Chioma Ubogagu

Chioma Grace Ubogagu[1] (born 10 September 1992) is a professional footballer who plays mainly as a forward for Real Madrid CF in the Spanish Primera División. She previously played for Orlando Pride, Brisbane Roar, Houston Dash and Arsenal. Ubogagu played collegiate soccer for Stanford University and was capped at various youth levels for the United States, winning the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.

Chioma Ubogagu
Ubogagu playing for Orlando Pride on June 23, 2018
Personal information
Full name Chioma Grace Ubogagu
Date of birth (1992-09-10) 10 September 1992
Place of birth London, England
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Real Madrid
Number 18
Youth career
2007–2010 Coppell Cowgirls
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2014 Stanford Cardinal 89 (27)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2014 Pali Blues
2015 Arsenal 14 (6)
2016 Houston Dash 15 (1)
2017–2019 Orlando Pride 58 (12)
2018–2019 → Brisbane Roar (loan) 11 (2)
2019–2020 CD Tacón 18 (5)
2020– Real Madrid 8 (1)
National team‡
2008–2011 United States U18
2012 United States U20
2014–2015 United States U23
2018– England 3 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 December 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 9 April 2019

Early life and career

Ubogagu was born in London, where her parents, mother Tina a nurse and father Aloy a social worker, had moved from Nigeria seeking job opportunities.[2] At age 3, her parents divorced and she moved with her mother and older brother to Coppell, Texas a suburb in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex.[3]

Ubogagu led her club team, D'Feeters, to two Texas-North State Cup titles, a U.S. Youth Soccer Association Region II championship and a 2010 third-place U-17 national finish, and led Coppell High School to the 2009 Texas 5A state title. She was also named 2010 Gatorade Texas Player of the Year, all-America three times by ESPN RISE and twice each by the NSCAA and Parade. In addition, she was all All-Area selection by Dallas Morning News, all four years of her high school career.[4]

Ubogagu came to Stanford as the #1-ranked recruit in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer. During her freshman year, she won the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 2011 and helped the Cardinal win their first Women's College Cup, making the all-tournament team in the process.[3] Stanford returned to the final in 2012 and to the semifinal in 2014.[5] She finished her college career with 27 goals in 89 total appearances, made the All-Pac-12 team all four seasons, earning first-team honors in 2012 and 2014.[4]

Club career
Chioma Ubogagu playing for the Orlando Pride in 2017

Arsenal Ladies, 2015

In January 2015, National Women's Soccer League's Sky Blue FC selected Ubogagu with the 28th pick of the 2015 NWSL College Draft,[6] although coach Jim Gabarra acknowledged she was in negotiations with an FA WSL club.[7] In February 2015, Ubogagu signed with Arsenal, the club she'd supported as a child and her British birth made it easier for her to acquire a United Kingdom work permit.[7]

Ubogagu made her professional debut on 3 April 2015, scoring a goal in a 1–1 draw against Notts County.[8]

Houston Dash, 2016

Arsenal released Ubogagu having reached the end of her contract in November 2015. She finished her season with seven goals in 21 appearances.[9] Subsequently, the Houston Dash acquired the rights to Ubogagu from the Sky Blue FC in exchange for picks in the 2016 and 2017 college drafts. The trade gave the Dash an opportunity to sign her before the start of the NWSL season in March 2016.[10]

Ubogagu was named NWSL Player of the Week in week 4 of the 2016 season for her one goal and one assist performance to lead Houston to a 2–1 victory over FC Kansas City.[11]

Orlando Pride, 2017–2019

On 23 January 2017, the Orlando Pride acquired Ubogagu from the Houston Dash, in exchange for Orlando's natural third round pick in the 2018 NWSL College Draft.[12] In 2017 Ubogagu appeared in 19 games for Orlando, scoring 4 goals.[13] On 16 February 2018 the Orlando Pride announced they had signed Ubogagu to a new contract ahead of the 2018 season.[14] On 29 August 2019, Ubogagu was waived by the Orlando Pride to allow her to pursue a playing opportunity in Europe.[15]

Loan at Brisbane Roar

On 5 October 2018, Brisbane Roar announced they had signed Ubogagu for the 2018–19 W-League season, where she would be joining fellow Orlando Pride teammate Carson Pickett on loan.[16] She scored her first goal for the team on 29 November 2018, in a 1–0 victory over Newcastle Jets.[17] She ended the season with 2 goals.

CD Tacón/Real Madrid, 2019–present

On 31 August 2019, Ubogagu joined Spanish Primera División team CD Tacón.[18]

International career

Because of her parents and her place of birth, Ubogagu was eligible to represent Nigeria, England or the United States.[3] She chose to represent the United States at the youth level, playing for their under-18, under-20 and under-23 teams. She settled on representing England at the senior level, accepting a call up from the side in October 2018 and making her England and senior international debut on 8 November 2018.

Ubogagu has represented the United States at youth levels, including U-18, U-20, and U-23 teams. With the U-20, she won the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, appearing in all six games and scoring once, and the 2012 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship, where she scored the winning goal in the final, and scored six goals in a stretch of eight games at one point in 2012.[4]

Ubogagu received her first call-up to the United States Women's National Team on 31 October 2017 for the set of two friendlies against Canada in November. Ubogagu was not capped for the full national team and she did not dress as part of the 18 for either game.[19]

Phil Neville called Ubogagu up to the England national team for a set of friendlies in November 2018 against Sweden and Austria.[20] She scored on her England and senior international debut in a 3–0 win against Austria on 8 November 2018.[21]

Personal life

Her grandfather Austin Eneuke played for Nigeria and Tottenham Hotspur.[3] Ubogagu became an Arsenal fan watching the North London derby, despite her father urging her to support Tottenham.[3]

Her name Chioma means "Good God" in the Igbo language, spoken primarily by the Igbo people in south eastern Nigeria.[2]

Career statistics

Club
As of 21 August 2019.[22]
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Arsenal 2015 FA WSL 1 14651––197
Houston Dash 2016 NWSL 151––––151
Orlando Pride 2017 NWSL 204––––204
2018 214––––214
2019 174––––174
Total 581200005812
Brisbane Roar (loan) 2018–19 W-League 112––––112
Career total 9821510010322

International goals
As of match played 9 April 2019. England score listed first, score column indicates score after each Ubogagu goal.
International goals by date, venue, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 8 November 2018BSFZ-Arena, Maria Enzersdorf, Austria Austria1–03–0Friendly[23]

Honours

England

Notes

    References
    1. "FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Japan 2012 List of Players: USA" (PDF). FIFA. 14 September 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
    2. "Just Call Her Chee". US Soccer. 2 September 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
    3. Kiefer, David (18 September 2014). "Stanford's Chioma Ubogagu chases one more shot on soccer journey".
    4. "Chioma Ubogagu". Stanford University. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
    5. Radoff, Nicholas (7 December 2014). "Women's soccer season ends in semis of College Cup". Stanford Daily. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
    6. "SKY BLUE FC SELECTS SIX PLAYERS IN 2015 NWSL COLLEGE DRAFT" (Press release). Sky Blue FC. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
    7. "Sky Blue draft pick Ubogagu signs for Arsenal". The Equalizer. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
    8. "Ubogagu spoils the party for Notts County with a debut goal". 3 April 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
    9. "Chioma Ubogagu to leave Ladies". Arsenal Football Club. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
    10. "Houston Dash acquire rights to forward Chioma Ubogagu". Houston Dash. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2015. The Houston Dash have acquired the rights to forward Chioma Ubogagu (pronounced: chee-OH-ma ah-bo-GA-gu) from Sky Blue FC in exchange for the club’s fourth-round pick (No. 36 overall) in the 2016 NWSL College Draft and natural third-round pick in the 2017 NWSL College Draft.
    11. "HOUSTON DASH'S CHIOMA UBOGAGU VOTED PLAYER OF THE WEEK". NWSL. 10 May 2016. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
    12. "Orlando Pride Add Arsenal Product Chioma Ubogagu". 23 January 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
    13. "Chioma Ubogagu Stats". 16 June 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
    14. "Orlando Pride inks new deal with Chioma Ubogagu, season opener matchup set". 16 February 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
    15. "Orlando Pride Waives Forward Chioma Ubogagu". www.orlandocitysc.com.
    16. "American duo added to Roar's Westfield W-League squad". 5 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
    17. "Ubogagu fires Roar to drought-breaking win over Jets". Westfield W-League. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
    18. "Chioma Ubogagu: England winger joins Real Madrid women's team CD Tacon". BBC Sport. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
    19. "Chioma Ubogagu earns first USWNT call-up for final series of year against Canada". 31 October 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
    20. "@Lionesses". 30 October 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
    21. Austria Women 0–3 England Women. BBC Sport. Published 8 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
    22. "Chioma Ubogagu player profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
    23. Emons, Michael (8 November 2018). "Austria women 0–3 England women: Phil Neville's side extend unbeaten run". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
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