Theophilus Solomon

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Theophilus Solomon

| image = Theophilus Solomon.jpg

| caption = Solomon with Partizan in December 2017

| fullname = Theophilus Solomon

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|1|18|df=y}}

| birth_place = Kaduna, Nigeria

| height = {{Height|m=1.83}}

| position = Forward

| currentclub = Dukagjini

| clubnumber = 45

| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}

| youthclubs1 = Abuja Football College

| youthyears2 = {{0|0000}}–2012

| youthclubs2 = Eco Football Club

| youthyears3 = 2012–2014

| youthclubs3 = Rijeka

| years1 = 2014–2018

| clubs1 = Rijeka

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2014

| clubs2 = → Pomorac (loan)

| caps2 = 9

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2014–2015

| clubs3 = → Zadar (loan)

| caps3 = 13

| goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2015–2016

| clubs4 = → Šibenik (loan)

| caps4 = 31

| goals4 = 11

| years5 = 2016–2017

| clubs5 = → Istra 1961 (loan)

| caps5 = 31

| goals5 = 7

| years6 = 2017–2018

| clubs6 = → Partizan (loan)

| caps6 = 6

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2018

| clubs7 = → Omonia (loan)

| caps7 = 7

| goals7 = 1

| years8 = 2018–2019

| clubs8 = Inter Zaprešić

| caps8 = 7

| goals8 = 1

| years9 = 2019

| clubs9 = Újpest

| caps9 = 10

| goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2019–2021

| clubs10 = Partizani Tirana

| caps10 = 40

| goals10 = 8

| years11 = 2021

| clubs11 = Qadsia

| caps11 =

| goals11 =

| years12 = 2021–2022

| clubs12 = Ballkani

| caps12 = 19

| goals12 = 5

| years13 = 2022–2023

| clubs13 = Gjilani

| caps13 = 19

| goals13 = 6

| years14 = 2023–

| clubs14 = Dukagjini

| caps14 = 25

| goals14 = 2

| nationalyears1 = 2016

| nationalteam1 = Nigeria U23

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| pcupdate = 5 January 2025

| ntupdate =

}}

Theophilus Solomon (born 18 January 1996) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Kosovan club Dukagjini.

Club career

=Rijeka=

Born in Kaduna, Solomon played at Eco Football Club of Lagos before joining Croatian side Rijeka in June 2012.{{Cite web | url=http://allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=7342 | title=Renegade Teen Star Tries Out In Croatia | publisher=allnigeriasoccer.com | date=23 June 2012 | accessdate=21 December 2017}} He signed his first professional contract with the club in January 2014.{{Cite web | url=http://nk-rijeka.hr/vijest/solomon-potpisao-ugovor/ | title=Solomon potpisao ugovor | language=Croatian | publisher=nk-rijeka.hr | date=30 January 2014 | accessdate=21 December 2017}}

==Loan to Pomorac==

In order to gain some senior football experience, Solomon spent the initial six months of his Rijeka contract on loan at Druga HNL side Pomorac. He appeared in nine games until the end of the 2013–14 campaign, failing to score any goals.

==Loan to Zadar==

In August 2014, Solomon was loaned to Zadar, alongside Domagoj Pušić, until the end of the 2014–15 season.{{Cite web | url=http://nk-rijeka.hr/vijest/pusic-i-solomon-na-posudbi-u-nk-zadar/ | title=Pušić i Solomon na posudbi u NK Zadar | language=Croatian | publisher=nk-rijeka.hr | date=20 August 2014 | accessdate=21 December 2017}} He scored a hat-trick in the first round of the Croatian Cup, on 24 September, leading his team to a 5–1 away win against Zagora Unešić. On 6 December, Solomon became the youngest foreigner to score a goal in the Prva HNL, netting the opener in an eventual 2–5 home loss to Lokomotiva Zagreb.{{Cite web | url=https://www.sl10.ng/news/articles/categories/nigeria-players-abroad/theophilus-solomon-shining-bright-in-croatia/194994 | title=Solomon Breaking Records In Croatia | publisher=sl10.ng | date=8 December 2014 | accessdate=21 December 2017}}

==Loan to Šibenik==

In July 2015, alongside his teammate David Nwolokor, Solomon was sent on a season-long loan to Šibenik.{{Cite web | url=http://nk-rijeka.hr/vijest/nwolokor-i-solomon-na-posudbi-u-sibeniku/ | title=Nwolokor i Solomon na posudbi u Šibeniku | language=Croatian | publisher=nk-rijeka.hr | date=7 July 2015 | accessdate=21 December 2017}} He was the team's top scorer and fourth-highest in the Druga HNL that season with a tally of 11 goals.

==Loan to Istra 1961==

In July 2016, Solomon went on another season-long loan, this time joining newly promoted Prva HNL side Istra 1961.{{Cite web | url=http://nk-rijeka.hr/vijest/theophilus-solomon-na-posudbi-u-istri-1961/ | title=Theophilus Solomon na posudbi u Istri 1961 | language=Croatian | publisher=nk-rijeka.hr | date=25 July 2016 | accessdate=21 December 2017}} He finished the campaign with seven goals from 31 appearances, helping his team secure their league status.

==Loan to Partizan==

On 12 August 2017, Solomon was transferred to Serbian club Partizan on a season-long loan with an option for a permanent transfer.{{Cite web | url=http://partizan.rs/171889-nigerijac-teofilus-solomon-u-partizanu/?pismo=lat | title=Nigerijac Teofilus Solomon u Partizanu | language=Serbian | publisher=partizan.rs | date=12 August 2017 | accessdate=21 December 2017}}

==Loan to Omonia==

On 30 January 2018, he was loaned to Omonia until the end of the 2017-18 season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.acomonia.com/news/%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%BD-%CE%BF%CE%BC%CE%BF%CE%BD%CE%BF%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CE%BF-theophilus-solomon/|title=Στην ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑ ο Theophilus Solomon|date=30 January 2018|publisher=acomonia.com|access-date=30 January 2018|language=el}} On 10 February he scored his first goal against Aris Limassol.{{Cite news|url=http://goal.philenews.com/podosfero/kypros/a-katigoria/i-omonia-nikise-ton-ari/|title="Ξεμπέρδεψε" εύκολα η Ομόνοια, μία… ανάσα από την τετράδα (pics)|date=10 February 2018|publisher=Goal.com.cy|access-date=10 February 2018|language=el}}

=Inter Zaprešić=

On 17 June 2018, Solomon was transferred to Inter Zaprešić as part of player-exchange deal.{{cite web|url=http://www.nogometplus.net/index.php/domaci_nogomet/ajayi-i-solomon-trajno-a-celikovic-i-vuk-na-posudbi-u-inter-zapresicu/ |title=Ajayi i Solomon trajno, a Čeliković i Vuk na posudbi u Inter-Zaprešiću |publisher=NogometPlus |language=Croatian |date=17 June 2018}}

International career

In mid-March 2016, Solomon was included in the 20-man Nigeria U23 squad for a friendly against the Brazil U23s scheduled for the 24th in Rio de Janeiro.{{Cite web | url=http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/11252/nigeria-u23/2016/03/19/21484162/osimhen-imoh-top-nigeria-u23-squad-for-brazil-friendly | title=Osimhen, Imoh top Nigeria U23 squad for Brazil friendly | publisher=goal.com | date=19 March 2016 | accessdate=21 December 2017}} He came on as a substitute for Stanley Dimgba in the second half of the match, which Nigeria won by 1–0.{{Cite web | url=http://wp.clicrbs.com.br/brasilolimpico/2016/03/24/selecao-brasileira-olimpica-de-futebol-perde-amistoso-para-a-nigeria/?topo=52,1,1,,171,e171 | title=Seleção Brasileira Olímpica de Futebol perde amistoso para a Nigéria | language=Portuguese | publisher=clicrbs.com.br | date=24 March 2016 | accessdate=21 December 2017}}