Uche Ikpeazu

Karl Anthony Uchechukwu Mubiru Ikpeazu (born 28 February 1995) is an English-born Ugandan professional footballer who plays as a forward for Championship club Wycombe Wanderers.

Uche Ikpeazu
Ikpeazu playing for Crewe Alexandra in 2014
Personal information
Full name Karl Anthony Uchechukwu Mubiru Ikpeazu[1]
Date of birth (1995-02-28) 28 February 1995[2]
Place of birth Harrow, England
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[3]
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Wycombe Wanderers
Number 9
Youth career
2010–2011 Reading
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 Reading 0 (0)
2011–2012 → Didcot Town (loan) 2 (1)
2013–2016 Watford 0 (0)
2014 → Crewe Alexandra (loan) 15 (4)
2014–2015 → Crewe Alexandra (loan) 8 (2)
2015 → Doncaster Rovers (loan) 7 (0)
2015 → Crewe Alexandra (loan) 9 (0)
2015 → Port Vale (loan) 21 (5)
2016 → Blackpool (loan) 12 (0)
2016–2018 Cambridge United 69 (19)
2018–2020 Heart of Midlothian 40 (5)
2020– Wycombe Wanderers 10 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 2 February 2021 (UTC)

A former Reading Academy player, he joined Watford in 2013. He spent three years with the club without making a first team appearance, and instead played on loan at Crewe Alexandra, Doncaster Rovers, Port Vale, and Blackpool. He signed with Cambridge United in August 2016 and spent two seasons with the club before signing with Heart of Midlothian in April 2018. He played for Hearts as they lost the 2019 Scottish Cup final. He returned to England to sign with Wycombe Wanderers in August 2020.

Career

Reading and Watford

Ikpeazu was born in Harrow, London to a Nigerian father and Ugandan mother.[4] Ikpeazu joined Reading's Academy in late 2010.[5][6] He signed for Southern League Division One South & West club Didcot Town on loan in November 2011 and scored twice in three games,[6] including the 3–1 FA Trophy win against Conference Premier team Bromley.[7] In the 2012–13 season, his final for the under-18s, he scored 28 goals in as many games, finishing as the top scorer in the country at academy level.[8]

He was offered a professional contract by Reading but turned it down and instead signed a three-year contract with fellow Championship club Watford in July 2013.[8][9] Due to his age Watford were required to pay compensation which, after six months of negotiations, was agreed in January 2014 with the fee remaining undisclosed.[10] The same month, having yet to make his first-team debut for Watford, Ikpeazu joined League One club Crewe Alexandra on loan until the end of the season.[11] He made his debut at Gresty Road as a second-half substitute in a 2–1 defeat to Leyton Orient on 18 January,[12] and scored his first goals in professional football with two goals against Bradford City three weeks later.[13]

Ikpeazu returned to Crewe on 26 November 2014, on a loan deal until 25 January 2015.[14] Two days later he scored in a 1–1 home draw with Doncaster Rovers.[15] After the loan deal ended he joined Doncaster Rovers on loan.[16] He was reported to have been viewed as a possible permanent signing by manager Paul Dickov, but returned to Watford in March after failing to impress at the Keepmoat Stadium.[17][18] He then returned to Crewe on loan after manager Steve Davis admitted that he was unable to replace Ikpeazu during his absence.[19]

Ikpeazu joined League One club Port Vale on a six-month loan in July 2015, having impressed manager Rob Page playing against the Vale for Crewe the previous season.[20] He started the campaign as the club's main striker, and though he dropped out of the first eleven against Oldham Athletic on 29 September he came off the bench to score an equalising goal.[21] Page was hopeful of extending the loan deal until the end of the season, as Ikpeazu was the club's top-scorer throughout the early stages of the campaign.[22] However he lost his first-team place after being sent off against Burton Albion on 24 October as A-Jay Leitch-Smith entered the team and found a rich vein of form.[23] Despite Ikpeazu still being the club's top-scorer his loan spell was not extended in January.[24] He remained in League One however, as he joined Blackpool on loan until the end of the 2015–16 season.[25] Ikpeazu was then released by Watford upon the expiry of his contract.[26]

Cambridge United

Ikpeazu had a trial at Championship club Norwich City in July 2016, and scored in a pre-season friendly against Dereham Town.[27] He signed a short-term contract with League Two club Cambridge United the following month.[28] He scored his first goal for Cambridge in a 2–1 win over Newport County at Rodney Parade on 24 September, and manager Shaun Derry said he was becoming a "cult figure" at the club.[29][30] On 9 January 2017, Ikpeazu scored for Cambridge in a 2–1 FA Cup third round defeat to Championship team Leeds United.[31] On 23 February, he was ruled out of action for eight weeks with a hamstring injury.[32] He ended the 2016–17 campaign with eight goals in 36 appearances, and underwent surgery after dislocating his shoulder at Portsmouth on 22 April.[33]

On 9 December 2017, Ikpeazu was sent off in a 2–0 at former club Port Vale after receiving two yellow cards in the space of two minutes.[34] In April 2018 "U's" announced that they "had tabled a series of strong and competitive packages at League Two level. However, the club can confirm that Ikpeazu has declined the offers put forward, making his desire to play at a higher level clear in each conversation".[35]

Heart of Midlothian

Ikpeazu signed a pre-contract agreement with Scottish Premiership club Heart of Midlothian in April 2018, with a two-year contract which took effect from 1 July 2018.[36] He said he was attracted to the club by the size of Tynecastle Park and faith shown in him by manager Craig Levein.[37] He signed an extended contract with the club in March 2019 after stating that "I feel the love" following the club's support during a four-month injury lay-off with a broken foot.[38] Old Firm clubs Celtic and Rangers were reported to have expressed an interest in bidding for his services.[39] Hearts reached the 2019 Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park, where they lost 2–1 to Celtic, with Ikpeazu replacing Steven MacLean on 78 minutes.[40]

He lost his first-team place under Daniel Stendel by the time the 2019–20 season was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland.[41] He was expected to be sold or released in the summer transfer window after club chair Ann Budge asked the playing staff to take a 50% pay cut to help stem a financial crisis at the club that was worsened by match postponements due to the pandemic.[4]

Wycombe Wanderers

On 17 August 2020, Ikpeazu signed for newly-promoted Championship club Wycombe Wanderers on a three-year deal.[42] Manager Gareth Ainsworth said that "we feel he's perfectly suited for the way we play" and saw him as a long-term replacement for Adebayo Akinfenwa.[43] He scored his first goal for the "Chairboys" in 3–1 defeat by Middlesbrough at Adams Park on 2 January, as he "curled in a beautiful effort from 20-yards" for his first goal since September 2019.[44]

International career

Ikpeazu was called up to the Uganda squad by Northern Irish head coach Johnathan McKinstry for two 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches in March 2020, but the games were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda.[45]

Style of play

Ikpeazu is an athletic 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) forward who possesses pace and power but sometimes struggles with ball control.[46][47] He has said that "my strength is my strength and I have to use that but I have other aspects to my game".[48]

Statistics
As of match played 2 February 2021
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Didcot Town (loan) 2011–12[49] Southern League Division One South & West 2100—1[lower-alpha 1]132
Watford 2013–14[50] Championship 000000—00
2014–15[51] Championship 0000000000
2015–16[52] Premier League 0000000000
Total 0000000000
Crewe Alexandra (loan) 2013–14[50] League One 154000000154
Crewe Alexandra (loan) 2014–15[51] League One 172000000172
Doncaster Rovers (loan) 2014–15[51] League One 7000000070
Port Vale (loan) 2015–16[52] League One 21530202[lower-alpha 2]1286
Blackpool (loan) 2015–16[52] League One 120000000120
Cambridge United 2016–17[53] League Two 29641003[lower-alpha 3]1368
2017–18[54] League Two 40132011104414
Total 69196111418022
Heart of Midlothian 2018–19[55] Scottish Premiership 173524300268
2019–20[56] Scottish Premiership 232006000292
Total 40552103005510
Wycombe Wanderers 2020–21[57] Championship 102200000122
Career total 193381521347322847
  1. Appearance in FA Trophy
  2. Appearances in Football League Trophy
  3. Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

Heart of Midlothian

References
  1. "Clubs submit retained and released lists". Premier League. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016.
  2. "Uche Ikpeazu". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  3. "Uche Ikpeazu". Watford F.C. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  4. Wilson, Fraser (18 March 2020). "Hearts exodus set to be sparked as Uche Ikpeazu heads Tynecastle unwanted list". Daily Record. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  5. Aiyejina, Tana (21 December 2014). "I'll never forget my hat-trick against Arsenal — Ikpeazu". Punch. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  6. "Official: Hornets sign Ikpeazu". Watford F.C. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  7. "Didcot pull off a big shock". Didcot Herald. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  8. "Uche Ikpeazu: Watford sign prolific teenager on pro contract". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  9. "Carrico update". Reading F.C. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  10. Smith, Frank (8 January 2014). "Reading and Watford agree compensation fee for Uche Ikpeazu". Watford Observer. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  11. "Crewe sign Uche!". Crewe Alexandra F.C. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  12. "Crewe 1–2 Leyton Orient". Crewe Alexandra F.C. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  13. "Bradford City 3–3 Crewe Alexandra". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  14. "Crewe Alexandra sign Nicky Ajose and Uche Ikpeazu on loan". BBC Sport. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  15. "Crewe Alexandra 1–1 Doncaster Rovers". BBC Sport. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  16. "Uche Ikpeazu: Doncaster sign Watford striker after Crewe recall". BBC Sport. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  17. "Loan striker Ikpeazu returns to Watford". The Yorkshire Post. Leeds. 10 March 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  18. Hoden, Liam (11 March 2015). "Doncaster Rovers: 'Lack of opportunity' behind Uche Ikpeazu departure". The Star. Sheffield. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  19. "Crewe Alexandra: Uche Ikpeazu rejoins on loan from Watford". BBC Sport. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  20. "Watford striker Uche Ikpeazu seals six-month loan move". BBC Sport. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  21. "Goal ace Uche Ikpeazu determined to be the best after lapse earns him Vale axe". The Sentinel. Stoke. 1 October 2015. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
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  25. "Uche Ikpeazu: Blackpool sign Watford striker on loan". BBC Sport. 21 January 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  26. "Official: Hornets confirm retained & released players". Watford F.C. 3 June 2016.
  27. Emery, Daniel (16 July 2016). "Ikpeazu on trial at Norwich". readnorwich.com. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  28. "Uche Ikpeazu: Former Watford striker joins Cambridge United". BBC Sport. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  29. "Newport 1-2 Cambridge". BBC. 24 September 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  30. Vaughton, Michael (26 November 2016). "Uche Ikpeazu becoming 'cult figure' at Cambridge United, says Shaun Derry". Cambridge News. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  31. "Cambridge 1 Leeds 2". BBC Sport. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  32. "Uche Ikpeazu: Cambridge United striker set to be out for eight weeks". BBC Sport. 23 February 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  33. Mason, Aaron (27 April 2017). "Derry: Uche Ikpeazu and Adam McGurk injuries come at 'terrible time' for U's". Cambridge News. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  34. "Port Vale 2-0 Cambridge United". BBC Sport. 9 December 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  35. "Uche Ikpeazu: Cambridge United striker rejects new deal and will leave in the summer". BBC Sport. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
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  37. Cooney, Darren (18 April 2018). "'Crazy' New Hearts signing Uche Ikpeazu pays tribute to Tynecastle". Daily Record. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  38. "Uche Ikpeazu extends Hearts deal until 2022". BBC Sport. 7 March 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  39. Hawkins, Billy (2 April 2019). "Rangers and Celtic battling for Hearts striker Uche Ikpeazu". talkSPORT. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  40. "Heart of Midlothian 1-2 Celtic". BBC Sport. 25 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  41. Anderson, Barry (12 March 2020). "Hearts manager Daniel Stendel explains Uche Ikpeazu's absence". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  42. "New number nine lands at Adams Park". Wycombe Wanderers F.C. 17 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
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  47. "Hearts player ends up on floor".
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  49. "Didcot pull off a big shock". Didcot Herald. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
    "Abingdon salvo destroys Didcot". Didcot Herald. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
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  50. "Games played by Uche Ikpeazu in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  51. "Games played by Uche Ikpeazu in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  52. "Games played by Uche Ikpeazu in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
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  54. "Games played by Uche Ikpeazu in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
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  56. "Games played by Uche Ikpeazu in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  57. "Games played by Uche Ikpeazu in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
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