Emmanuel Dennis
{{EngvarB|date=June 2025}}
{{Short description|Nigerian footballer (born 1997)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Emmanuel Dennis
| image = FC Salzburg vs. Club Brügge (Euroleague Sechzehntelfinale) 14 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Dennis playing for Club Brugge in 2019
| full_name = Emmanuel Bonaventure Dennis{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/3044867 |title=Updated squad lists for 2022/23 Premier League |publisher=Premier League |date=4 February 2023 |access-date=11 February 2023}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|11|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = Yola, Nigeria
| height = 1.75 m
| position = Forward
| currentclub = Blackburn Rovers (on loan from Nottingham Forest)
| clubnumber = 42
| youthyears1 = 2010–2016
| youthclubs1 = Kwara Football Academy Ilorin
| years1 = 2016–2017
| clubs1 = Zorya Luhansk
| caps1 = 22
| goals1 = 6
| years2 = 2017–2021
| clubs2 = Club Brugge
| caps2 = 85
| goals2 = 19
| years3 = 2021
| clubs3 = → 1. FC Köln (loan)
| caps3 = 9
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2021–2022
| clubs4 = Watford
| caps4 = 35
| goals4 = 10
| years5 = 2022–
| clubs5 = Nottingham Forest
| caps5 = 19
| goals5 = 2
| years6 = 2023–2024
| clubs6 = → İstanbul Başakşehir (loan)
| caps6 = 8
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2024
| clubs7 = → Watford (loan)
| caps7 = 17
| goals7 = 4
| years8 = 2025–
| clubs8 = → Blackburn Rovers (loan)
| caps8 = 6
| goals8 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2019
| nationalteam1 = Nigeria U23
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2019–
| nationalteam2 = Nigeria
| nationalcaps2 = 8
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| club-update = 11:40, 30 April 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 22:08, 17 November 2022 (UTC)
}}
Emmanuel Bonaventure Dennis (born 15 November 1997) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for {{English football updater|BlackbuR}} club Blackburn Rovers, on loan from {{English football updater|NottingF}} club Nottingham Forest, and the Nigeria national team.
Club career
=Early career=
Dennis began his career at Kwara Football Academy Ilorin, located in Kwara State, Nigeria.{{cite news |title=Emmanuel Dennis beckoning on Gernot Rohr |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/04/13/emmanuel-dennis-beckoning-on-gernot-rohr/ |newspaper=This Day |date=13 April 2019 |access-date=2 October 2019}}
=Zorya Luhansk=
In March 2016, Dennis signed with Ukrainian Premier League club Zorya Luhansk.{{cite web |url=http://owngoalnigeria.com/2016/07/07/little-known-nigerian-striker-dennis-turning-heads-at-top-ukrainian-club/ |title=Little known Nigerian striker Dennis turning heads at top Ukrainian club |last=Michael |first=Rasheed |website=owngoalnigeria.com |publisher=OwnGoal Nigeria |access-date=28 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921084813/http://owngoalnigeria.com/2016/07/07/little-known-nigerian-striker-dennis-turning-heads-at-top-ukrainian-club/ |archive-date=21 September 2016 |url-status=dead }} He made his debut in a game against Olimpik Donetsk on 24 July 2016, where he scored the opener in a 3–0 victory.{{cite web |website=fpl.ua |publisher=Ukrainian Premier League official website |script-title=uk:Ліга Парі-Матч. 1 тур. Матч № 6. 24 July 2016 |url=http://fpl.ua/ukr/protocol/2016_2017/pl/15/590/ |language=uk |date=24 July 2016 |access-date=24 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160726122634/http://www.fpl.ua/ukr/protocol/2016_2017/pl/15/590 |archive-date=26 July 2016 |url-status=dead }}
Dennis started the season on the bench mostly before being given his UEFA Europa League debut to Feyenoord on 3 November, which ended 1–1. After impressing against Feyenoord, he also played in the Ukrainian side's other group stage games, to Fenerbahçe and Manchester United. Zorya lost 2–0 in both matches and were eliminated from the group having finished in last place.
On 11 December, Dennis scored his second goal in a 2–0 win over Stal Kamianske. His performances attracted both Manchester City as well as an unknown Bundesliga side, who were interested in signing him in the winter transfer window.{{cite web |url=http://owngoalnigeria.com/2016/09/11/exclusive-manchester-city-scout-watches-nigerian-neymar-dennis-in-ukraine/ |title=Exclusive: Manchester City scout watches "Nigerian Neymar" Dennis in Ukraine |date=11 September 2016 |website=owngoalnigeria.com |publisher=OwnGoal Nigeria |access-date=16 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119070321/http://owngoalnigeria.com/2016/09/11/exclusive-manchester-city-scout-watches-nigerian-neymar-dennis-in-ukraine/ |archive-date=19 November 2018 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=22381 |title=Top Bundesliga club plot transfer of $1.5 million-rated Zorya starlet Bonaventure |website=allnigeriasoccer.com |publisher=All Nigeria Soccer}} However, Dennis instead ended up staying with Zorya for the rest of the season, helping them to a third place in the league with his six goals in 22 league appearances.
=Club Brugge=
Club Brugge announced on 30 May 2017 that they had signed Dennis on a four-year deal for a fee of €1.2 million.{{cite web |url=http://www.soccerassembly.com/club-brugge-sign-top-nigerian-talent-dennis-bonaventure/ |title=Club Brugge sign top Nigerian talent Dennis Bonaventure |website=soccerassembly.com |publisher=Soccer Assembly |access-date=16 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170603204351/http://www.soccerassembly.com/club-brugge-sign-top-nigerian-talent-dennis-bonaventure/ |archive-date=3 June 2017 |url-status=dead }} He was given the number 42 jersey shirt. Dennis started the season extremely well, scoring five goals in six matches, including one on his debut on 26 July 2017 to İstanbul Başakşehir, a 3–3 draw and a brace three days later in the league over Lokeren, which finished in a 4–0 victory.
On 1 October 2019, Dennis scored twice in a 2–2 draw at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium against Real Madrid in the group stage of the 2019–20 UEFA Champions League season.{{cite news |title=Casemiro spares Real Madrid's blushes against Club Brugge |url=https://sport.bt.com/news/casemiro-spares-real-madrids-blushes-against-club-brugge-S11364399240933 |website=BT Sport |agency=Press Association |date=1 October 2019 |access-date=2 October 2019 |archive-date=2 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002060508/https://sport.bt.com/news/casemiro-spares-real-madrids-blushes-against-club-brugge-S11364399240933 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |first=Sylvain |last=Rouquet |title=Le FC Bruges frôle l'exploit et ramène un point du Real Madrid de Hazard et Courtois |url=https://www.rtbf.be/sport/football/europe/championsleague/detail_real-madrid-fc-bruges-match-de-prestige-pour-les-brugeois-live-commente-18h55?id=10329433 |website=RTBF |date=1 October 2019 |access-date=2 October 2019 |language=fr}}{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Battison |title=Emmanuel Dennis: Club Bruges striker trolls Real Madrid with Cristiano Ronaldo 'Siii' celebration |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49900947 |website=BBC Sport |date=1 October 2019 |access-date=2 October 2019}}
==1. FC Köln==
On 25 January 2021, Bundesliga side 1. FC Köln announced that they had signed Dennis on a loan deal until the end of the season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/perfekt-dennis-verstaerkt-koeln-bis-zum-saisonende-4000000036588/transfermeldung|title=Perfekt: Dennis verstärkt Köln bis zum Saisonende|access-date=2021-01-25|website=Kicker}} He made a total of nine league appearances during his time in Germany.
= Watford =
On 21 June 2021, Watford confirmed they had reached an agreement with Club Brugge for the transfer of Dennis.{{Cite news |url=https://www.watfordfc.com/news/official-dennis-deal-done|title=Official: Dennis Deal Done |publisher=Watford F.C.|date=21 June 2021|access-date=21 June 2021}} A five-year contract was signed two days later.{{Cite news|url=https://www.watfordfc.com/news/official-dennis-personal-terms-agreed|title=Official: Dennis Personal Terms Agreed |publisher=Watford F.C.|date=23 June 2021|access-date=23 June 2021}} On 14 August, Dennis scored on his Watford debut in their league opener against Aston Villa, where Watford won 3–2.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58124896 |title=Watford 3–2 Aston Villa|work=BBC Sport|first=Ellie|last=Thomason|date=14 August 2021|access-date=14 August 2021}} Dennis was nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month award for November 2021{{cite web|url=https://www.watfordfc.com/news/awards-dennis-nominated-for-november-pl-player-of-the-month|title=Awards: Dennis Nominated For November PL Player of the Month|publisher=Watford F.C.|date=3 December 2021|accessdate=13 January 2022}} after scoring and creating two assists in a 4–1 win against Manchester United{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59271461|title=Watford 4–1 Manchester United|work=BBC Sport|date=20 November 2021|accessdate=13 January 2022}} and scoring in a 4–2 defeat at Leicester City.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59363466|title=Leicester 4–2 Watford|work=BBC Sport|date=28 November 2021|accessdate=13 January 2022}}
=Nottingham Forest=
On 13 August 2022, Dennis signed with Premier League side Nottingham Forest for an undisclosed transfer fee.{{cite web | url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2022/august/13/emmanuel-dennis-signs-for-forest/ | title=Emmanuel Dennis signs for Forest| date=13 August 2022}} The transfer fee was reported to be £10 million.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cgrzxgk0x1ro|title=Nottingham Forest transfer news: Dennis could leave|website=BBC Sport|date=3 January 2023 }}
On 15 September 2023, Dennis signed with Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir on loan for the 2023–24 season.{{cite news |title=Dennis makes loan departure|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2023/september/15/dennis-completes-loan-departure/|access-date=15 September 2023 |publisher=Nottingham Forest Football Club|date=15 September 2023}} On 22 January 2024, Nottingham Forest terminated his loan deal with Istanbul Basaksehir to facilitate a move back to former club Watford on loan.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5219381/2024/01/22/emmanuel-dennis-forest-watord-transfer/|title=Nottingham Forest's Emmanuel Dennis to rejoin Watford on loan|website=The Athletic|date=22 January 2024|access-date=23 January 2024}}
=Blackburn Rovers=
On 3 February 2025, Dennis joined Championship side Blackburn Rovers on a loan deal until the end of the season.{{Cite web |date=3 February 2025 |title=Blackburn Rovers sign Emmanuel Dennis, Cauley Woodrow and Yuri Ribeiro |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c0rqjpppnxjo |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}
International career
Dennis represented Nigeria at under-23 level before being called up to the senior team. He made his debut on 10 September 2019 in a 2–2 friendly draw to Ukraine, coming on as a 82nd-minute substitute for Samuel Chukwueze.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/lineups?gameId=556462 |title=Ukraine v Nigeria match report |publisher=ESPN |date=10 September 2019 |access-date=2 October 2019}}
The Nigeria Football Federation attempted to call Dennis up to the squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, accusing Watford of refusing to release Dennis. However, the NFF had failed to ask for his release in time.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/africa/59837314|title=Afcon 2021: Watford's Emmanuel Dennis and Victor Osimhen out of Nigeria squad|work=BBC Sport|date=31 December 2021|accessdate=13 January 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thenff.com/2022/01/health-concerns-injuries-constrain-changes-to-nigerias-final-28-man-list-for-afcon-2021/|title=Health concerns, injuries constrain changes to Nigeria's final 28-man list for AFCON 2021|website=thenff.com|date=3 January 2022|accessdate=13 January 2022|archive-date=28 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528171248/https://www.thenff.com/2022/01/health-concerns-injuries-constrain-changes-to-nigerias-final-28-man-list-for-afcon-2021/|url-status=dead}} Dennis was part of the Nigerian squad that lost on away goals with an aggregate score-line of 1–1 to the Black Stars of Ghana in the third round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying.{{Cite web |last=Silas |first=Don |date=4 March 2022 |title=Nigeria vs Ghana: Super Eagles announce squad for 2022 World Cup qualifier [Full list] |url=https://dailypost.ng/2022/03/04/nigeria-vs-ghana-super-eagles-announce-squad-for-2022-world-cup-qualifier-full-list/ |access-date=2022-04-25 |website=Daily Post Nigeria |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=30 March 2022 |title=Tears, anger as Eagles lose World Cup ticket to Ghana |url=https://guardian.ng/sport/tears-anger-as-eagles-lose-world-cup-ticket-to-ghana/ |access-date=2022-04-25 |website=The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News |language=en-US}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|27 April 2024}}{{Soccerway |id=emmanuel-bonaventure-dennis/450289|name=E. Dennis (Emmanuel Bonaventure Dennis)|access-date=11 February 2024}}
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National cup{{efn|Includes Ukrainian Cup, Belgian Cup, DFB-Pokal, FA Cup}} !colspan=2|League cup{{efn|Includes EFL Cup}} !colspan=2|Europe !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Zorya Luhansk
|22 | 6 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 3{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | 26 | 6 | ||
| rowspan=5|Club Brugge
|rowspan=4|Belgian Pro League |30 | 7 | 4 | 4 | colspan=2|— | 4{{efn|Two appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 1 | 38 | 12 | ||
| 2018–19
|26 | 7 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 5{{efn|Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | 32 | 7 | ||
| 2019–20
|20 | 5 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 11{{efn|Ten appearances and three goals in UEFA Champions League, one appearance and one goal in UEFA Europa League}} | 4 | 33 | 9 | ||
| 2020–21
|9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 4{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 1 | 13 | 1 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!85||19||7||4||colspan=2|—||24||6||116||29 | ||||||||||
| 1. FC Köln (loan)
|9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 10 | 1 | |||
| rowspan="3"|Watford
|33 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 35 | 10 | ||
| 2022–23
|2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 2 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!35||10||0||0||2||0||colspan=2|—||37||10 | ||||||||||
| rowspan="3"|Nottingham Forest
|Premier League |19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 25 | 2 | ||
| 2023–24
|Premier League |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 2 | |
| İstanbul Başakşehir (loan)
|8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 8 | 0 | |||
| Watford (loan)
|Championship |17 | 4 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 18 | 4 | |||
| colspan="3"|Total
!195 | 41 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 27 | 6 | 240 | 52 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 17 November 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/75530/Emmanuel_Dennis.html |title=Emmanuel Dennis profile |website=National Football Teams |access-date=2 October 2019}}
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan=3|Nigeria
|2019 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 5 | 1 | |
| colspan=2|Total | 8 | 1 |
Scores and results list Nigeria's goal tally first.
| class="wikitable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Emmanuel Dennis | ||||||
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 13 June 2022 | Stade Adrar, Agadir, Morocco | {{fb|STP}} | align=center|10–0 | align=center| 10–0 | 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
Honours
Club Brugge
- Belgian First Division A: 2017–18,{{cite news |title=Brugge secure Belgian league title with draw at Standard Liège |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/90minutes/europa/ct-90mins-brugge-secure-belgian-league-title-with-draw-at-standard-liege-20180513-story.html#nt=oft12aH-1gp2 |website=Chicago Tribune |agency=Associated Press |date=13 May 2018 |access-date=2 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522045739/http://www.chicagotribune.com/90minutes/europa/ct-90mins-brugge-secure-belgian-league-title-with-draw-at-standard-liege-20180513-story.html#nt=oft12aH-1gp2 |archive-date=22 May 2018}} 2019–20{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/dennis-and-taus-club-brugge-declared-belgian-champions/x4n0saswud8514v2nc7k11xm4|title=Dennis and Tau's Club Brugge declared Belgian champions|website=Goal (website)|date=15 May 2020|accessdate=21 March 2021}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/players/emmanueldennis Profile] at the Nottingham Forest F.C. website
- {{UEFA player}}
{{Blackburn Rovers F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dennis, Emmanuel}}
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Nigerian men's footballers
Category:Nigeria men's international footballers
Category:Ukrainian Premier League players
Category:Belgian Pro League players
Category:Premier League players
Category:English Football League players
Category:FC Zorya Luhansk players
Category:Club Brugge KV players
Category:Nottingham Forest F.C. players
Category:Nigerian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Ukraine
Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Ukraine
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium
Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Belgium
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Germany
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey
Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Turkey