Kelechi Iheanacho is a Nigerian football star striker for Leicester City and the Nigeria national team. He is known for his prolific goalscoring ability, versatility and humble personality.
He has won numerous trophies and awards, both at club and international level, and has become one of the most admired and respected players in the world.
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- Full Name: Kelechi Promise Iheanacho
- Date of birth: October 3, 1996
- Age: 28 years old
- Gender: Male
- Place of birth: Imo, Nigeria
- Nationality: Nigerian
- Occupation: Soccer player
- Height: 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
- Parents: Elder James Iheanacho and the late Mercy Iheanacho
- Siblings: Ada Iheanacho and Chibuke Iheanacho
- Spouse: Amarachi Joy Iheanacho
- Children: Owerri Iheanacho and three others
- Relationship status: Married
- Net worth: $10 million
Early life and education
Kelechi Iheanacho, now 28 years old, was born on October 3, 1996 in Imo, Nigeria.
He grew up in a poor family, his father was a merchant and his mother was a teacher. He has an older sister, Ada, and an older brother, Chibuke, who plays soccer.
He attended Divine Wisdom International School in Owerri, where he excelled in academics and sports.
He started playing football at the age of six and joined Taye Academy, a local football academy when he was 12. He showed great talent and potential and attracted the attention of scouts from the Nigeria U17 team.
Personal life
Kelechi Iheanacho has been in a long-term relationship with Amarachi Joy, a Nigerian girl he met on Instagram in 2019.
He reportedly paid her dowry in 2019 and they got married in 2020. They have a daughter together and Iheanacho also has four children from previous relationships, including a 13-year-old son named Owerri.
Career
Kelechi Iheanacho began his career at the Taye Academy, where he impressed scouts for the Nigeria U-17 team. He won the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, scoring six goals and winning the Golden Ball award.
He also won the African Young Player of the Year award in 2013. He joined Manchester City in 2015 and made his Premier League debut.
He scored 12 goals in 46 appearances for the club and won the Football League Cup in 2016. He moved to Leicester City in 2017 for a reported £25 million transfer fee, the biggest ever for a Nigerian player.
He enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2020-21, scoring 19 goals in all competitions and helping the club win the FA Cup and Community Shield.
He has represented Nigeria at senior level since 2015, scoring 15 goals in 52 appearances. He played at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2019 and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, finishing runners-up in the latter tournament.
Prize
- FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Ball: 2013.
- African Young Player of the Year: 2013.
- CAF Team of the Year: 2016.
- Football League Cup: 2015-16.
- FA Cup: 2020-21.
- FA Community Shield: 2021.
- Premier League Player of the Month: March 2021.
- Leicester City Player of the Season: 2020-21.
- Leicester City Player of the Season: 2020-21.
Net worth
Kelechi Iheanacho’s estimated net worth is $10 million.
He earns £60,000 a week at Leicester City and has endorsement deals with brands such as MTN.
Argumentative
Kelechi Iheanacho has faced some controversies in his career, such as being dropped from Nigeria’s 2019 AFCON squad by coach Gernot Rohr for questioning his commitment and professionalism.
He was also accused of having affairs with several other women and fathering several children while dating Amarachi.
However, he denied the allegations and regained his form and confidence.
Social media
- Instagram: @kelechi72
- Twitter: @67Kelechi
