Lukas Nmecha
{{short description|German footballer (born 1998)}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Lukas Nmecha
| image = Youth League FC Salzburg gegen Manchester City FC (8. Februar 2017) 01.jpg
| caption = Nmecha with Manchester City in 2017
| full_name = Lukas Okechukwu Nmecha{{cite web |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/player/lukas-nmecha |title=Lukas Nmecha |publisher=Bundesliga |access-date=21 November 2022}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|12|14|df=y}}{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/14807/Lukas-Nmecha/overview|title=Lukas Nmecha: Overview|access-date=8 July 2022|publisher=Premier League}}
| birth_place = Hamburg, Germany
| currentclub = VfL Wolfsburg
| clubnumber = 10
| youthyears1 = 2007–2018
| youthclubs1 = Manchester City
| years1 = 2017–2021
| clubs1 = Manchester City
| caps1 = 2
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2018–2019
| clubs2 = → Preston North End (loan)
| caps2 = 41
| goals2 = 3
| years3 = 2019–2020
| clubs3 = → VfL Wolfsburg (loan)
| caps3 = 6
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2020
| clubs4 = → Middlesbrough (loan)
| caps4 = 11
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2020–2021
| clubs5 = → Anderlecht (loan)
| caps5 = 37
| goals5 = 18
| years6 = 2021–
| clubs6 = VfL Wolfsburg
| caps6 = 63
| goals6 = 16
| nationalyears1 = 2013
| nationalteam1 = England U16
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2014–2015
| nationalteam2 = England U17
| nationalcaps2 = 10
| nationalgoals2 = 2
| nationalyears3 = 2016
| nationalteam3 = England U18
| nationalcaps3 = 4
| nationalgoals3 = 2
| nationalyears4 = 2016–2017
| nationalteam4 = England U19
| nationalcaps4 = 11
| nationalgoals4 = 3
| nationalyears5 = 2018
| nationalteam5 = England U20
| nationalcaps5 = 1
| nationalgoals5 = 1
| nationalyears6 = 2018
| nationalteam6 = England U21
| nationalcaps6 = 3
| nationalgoals6 = 0
| nationalyears7 = 2019–2021
| nationalteam7 = Germany U21
| nationalcaps7 = 20
| nationalgoals7 = 12
| nationalyears8 = 2021–2022
| nationalteam8 = Germany
| nationalcaps8 = 7
| nationalgoals8 = 0
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport|Men's football}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|GER}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|UEFA European Under-21 Championship}}
{{Medal|W|2021|}}
{{Medal|RU|2019|}}
| club-update = 17:33, 17 May 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 20:39, 23 September 2022 (UTC)
}}
Lukas Okechukwu Nmecha (born 14 December 1998) is a German professional footballer who plays as a forward for Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg and the Germany national team.
Nmecha was born in Hamburg, Germany but relocated to England as a child with his family. He represented his birth country for the first time with the Germany U21 national team, despite being capped by England at the same level.
Club career
=Manchester City=
During a football tournament at his primary school team in Wythenshawe, he was scouted by Manchester City,{{cite web |author=Julian Wacker |url=http://talentkritiker.de/lukas-nmecha-eine-neun-mit-gehoerig-pepp/ |title=Lukas Nmecha: eine Neun mit gehörig Pep(p) |website=talentkritiker.de |language=de |date=5 April 2017 }} where he played for their youth ranks for over a decade, before making his debut on 19 December 2017 in the EFL Cup.{{cite news|publisher=Manchester City Official|date=19 December 2017|access-date=19 December 2017|title=Leicester v Manchester City: Match report|url=https://www.mancity.com/news/first-team/match-report/2017/december/leicester-city-v-manchester-city-carabao-cup-match-report}} On his debut he scored the third penalty for Manchester City in their penalty shootout win over Leicester City.{{cite web|last1=Doyle|first1=Paul|title=Leicester City 1–1 Manchester City (3–4 on pens): Carabao Cup quarter-final|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2017/dec/19/leicester-city-v-manchester-city-carabao-cup-quarter-final-live|work=The Guardian|access-date=20 December 2017|date=19 December 2017}}
He made his Premier League debut on 29 April 2018, as a late substitute for Gabriel Jesus against West Ham United at the London Stadium.{{cite web|last1=Fifield|first1=Dominic|title=West Ham still not safe after emphatic win for Manchester City|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/apr/29/west-ham-united-manchester-city-premier-league-match-report|work=The Guardian|access-date=28 May 2018|date=29 April 2018}}
He was involved in several games during Manchester City's first team squad for the 2018–19 pre season tour in the U.S. to compete in the 2018 International Champions Cup.{{cite news|url=https://www.mancity.com/news/first%20team/first%20team%20news/2018/july/man%20city%20us%20preseason%20tour%20travelling%20squad|title=US TOUR SQUAD CONFIRMED|publisher=Manchester City Official|date=17 July 2018|access-date=30 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730140357/https://www.mancity.com/news/first%20team/first%20team%20news/2018/july/man%20city%20us%20preseason%20tour%20travelling%20squad|archive-date=30 July 2018|url-status=dead}} He scored his first goal at first team level on 29 July 2018 in the pre season friendly against Bayern Munich in a 3–2 win.{{cite news|url=https://www.mancity.com/news/first-team/first-team-news/2018/july/man-city-striker-lukas-nmecha-relieved-to-get-up-and-running|title=NMECHA RELIEVED TO GET OFF THE MARK|publisher=Manchester City Official|date=28 July 2018|access-date=3 August 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://fcbayern.com/en/matches/profis/testspiele/2018-2019/fc-bayern-muenchen-manchester-city-28-07-2018-lineup|title=Bayern Munich 2 Man City 3|publisher=Bayern Munich Official|date=28 July 2018|access-date=30 July 2018}}
==Preston North End (loan)==
Nmecha was loaned to Preston North End for the 2018–19 season.{{cite web |title=Lukas Nmecha joins Preston on loan|url=https://www.mancity.com/news/first-team/first-team-news/2018/august/man-city-preston-lukas-nmecha-transfer-news-season-loan |publisher=Manchester City FC|access-date=9 August 2018}}
==VfL Wolfsburg (loan)==
On 3 August 2019, Nmecha joined Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg on a season-long loan.{{cite news|publisher=VfL Wolfsburg|date=3 August 2019|access-date=3 August 2019|title=Wolves attack bolstered by new recruit|url=https://www.vfl-wolfsburg.de/en/news-detail/news-detail/detail/news/wolves-attack-bolstered-by-new-recruit/}}
==Middlesbrough (loan)==
Nmecha's loan was ended on 3 January 2020 and he joined Middlesbrough on loan.{{cite web |title=Boro Complete Loan Deal For Lukas Nmecha |url=https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/boro-complete-loan-deal-for-lukas-nmecha |publisher=Middlesbrough F.C. |access-date=3 January 2020}} His loan expired on 31 July 2020.
==Anderlecht (loan)==
On 21 August 2020, Nmecha joined former teammate Vincent Kompany's team Anderlecht on loan.{{cite web |url=https://www.news1.news/en/2020/08/who-is-lukas-nmecha-the-21-year-old-striker-with-barely-three-goals-to-his-name-football-news.html |title=Who is Lukas Nmecha, the 21-year-old striker with barely three goals to his name? – Football news |website=News1 |date=21 August 2020 }} On 13 September 2020, he scored his first goal with Anderlecht in a 2–0 win over Cercle Brugge.{{cite web |url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/manchester-city-loanee-nmecha-scores-while-tau-impresses-in/1ns7i8xa55q401oekyald0hnbf |title=Manchester City loanee Nmecha scores while Tau impresses in Anderlecht victory |website=Goal.com |date=13 September 2020 }} On 19 September, he scored a brace in a 4–2 win over Waasland-Beveren.{{cite web |url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/tau-in-action-as-anderlecht-cruise-to-victory-in-six-goal/1lolj2g1tqibt1thisp2kjc7i0 |title=Tau in action as Anderlecht cruise to victory in six-goal thriller against Waasland-Beveren |website=Goal.com |date=19 September 2020 }} He ended the 2020–21 season scoring 18 goals in 37 matches.
=Return to Wolfsburg=
Nmecha re-joined VfL Wolfsburg in a permanent deal on 16 July 2021.{{cite web | url = https://www.vfl-wolfsburg.de/en/news-detail/news-detail/detail/news/nmecha-returns-to-wolves/ | title = Nmecha returns to Wolves | website = VfL Wolfsburg | date = 16 July 2021 | access-date = 11 November 2021}} He scored the winning goal on his Bundesliga debut for the club, in a come-from-behind 2–1 victory over Hertha Berlin on 21 August.{{cite web|url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/hertha-berlin-wolfsburg-live-line-ups-stats-boateng-jovetic-piatek-weghorst-16957|title=Lukas Nmecha fires Wolfsburg to victory over Hertha Berlin|website=Bundesliga|date=21 August 2021|accessdate=23 August 2021}}
International career
Born in Hamburg to a German mother and a Nigerian father, but raised in England, Nmecha was eligible to play for Nigeria, Germany and England.{{cite web |title=Manchester City confirm striker is eligible to represent Nigeria |date=9 May 2018|url=https://www.pulse.ng/sports/football/lukas-nmecha-manchester-city-confirm-striker-is-eligible-to-represent-nigeria/hesr4st}}
=England=
In October 2014, Nmecha scored for the England Under-17 team in a qualifier against Macedonia.{{cite news|publisher=The Football Association|date=27 October 2014|access-date=17 March 2019|title=Lukas Nmecha helps U17s to battling win over Macedonia|url=http://www.thefa.com/news/2014/oct/27/england-u17s-v-macedonia-euro-qualifier-match-report-271014}} Nmecha was included in the England under-19 squad for the 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.{{cite news|publisher=The Football Association|date=26 June 2017|access-date=17 March 2019|title=Squad for U19 Euro|url=http://www.thefa.com/news/2017/jun/26/england-u19-squad-for-euros-260617}} He scored the only goal of the game in the semi-final against the Czech Republic{{cite news|publisher=BBC Sport|date=12 July 2017|access-date=17 March 2019|title=European Under-19 Championship: England beat Czech Republic to reach final|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40585609}} and also scored the winner in the final against Portugal.{{cite web|title=European Under-19 Championship: England beat Portugal in final|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40619862|publisher=BBC Sport|date=15 July 2017|access-date=17 March 2019}}
On 18 May 2018, Nmecha received a call up to the England U21 team by Manager Aidy Boothroyd, for the Toulon Tournament.{{cite news|publisher=The Football Association|date=18 May 2018|access-date=18 May 2018|title=England U21s head to Maurice Revello tournament in Toulon with a 20-man squad|url=http://www.thefa.com/news/2018/may/18/england-u21s-squad-named-for-toulon-180518}} On 9 June 2018, Nmecha came on as a substitute in the 2018 Toulon Tournament final as England defeated Mexico to retain the title.{{cite web|title=England win third straight Toulon Tournament title after victory over Mexico|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/44396993|publisher=BBC Sport|date=9 June 2018|access-date=9 June 2018}} In November 2018, Nmecha scored for the England Under-20 team against Germany.{{cite news|publisher=The Football Association|date=19 November 2018|access-date=17 March 2019|title=England U20 2–0 Germany|url=http://www.thefa.com/news/2018/nov/19/england-u20s-germany-report-191118}}
=Germany=
In March 2019, Nmecha declared for Germany and was included in their U21 squad for the first time.{{cite news|publisher=Preston North End|date=15 March 2019|access-date=16 March 2019|title=Lukas Nmecha Called Up To Germany U21 Squad|url=https://www.pnefc.net/news/2019/march/lukas-nmecha-called-up-to-germany-u21-squad/}} He made his debut as a 59th minute substitute during the 2–1 victory over England at Bournemouth on 26 March 2019.{{cite news|publisher=DFB|date=26 March 2019|access-date=27 March 2019|title=England U21 1-2 Germany U21|url=https://www.dfb.de/u-21-maenner/spiele-termine/spiele/?no_cache=1&spieledb_path=%2Fmatches%2F2264948}} On 6 June 2021, he scored the only goal in a 1–0 win over Portugal in the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Final,{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/under21/match/2031981/ |title=Germany 1–0 Portugal |website=UEFA |date=6 June 2021 }} and finished the competition as top scorer with four goals.{{cite web |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/germany-beat-portugal-to-win-european-u21-championship-nmecha-wirtz-baku-maier-16179 |title=Germany beat Portugal to win European U21 Championship |website=Bundesliga |date=6 June 2021 }}
He made his debut for the senior national team on 11 November 2021 in a World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein.{{cite web|publisher=FIFA|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/qatar2022/qualifiers/uefa/match-center/400155763|title=Germany v Liechtenstein game report|date=11 November 2021|accessdate=17 November 2021}}
Personal life
The son of a German mother and an Igbo Nigerian father, Nmecha - and his younger brother Felix - were born in Hamburg but moved to England with their family in 2007. After honing their skills in the Hamburg borough of Altona, the switch to Manchester brought the young Nmechas to the attention of Premier League team Manchester City. Both went on to join the club's academy.{{cite web |title=Felix Nmecha: who is Borussia Dortmund's new Germany midfielder signed from Wolfsburg? |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/felix-nmecha-who-is-the-wolfsburg-midfielder-germany-manchester-city-lukas-22998 |website=bundesliga.com |access-date=8 July 2023}}
Style of play
Nmecha's main position is as a centre forward, but he is also able to play as a winger on either side. He is known for being comfortable with both feet and for his first touch and finishing ability.{{cite news|publisher=Manchester City|date=18 May 2018|access-date=3 August 2018|title=Lukas Nmecha: Player Profile|url=https://www.mancity.com/teams/first%20team/strikers/lukas%20nmecha#profile-bio}} Nmecha described that he also likes to use his pace to run at defenders.{{cite news|publisher=Manchester City|date=30 July 2018|access-date=3 August 2018|title=Vincent Kompany is helping Man City prospect Lukas Nmecha take his game to the next level
|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/man-city-lukas-nmecha-kompany-14966606}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 17 May 2025}}
| 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 !colspan=2|League cup !colspan=2|Europe !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester City
|2017–18{{soccerbase season|107009|2017|access-date=10 May 2020}} |2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 3 | 0 | ||
| Manchester City U23
|colspan=3|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 2{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearances in EFL Trophy}} | 1 | 2 | 1 | |||||
| Preston North End (loan)
|2018–19{{soccerbase season|107009|2018|accessdate=10 May 2020}} |41 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 44 | 3 | |||
| VfL Wolfsburg (loan)
|2019–20{{cite web |title=L. Nmecha: Summary |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/lukas-nmecha/387389/ |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=10 May 2020 }} |6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 5{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | colspan=2|— | 12 | 0 | |||
| Middlesbrough (loan)
|2019–20{{soccerbase season|107009|2019|access-date=10 May 2020}} |Championship |11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 13 | 0 | |||
| Anderlecht (loan)
|37 | 18 | 4 | 3 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 41 | 21 | ||||
| rowspan=5|VfL Wolfsburg
|Bundesliga |25 | 8 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 5{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 2 | colspan=2|— | 31 | 10 | |||
| 2022–23
|Bundesliga |16 | 4 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 18 | 4 | ||||
| 2023–24
|Bundesliga |3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 4 | 2 | ||||
| 2024–25
|Bundesliga |19 | 3 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 20 | 3 | ||||
| colspan=2|Total
!63||16||5||1||colspan=2|—||5||2||colspan=2|—||73||19 | ||||||||||||
| colspan=3|Career total
!160||37||13||4||3||0||10||2||2||1||188||44 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 23 September 2022}}{{Soccerway|access-date=11 November 2021}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan=2|Germany
|2021 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 5 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Total||7||0 |
Honours
England U19
England U21
- Toulon Tournament: 2018{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/news/2018/jun/09/engvmextoulon090618 |title=Final fightback takes England U21S to Toulon hat-trick with win over Mexico |publisher=The Football Association |date=9 June 2018 |access-date=10 June 2019}}
Germany U21
Individual
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship Team of The Tournament: 2021
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://www.vfl-wolfsburg.de/en/teams/first-team/players-and-staff/spieler-profil/Lukas-Nmecha Profile] at the VfL Wolfsburg website
- {{Soccerway}}
- [https://www.thefa.com/england/all-teams/players?p=355907 England profile] at The Football Association
{{VfL Wolfsburg squad}}
{{UEFA European Under-21 Championship awards}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nmecha, Lukas}}
Category:Footballers from Hamburg
Category:German men's footballers
Category:Germany men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Germany men's international footballers
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:England men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:German sportspeople of Nigerian descent
Category:English people of Nigerian descent
Category:Sportspeople of Nigerian descent
Category:German emigrants to the United Kingdom
Category:Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom
Category:Manchester City F.C. players
Category:Preston North End F.C. players
Category:VfL Wolfsburg players
Category:Middlesbrough F.C. players
Category:R.S.C. Anderlecht players
Category:Premier League players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Belgian Pro League players
Category:German expatriate men's footballers
Category:English expatriate men's footballers
Category:German expatriate sportspeople in Belgium
Category:English expatriates in Belgium
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium
Category:English people of German descent