Xavier Amaechi
{{Short description|English footballer (born 2001)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Xavier Amaechi
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|fullname = Xavier Casmier Amaechi{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/612828 |title=Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed |publisher=Premier League |date=2 February 2018 |access-date=13 November 2019}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|1|5|df=y}}
|birth_place = Bath, England
|position = Winger
|currentclub = Plymouth Argyle
|clubnumber = 10
|youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2019
|youthclubs1 = Arsenal
|years1 = 2019–2020
|clubs1 = Hamburger SV II
|caps1 = 6
|goals1 = 5
|years2 = 2019–2023
|clubs2 = Hamburger SV
|caps2 = 10
|goals2 = 0
|years3 = 2021
|clubs3 = → Karlsruher SC (loan)
|caps3 = 7
|goals3 = 0
|years4 = 2021–2022
|clubs4 = → Bolton Wanderers (loan)
|caps4 = 10
|goals4 = 1
|years5 = 2023–2025
|clubs5 = 1. FC Magdeburg
|caps5 = 41
|goals5 = 6
|years6 = 2025–
|clubs6 = Plymouth Argyle
|caps6 = 0
|goals6 = 0
|nationalyears1 =
|nationalteam1 = England U15
|nationalcaps1 = 10
|nationalgoals1 = 0
|nationalyears2 = 2016–2017
|nationalteam2 = England U16
|nationalcaps2 = 6
|nationalgoals2 = 2
|nationalyears3 = 2018
|nationalteam3 = England U17
|nationalcaps3 = 7
|nationalgoals3 = 2
|nationalyears4 = 2019
|nationalteam4 = England U19
|nationalcaps4 = 3
|nationalgoals4 = 1
|nationalyears5 = 2020
|nationalteam5 = England U20
|nationalcaps5 = 1
|nationalgoals5 = 1
|club-update = 23 May 2025
|ntupdate = 20:15, 13 October 2020 (UTC)
}}
Xavier Casmier Amaechi (born 5 January 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for {{English football updater|PlymoutA}} club Plymouth Argyle.
Early and personal life
Amaechi was born in Bath on 5 January 2001.{{Cite web|url=https://www.arsenal.com/academy/players/xavier-amaechi|title=Xavier Amaechi|website=www.arsenal.com}} He is of Nigerian descent.{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/xavier-amaechi/ |title=Xavier Amaechi |website=worldfootball.net |publisher=HEIM:SPIEL |access-date=11 August 2019}}
Club career
After playing youth football for Arsenal, Amaechi signed for German club Hamburger SV in July 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49140762|title=Xavier Amaechi: Arsenal winger signs for Hamburg on four-year deal|publisher=BBC Sport|date=27 July 2019|access-date=29 July 2019}} He made his HSV debut on 11 August 2019 in the first round of the 2019–20 DFB-Pokal, coming on as a substitute in the 100th minute in extra time for David Kinsombi in the away match against Chemnitzer FC.{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/report/dfb-pokal-2019-2020-1-runde-chemnitzer-fc-hamburger-sv/ |title=Chemnitzer FC – Hamburger SV 2:2 (DFB-Pokal 2019/2020, 1. Round) |website=worldfootball.net |publisher=HEIM:SPIEL |date=11 August 2019 |access-date=11 August 2019}}
On 19 January 2021, Amaechi signed with 2. Bundesliga club Karlsruher SC on loan until the end of the season.{{cite web |url=https://www.ksc.de/profis/saison/news/show/article/ksc-leiht-xavier-amaechi-vom-hsv/ |title=KSC LEIHT XAVIER AMAECHI VOM HSV |publisher=ksc.de |date=19 January 2021 |access-date=20 January 2021}}
On 28 June 2021 he signed a six-month loan deal with Bolton Wanderers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2021/june/wanderers-land-highly-rated-winger/|title=Wanderers Land Highly Rated Winger|website=www.bwfc.co.uk}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/breaking-bolton-wanderers-transfer-news-20922816|title=First words as former Arsenal youngster Xavier Amaechi signs for Bolton|first=Alex|last=James|date=28 June 2021|website=Manchester Evening News}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57643625|title=Bolton agree loan for winger Amaechi|work=BBC Sport }} Bolton were unable to afford his wages, and Hamburger SV refused to pay his wages during the loan spell – so Amaechi agreed to a pay cut during the loan as he specifically wanted to join Bolton over other options in England.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/19421755.bolton-wanderers-boss-ian-evatt-reveals-ex-arsenal-star-xavier-amaechis-amazing-gesture/|title=Ian Evatt reveals Xavier Amaechi's 'amazing' gesture to force Wanderers move|website=The Bolton News|date=6 July 2021 }} On 20 July Amaechi fractured his metatarsal in a pre-season game against Preston North End, with the injury requiring surgery which would side-line him for a number of weeks.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/19473348.bolton-wanderers-confirm-injury-hamburg-ex-arsenal-man-xavier-amaechi/|title=Bolton Wanderers boss confirms severity of injury to winger Xavier Amaechi|website=The Bolton News|date=28 July 2021 }} His debut finally came on 12 November when he came on as a late substitute in a 2–0 win against Crewe Alexandra.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2021/november/report-wanderers-v-crewe-alexandra/|title=REPORT: Wanderers 2 Crewe Alexandra 0|website=www.bwfc.co.uk}} His first competitive start and goal came on 27 November when he scored Bolton's first goal in a 2–2 draw against Cheltenham Town.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/59356798|title=Bolton Wanderers 2-2 Cheltenham Town|work=BBC Sport }} On 30 December, the loan was extended until the end of the season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2021/december/wanderers-still-counting-covid-cost/|title=Wanderers Still Counting COVID Cost|website=www.bwfc.co.uk}}
On 6 June 2023, Amaechi signed for 2. Bundesliga side 1. FC Magdeburg on a free transfer.{{cite web|url=https://1.fc-magdeburg.de/aktuelles/profis/1-fc-magdeburg-verpflichtet-xavier-amaechi/10164|title=1. FC Magdeburg verpflichtet Xavier Amaechi|publisher=1. FC Magdeburg|date=6 June 2023|accessdate=7 June 2023|language=German}}
On 19 June 2025 Amaechi returned to England, signing for Plymouth Argyle.https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/xavier-amaechi-signs
International career
He is an England youth international. He played 10 times England under-15 team.
In May 2018, Amaechi was included in the England under-17 squad as they hosted the 2018 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43994944|title=European Under-17 Championship: England face extra scrutiny at home|publisher=BBC Sport|date=3 May 2018|access-date=21 August 2019}} He scored in the quarter-final against Norway{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44104223|title=European Under-17 Championship: England progress to semi-finals|publisher=BBC Sport|date=13 May 2018|access-date=21 August 2019}} but a yellow card in this match led to his suspension for the semi-final defeat against the Netherlands.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44163466|title=European Under-17 Championships: England lose 6–5 on penalties to Netherlands|publisher=BBC Sport|date=17 May 2018|access-date=21 August 2019}} He was subsequently included in the UEFA team of the tournament.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/under17/news/0252-0cda3998eac3-d862e36a6c04-1000--under-17-euro-team-of-the-tournament/|title=Under-17 EURO team of the tournament|publisher=UEFA|date=16 June 2018|access-date=21 August 2019}}
On 13 November 2019, Amaechi made his England U19 debut during the 4–0 2020 U19 EURO qualifying win over Luxembourg.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/news/2019/nov/13/england-mu19s-luxembourg-report-131119|title=YOUNG LIONS START U19 EURO QUALIFYING WITH VICTORY OVER LUXEMBOURG IN SKOPJE|publisher=TheFA.com|date=13 November 2019|access-date=16 November 2019}}
On 13 October 2020, Amaechi made his U20 debut and scored during a 2–0 victory over Wales at St. George's Park.{{cite news |url=https://www.thefa.com/news/2020/oct/13/england-mu20s-wales-report-131020 |title=TWO QUICKFIRE GOALS IN THE FIRST HALF SEAL WIN FOR LEE CARSLEY'S YOUNG LIONS AT SGP |first=Nicholas |last=Veevers |website=TheFA.com |date=13 October 2020 |access-date=13 October 2020}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 12 November 2022}}
| 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"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|Hamburger SV II
|4 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 3 | ||||
| 2020–21
|Regionalliga Nord |2 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 2 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | |
| rowspan=5|Hamburger SV
|2019–20{{soccerway|xavier-casmier-amaechi/453083|accessdate=28 June 2021}} |2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2020–21
|2. Bundesliga |1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2021–22
|2. Bundesliga |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2022–23
|2. Bundesliga |7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| Karlsruher SC (loan)
|2. Bundesliga |7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 7 | 0 | |||
| Bolton Wanderers (loan)
|2021–22{{soccerbase season|122953|2021|accessdate=24 August 2021}} |10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in the EFL Trophy.}} | 0 | 12 | 1 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!33 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 6 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Individual
- UEFA European Under-17 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2018
References
{{reflist}}
{{Plymouth Argyle F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Amaechi, Xavier}}
Category:Black British sportsmen
Category:21st-century Black British people
Category:English people of Nigerian descent
Category:Sportspeople of Nigerian descent
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football wingers
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:English Football League players
Category:Karlsruher SC players
Category:Bolton Wanderers F.C. players
Category:2. Bundesliga players
Category:English expatriate men's footballers
Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Germany
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
Category:Footballers from Bath, Somerset
Category:1. FC Magdeburg players