 = Nigeria U23

|nationalcaps1 =

|nationalgoals1 =

|nationalyears2 = 2016

|nationalteam2 = Nigeria

|nationalcaps2 = 1

|nationalgoals2 = 0

|club-update = 15 June 2025

|ntupdate =

}}

Azubuike Godson Okechukwu (born 19 April 1997) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for TFF First League club Erzurumspor.

Club career

Born in Katsina, Okechukwu has played club football for Bayelsa United and Yeni Malatyaspor.{{Soccerway|azubuike-godson-okechukwu/413706|accessdate=11 March 2019}}{{NFT|63736|accessdate=11 March 2019}}

On 19 August 2018, Okechukwu joined Egyptian Premier League side Pyramids FC.{{cite web|url=https://www.kingfut.com/2018/08/19/pyramids-beat-galatasaray-to-signing-okechukwu-azubuike/|title=Pyramids beat Galatasaray to signing Okechukwu Azubuike|website=kingfut.com|date=19 August 2018|accessdate=20 August 2018}}

In January 2019, he joined Çaykur Rizespor on loan until the end of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.sporx.com/caykur-rizespor-azubuike-ile-anlasti-SXHBQ758972SXQ|title=Çaykur Rizespor, Azubuike ile anlaştı!|date=23 January 2019|accessdate=11 March 2019|language=tr|publisher=Sporx}} On 10 July 2019, İstanbul Başakşehir confirmed, that they had signed Okechukwu on a season-long loan deal.[https://turkish-football.com/video-basaksehir-dedicate-video-to-teach-teammates-fans-how-to-pronounce-new-transfer-azubuike-okechukwus-name/ Basaksehir Dedicate Video To Teach Teammates & Fans How to Pronounce New Transfer Azubuike Okechukwu's Name], turkish-football.com, 10 July 2019{{cite news|title=Medipol Başakşehir Okechukwu Azubuike'yi Renklerine Bağladı|url=https://www.ntvspor.net/futbol/basaksehir-azubuike-yi-kadrosuna-katti-5d25c6d4237d8a159cbd1d1c|publisher=NTV Spor|date=10 July 2019|accessdate=10 July 2019|language=Tr|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190710180113/https://www.ntvspor.net/futbol/basaksehir-azubuike-yi-kadrosuna-katti-5d25c6d4237d8a159cbd1d1c|archive-date=10 July 2019|url-status=live}} He won the Turkish championship with the club.

In August 2020, Okechukwu signed a permanent contract with İstanbul Başakşehir.{{cite web |url=https://africa.espn.com/football/turkish-super-lig/story/4166285/azubuike-okechukwu-hopes-turkish-super-lig-title-opens-super-eagles-door |title=Azubuike Okechukwu hopes Turkish Super Lig title opens Super Eagles door |website=ESPN |date=25 August 2020 }} In July 2021 he moved on loan to Sivasspor.{{Cite web|url=https://www.completesports.com/azubuike-okechukwu-joins-turkish-club-sivasspor-on-loan/|title=Azubuike Okechukwu Joins Turkish Club Sivasspor On Loan|date=30 July 2021}} He moved on loan to Yeni Malatyaspor in January 2022.

After returning to Çaykur Rizespor on a permanent basis,{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/sports/football/nigerian-midfielder-okechukwu-azubuike-feels-at-home-in-rize|title=Nigerian midfielder Okechukwu Azubuike feels at home in Rize|first=Daily Sabah with|last=IHA|date=1 March 2023|website=Daily Sabah}} he signed for Erzurumspor in August 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://dailypost.ng/2024/08/17/transfer-okechukwu-moves-to-turkish-club-erzurumspor/|title=Transfer: Okechukwu moves to Turkish club, Erzurumspor|first=Mike|last=Oyebola|date=17 August 2024|website=Daily Post Nigeria}}

International career

Okechukwu made his international debut for the Nigeria national team in 2016, and he was selected by Nigeria for their 35-man provisional squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36623763|title=Kelechi Iheanacho included in Nigeria's Olympics squad|date=24 June 2016|accessdate=25 June 2016|author=Oluwashina Okeleji|publisher=BBC Sport}}