Caleb Ekuban

Caleb Ansah Ekuban (born 23 March 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Turkish Süper Lig club Trabzonspor. Born in Italy, Ekuban represents the Ghana national football team.

Caleb Ekuban
Personal information
Full name Caleb Ansah Ekuban[1]
Date of birth (1994-03-23) 23 March 1994
Place of birth Villafranca di Verona, Italy
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 Trabzonspor
Number 18
Youth career
2010–2012 Chievo Verona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2017 Chievo Verona 0 (0)
2013–2014 → Südtirol (loan) 7 (1)
2014–2015 → Lumezzane (loan) 48 (7)
2015–2016 → Renate (loan) 31 (4)
2016–2017 → Partizani Tirana (loan) 34 (17)
2017–2019 Leeds United 20 (1)
2018–2019 → Trabzonspor (loan) 29 (5)
2019– Trabzonspor 38 (11)
National team‡
2019– Ghana 6 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 5 February 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 October 2020 (UTC)

Ekuban is a striker known for his pace, technical ability and strong physique. His style of play and prolific goal scoring as a youngster in the Chievo youth team saw him likened to compatriot Mario Balotelli.[3][4]

Early life

Caleb Ekuban was born in Villafranca di Verona, Italy,[5] to Ghanaian parents, Rev. Kobina and Sabina Ekuban. Caleb's father is the district elder of the Pentecostal Assembly of Churches in Italy as well as an accountant and business entrepreneur.

Ekuban was one of seven children growing up in Italy. At the age of 10 his father was transferred to Mantova for ministerial duties and registered Ekuban along with two of his brothers with the Mantova youth team. Ekuban stood out and went on to be signed up by Chievo. He is fluent in Italian and is also able to speak Fanti, the major local dialect in the Central Region of Ghana.[6]

One of his brothers Joseph is now a professional footballer as well, playing in Albania.[7]

Club career

Chievo Verona

After progressing through the youth system at Chievo, Ekuban was called up for the first time to the senior squad by the coach Eugenio Corini on 26 January 2013 for the Serie A match against Lazio, he remained an unused substitute as Chievo won 1–0 at Stadio Olimpico.[8] Ekuban never appeared professionally for Chievo and was loaned out to four clubs over a four-year period and despite being contracted to the club until 2018, he was transferred to Leeds in July 2017.[9]

Loan at Südtirol

In July 2013, Ekuban was sent on loan at Südtirol to gain more playing experience.[10] In August he was the subject of racial abuse in a Coppa Italia first round match against Matera with the perpetrator later receiving a 10 match suspension.[11] He made his professional debut on 1 September by playing in the last 31 minutes of the 1–1 home draw against Reggiana.[12] He scored his first goal later on 13 October, giving his side a point in the match against Venezia.[13] However, his spell at the club was short-lived, and after making only seven league appearances, which only two of them as a starter, Ekuban left the club in January 2014.[14]

Loan at Lumezzane

In January 2014, Ekuban was loaned to fellow Lega Pro side Lumezzane for one and a half seasons. During his spell there, he played 48 league matches, scoring seven goals.

Loan at Renate

On 6 August 2015, Ekuban was loaned to Renate until the end of 2015–16 season.[15] He played his first match for Renate on 6 September in a 1–0 away defeat to Mantova, playing the full 90 minutes.[16] Ekuban scored his first goal of the season in his second league appearance for the new team on 13 September in the 1–1 home draw against Giana Erminio.[17] He finished the 2015–16 season by playing 31 league matches, 24 of them as a starter, scoring 4 goals as Renate finished Group A in 11th position.

Loan at Partizani Tirana

On 4 July 2016, Ekuban completed a season long loan move to Albanian Superliga side Partizani Tirana for the 2016–17 season and was given the number 45.[18] Six days later, was named in Partizani's final 23-man UEFA Champions League squad.[19] He made his competitive debut on 13 July in the first leg of Champions League second qualifying round against Ferencvárosi, playing in the last 23 minutes of the 1–1 draw at Elbasan Arena.[20] In the returning leg one week later, Ekuban played again as a substitute, and after the regular and extra time had finished in a 1–1 draw, the game was decided on penalty shootout where Ekuban successfully converted his penalty shootout attempt, helping Partizani to win 3–1.[21]

Ekuban played full-90 minutes in both legs of Champions League third qualifying round against Red Bull Salzburg, who eliminated Partizani with the aggregate 3–0.[22] Then, Partizani moved to Europa League play-off round where they faced Krasnodar, losing 4–0 on aggregate; Ekuban played full-90 minutes in both legs, and finished his European campaign with six appearances.[23]

Ekuban made his domestic debut on 7 September in the opening league match against Luftëtari Gjirokastër, finished in a 1–0 away win.[24] He opened his scoring account later on 18 September in the matchday 3 against Teuta Durrës, scoring the second goal of the 2–0 away win.[25]

He made his Albanian Cup debut on 7 October in the returning leg of the first round against Kevitan, scoring the fourth goal of the 4–0 win, helping the team to secure the progression to the next round with the aggregate 9–1.[26] On 13 October, in Sulejman Starova's first match in charge, Ekuban scored both goals in a 2–0 away win at Laçi, returning Partizani in the winning ways after two matches.[27] Ekuban finished the 16/17 season as second top scorer in the Albanian Superliga finishing the season with 17 league goals to his name (with 18 in all competitions). With his goals helping Partizani Tirana to a second-place finish in the league and UEFA Europa League qualification.[28]

Leeds United

On 11 July 2017, Leeds United announced the signing of Ekuban on a four-year contract from Serie A side Chievo Verona for an undisclosed fee.[29] On 13 July, Ekuban revealed he was hoping to score goals like former Leeds legend and countryman Tony Yeboah.[30] On 9 August 2017, he made his first-team debut in the League Cup tie 4–1 victory against Port Vale, with Ekuban scoring on his debut after an assist from Ezgjan Alioski, he also provided an assist for Samuel Saiz's hat trick goal in the same game.[31]

On 19 August, Ekuban made his League debut against Sunderland replacing regular striker Chris Wood who pulled himself out the squad due to interest from a Premier League side.[32] Ekuban however picked up an injury breaking a bone in his foot and had to be substituted in the second half.[33]

He returned from injury against Middlesbrough on 19 November 2017, however Ekuban broke his foot again on 10 December in Leeds' 1–3 victory against QPR.[34] Ekuban returned to the match day squad on 10 February against Sheffield United.[35] On 30 March 2018, Ekuban scored his first League goal for Leeds against Bolton Wanderers.[36]

With speculation that he was not in Marcelo Bielsa's plans, on 26 July 2018, Ekuban was not given a shirt number for Leeds for the upcoming 2018–19 season for Leeds.[37]

Loan at Trabzonspor

On 29 August 2018, Ekbuan joined Turkish Süper Lig side Trabzonspor on a season long loan.[38] Ekuban made his debut coming on for Hugo Rodallega against Galatasaray in the 86th minute on 1 September 2018, scoring on his debut in a 4–0 victory. This goal held significance for some Leeds United fans due to a rivalry with the Turkish side Galatasaray.[39] Ekuban was praised after scoring an emotional goal for Trabzonspor in a 2–0 win against Kayserispor after playing after the passing of his mother, the goal sparked an emotional celebration with his team-mates as he burst into tears.[40]

On 19 December 2018, Ekuban took his tally to 5 goals in all competitions, after scoring a brace in a 5–0 win over Sivas Belediyespor in the Turkish Cup.[41] He scored his 6th goal of the season against İstanbul Başakşehir on 20 January 2019 in a 4–2 defeat.

Trabzonspor

On 1 July 2019, Trabzonspor made the loan deal permanent and signed Caleb Ekuban for three years.

International career

Ekuban was eligible to play for both Ghana and Italy at international level.[42] On 12 July 2017, Ekuban revealed it is his intention to represent Ghana.[43]

On 20 April 2018, Ekuban met with Ghana national team head coach Akwasi Appiah. In March 2019, Ekuban was called up to represent Ghana for 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification.[44] He scored his first competitive goal for the Black Stars of Ghana on his debut against the Harambee Stars of Kenya in an AFCON Qualifier on 23 March 2019 at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Honours
Trabzonspor

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 22 June 2020[46][47][48]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Chievo Verona 2012–13 Serie A 0000——00
2013–14 Serie A 0000——00
2014–15 Serie A 0000——00
2015–16 Serie A 0000——00
2016–17 Serie A 0000——00
Total 0000000000
Südtirol (loan) 2013–14 Lega Pro 7121——92
Lumezzane (loan) 2013–14 Lega Pro 13200——132
2014–15 35520——375
Total 487200000507
Renate (loan) 2015–16 Lega Pro 31420——334
Partizani Tirana (loan) 2016–17 Albanian Superliga 341721—6[lower-alpha 1]0[lower-alpha 2]4218
Leeds United 2017–18 Championship 2010011—212
Trabzonspor 2018–19 Süper Lig 29573–00368
2019–20 Süper Lig 17461–54289
Total 46913400546417
Career total 186382161111421949
  1. Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. Scored in the penalty shootout against Ferencvárosi TC

International
As of match played on 12 October 2020[49]
Ghana
YearAppsGoals
201942
202021
Total63

International goals
Scores and results list Ghana's goal tally first.[49]
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.23 March 2019Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana Kenya1–01–02019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
2.26 March 2019 Mauritania2–13–1Friendly
3.12 October 2020Mardan Sports Complex, Aksu, Turkey Qatar5–15–1

References
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  2. "Caleb Ekuban". sport.de.
  3. "Ghana starlet Ekuban bidding his time to shine at Chievo". GhanaSoccernet.
  4. "Ecco Ekuban, il Balotelli del Lumezzane: "Sogno di tornare al Chievo. Quei paragoni con Mario e il consiglio di Corini..."". gianlucadimarzio.com.
  5. "Caleb Ansah Ekuban" (in Italian). Südtirol. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  6. http://www.theafricaninternationalherald.com/index.php/quick-guide/item/658-caleb-ekuban-the-ghanaian-italian-rising-star-with-impressive-scoring-run-like-mario-balotelli%5B%5D
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