Kyrian Nwoko
{{short description|Maltese footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Kyrian Nwoko
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|fullname =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|7|4|df=y}}
|birth_place = Valletta, Malta
|currentclub = Sliema Wanderers
|clubnumber = 21
|youthyears1 =
|youthclubs1 =
|years1 = 2014–2017
|clubs1 = St. Andrews
|caps1 = 82
|goals1 = 14
|years2 = 2017–2021
|clubs2 = Valletta
|caps2 = 75
|goals2 = 12
|years3 = 2021
|clubs3 = → St Patrick's Athletic (loan)
|caps3 = 8
|goals3 = 0
|years4 = 2022–2025
|clubs4 = Floriana
|caps4 = 40
|goals4 = 4
|years5 = 2023
|clubs5 = → Saint Lucia (loan)
|caps5 = 8
|goals5 = 2
|years6 = 2025–
|clubs6 = Sliema Wanderers
|caps6 = 7
|goals6 = 1
|nationalyears1 =
|nationalteam1 = Malta U17
|nationalcaps1 =
|nationalgoals1 =
|nationalyears2 = 2017–
|nationalteam2 = Malta
|nationalcaps2 = 37
|nationalgoals2 = 4
|club-update = 17:00, 11 March 2025 (UTC)
|ntupdate = 16:58, 27 March 2025 (UTC)
}}
Kyrian Nwoko (born 4 July 1997) is a Maltese professional footballer who plays as a winger and forward for Sliema Wanderers and the Malta national team. He has previously played for Maltese clubs St. Andrews, Valletta, Floriana and Saint Lucia, as well as Irish club St Patrick's Athletic.
Personal life
He is the son of the Nigerian-born former Maltese international footballer Chucks Nwoko.{{cite web|url=http://vallettafc.net/news/new-valletta-fc-signing|title=New Valletta FC signing|date=14 June 2017|accessdate=15 July 2017|publisher=Valletta F.C.}}
Club career
In July 2014, Nwoko was linked with a possible transfer to English clubs Huddersfield Town and Crystal Palace.{{cite web|url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/sport/football/news/huddersfield-town-crystal-palace-linked-7408160|title=Huddersfield Town and Crystal Palace linked with Maltese youngster Kyrian Nwoko|date=11 July 2014|accessdate=15 July 2017|author=Doug Thomson|publisher=Huddersfield Daily Examiner}} He moved from St. Andrews to Valletta in June 2017. In July 2021, he was linked with a move to NIFL Premiership side Linfield. Following a transfer fee being agreed between the two clubs, the transfer was held up over obtaining a work permit under new Brexit regulations.{{Cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/irish-league/linfield/linfield-battling-brexit-issues-in-quest-to-sign-malta-strikerkyrian-nwoko-40679254.html|title=Linfield battling Brexit issues in quest to sign Malta striker Kyrian Nwoko|newspaper=Belfasttelegraph |via=www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk}} On 27 July 2021, Valletta announced that they had agreed a deal with League of Ireland Premier Division club St Patrick's Athletic for Nwoko to move on a 6-month loan deal with the option to make the transfer permanent.{{Cite web|url=http://www.vallettafc.net/news/kyrian-nwoko-joins-st-patricks-athletic-fc|title=Kyrian Nwoko joins St Patricks Athletic FC|first=Valletta|last=FC|website=Valletta FC}} The transfer was completed on 28 July 2021,{{Cite web|url=http://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=8964|title=Nwoko Signs On Loan|website=www.stpatsfc.com}} with Nwoko becoming the second striker to sign for the club on that day, after Reading's Nahum Melvin-Lambert.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/st-pats-sign-malta-international-kyrian-nwoko-after-linfield-move-falls-through-40698811.html|title=St Pat's sign Malta international Kyrian Nwoko after Linfield move falls through|website=independent}} Nwoko made his debut for the club on 30 July 2021, coming off the bench in the 87th minute of the Dublin derby away to Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/rovers-hit-stride-at-perfect-timeto-sinksaints-in-battle-of-table-toppers-40706021.html|title=Rovers hit stride at perfect time to sink Saints in battle of table-toppers|website=independent}} On 28 November 2021 Nwoko was an unused substitute in the 2021 FAI Cup Final, as his side defeated rivals Bohemians 4–3 on penalties following a 1–1 draw after extra time in front of a record FAI Cup final crowd of 37,126 at the Aviva Stadium.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021/1128/1263634-benson-spot-on-as-saints-beat-bohs-to-lift-the-fai-cup/|title=Benson spot on as Saints beat Bohs to lift the FAI Cup|first=Ed|last=Leahy|date=28 November 2021|via=www.rte.ie}}
On 31 August 2022, Nwoko returned to football after 9 months out of the game, returning to Malta and signing for Floriana.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/floriana-set-sign-former-malta-striker-kyrian-nwoko.977786|title=Floriana set to sign former Malta striker Kyrian Nwoko|website=Times of Malta}} On 27 January 2023, he signed for Saint Lucia on loan until the end of the season.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/santa-lucia-sign-striker-kyrian-nwoko-loan-floriana.1009791|title=Santa Lucia sign striker Kyrian Nwoko on loan from Floriana|date=27 January 2023|website=Times of Malta}}
On 1 January 2025, Nwoko signed for Sliema Wanderers on a permanent basis.{{Cite web|url=https://sport.timesofmalta.com/2025/01/01/sliema-wanderers-agree-deal-to-sign-forward-kyrian-nwoko-from-floriana/|title=Sliema Wanderers agree deal to sign forward Kyrian Nwoko from Floriana|first=Valhmor|last=Camilleri|date=1 January 2025|website=SportsDesk}}
International career
He made two appearances for Malta at the 2014 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.{{UEFA player|250069809}} He made his senior national team debut in November 2017 in the 0–3 defeat against Estonia.{{NFT player|id=69321|accessdate=16 November 2017}} On 23 March 2019, Nwoko scored his first goal in a 2–1 win over Faroe Islands, as Malta won their first competitive home match in 13 years.{{cite news |url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20190323/football/gutsy-malta-see-off-faroes.705331 |title=Watch: Gutsy Malta see off Faroe Islands |newspaper=Times of Malta |first=Valhmor |last=Camilleri |date=23 March 2019 |accessdate=23 March 2019}} In January 2022, Nwoko accused the Malta national team selectors of 'unfair' treatment over not being selected for the team allegedly due to his refusal to take a COVID-19 vaccine when the squad were asked to take a Johnson & Johnson vaccine in May 2021 ahead of their departure to a training camp in Austria.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/kyrian-nwoko-hits-out-at-national-teams-treatment.927520|title=Kyrian Nwoko hits out at national team's treatment for his anti-vaccine stance|website=Times of Malta}} In November 2022, Nwoko returned to the national team, accepting his call up for the friendly games against Greece and the Republic of Ireland.{{Cite web|url=https://mfa.com.mt/news/national-teams/28-man-squad-announced-for-november-friendlies/|title=28-man squad announced for November friendlies|website=mfa.com.mt}}
Career statistics
= Club =
{{updated|match played on 8 March 2025}}{{Soccerway|kyrian-nwoko/330703|accessdate=26 July 2021}}
| 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 Maltese FA Trophy & FAI Cup}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="5"|St. Andrews
|rowspan="2"|Maltese Challenge League |0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2014–15
|24 | 5 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 24 | 5 | |||
| 2015–16
|rowspan="2"|Maltese Premier League |27 | 5 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|Appearances in the Maltese Premier League Relegation Play-offs}} | 1 | 30 | 6 | ||
| 2016–17
|31 | 4 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 32 | 4 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!82 | 14 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 1 | 87 | 15 | ||
| rowspan="5"|Valletta
|rowspan="4"|Maltese Premier League |26 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 4{{efn|Appearances in the UEFA Europa League|name=statsUEL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 8 | ||
| 2018–19
|21 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4{{efn|2 appearances in the UEFA Champions League & 2 appearances in the UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearances in the Maltese Super Cup|name=statsMSC}} | 0 | 29 | 2 | |
| 2019–20
|13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5{{efn|4 appearances in the UEFA Champions League & 1 appearance in the UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearances in the Maltese Super Cup|name=statsMSC}} | 1 | 19 | 3 | |
| 2020–21
|15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearances in the UEFA Europa League|name=statsUEL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 17 | 2 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!75 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 99 | 15 | |
| St Patrick's Athletic (loan)
|2021 |8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 9 | 0 | |||
| rowspan="4"|Floriana
|rowspan="3|Maltese Premier League |9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0{{efn|Appearances in the Maltese Super Cup|name=statsMSC}} | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24
|19 | 1 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 22 | 2 | |||
| 2024–25
|12 | 3 | colspan="2"|– | 3{{efn|Appearances in the UEFA Conference League}} | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 15 | 4 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!40 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 6 | |
| Saint Lucia (loan)
|Maltese Premier League |8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 1{{efn|Appearance in the 2022–23 Maltese Premier League Relegation play-offs}} | 1 | 10 | 3 | ||
| Sliema Wanderers
|Maltese Premier League |7 | 1 | 2 | 2 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|— | 9 | 3 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!220 | 33 | 20 | 5 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 263 | 42 |
{{notelist}}
= International =
{{updated|match played 24 March 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="9"|Malta
|2017 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2024 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total||37||4 |
= International goals =
:Scores and results list Malta's goal tally first.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;"
! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition | ||||||
| 1. | 23 March 2019 | rowspan=3|National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta | {{fb|FRO}} | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualification |
| 2. | 6 September 2020 | {{fb|LAT}} | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | 1–1 | 2020–21 UEFA Nations League D | |
| 3. | 7 October 2020 | {{fb|GIB}} | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | 2–0 | rowspan=2| Friendly | |
| 4. | 9 June 2023 | Stade de Luxembourg, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | {{fb|LUX}} | align=center|1–0 | align=center| 1–0 |
Honours
St Patrick's Athletic
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.vallettafc.net/players/kyrian-nwoko Profile] on Valletta FC
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nwoko, Kyrian}}
Category:Maltese men's footballers
Category:Maltese people of Nigerian descent
Category:St. Andrews F.C. (Malta) players
Category:Valletta F.C. players
Category:St Patrick's Athletic F.C. players
Category:Floriana F.C. players
Category:St. Lucia F.C. players
Category:Sliema Wanderers F.C. players
Category:Maltese Premier League players
Category:League of Ireland players
Category:Men's association football wingers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Malta men's youth international footballers
Category:Malta men's international footballers
Category:Maltese expatriate men's footballers
Category:Maltese expatriates in Ireland
Category:Expatriate men's association footballers in the Republic of Ireland