- Source: David Ezeh
David Ezeh (born 13 February 2006) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a centre-forward for Ekstraklasa club Raków Częstochowa, on loan from HJK.
Early life
Ezeh was born in Helsinki to Finnish mother and Nigerian father from Imo State, and was raised in Puistola and Oulunkylä. He started playing football in a youth team of IF Gnistan, after his family had moved to Oulunkylä. Before choosing football, his first sport was Greco-Roman wrestling, which lasted only six months. He moved to the youth team of Helsingin Palloseura (HPS) in 2015, and after four years with HPS, he joined the HJK Helsinki youth academy after the 2018 season. In October 2021, Ezeh was awarded the Best Player Trophy in the annual U15 Kai Pahlman tournament, organized by Finnish FA. Ezeh scored eight goals in six games, helping HJK youth team to win the tournament.
Club career
= HJK
=On 14 January 2022, Ezeh signed his first professional contract with HJK, at the age of 15. He made his senior debut on 19 April 2022 with the club's reserve team Klubi 04 in the third tier level Kakkonen, in a 3–3 draw against Honka II. He made 19 appearances in total for Klubi 04 in the 2022 season, scoring four goals.
Ezeh's contract was extended on 4 January 2023 until the end of 2025, after he had trialed with Midtjylland for a week. He made his Veikkausliiga debut on 29 April 2023 against Haka at the age of 17, coming in from the bench for the final minutes, as a substitute for Bojan Radulović. In the 2023 season, Ezeh mostly played for Klubi 04, scoring 18 goals in 24 matches in the division, making him the top goalscorer in Kakkonen Group A. He was also named the player of the year in the Group A.
Ezeh represented HJK in the 2023–24 UEFA Youth League campaign, scoring three goals and providing an assist in four matches, against Malmö FF Youth and Nantes Youth.
He scored his first goal in Veikkausliiga on 6 April 2024, in the opening match of the 2024 season, in a 3–1 away loss against Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS). On 11 May 2024, his deal was extended until the end of the 2026 season.
Raków Częstochowa (loan)
On 22 July 2024, Ezeh was loaned out to Polish Ekstraklasa club Raków Częstochowa until 20 March 2025 with an option to buy.
International career
A regular Finnish youth international, Ezeh has represented Finland in various age brackets from U16 to U19 level, scoring at every level.
In March 2022, Ezeh was part of the Finland U17 squad in the 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification Elite round matches against Portugal, Bulgaria and Ireland.
In September 2022, Ezeh was named in the Finland U17 squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification tournament against Greece, Italy and Kosovo, scoring one goal in three games. Finland finished 2nd in the group and qualified for the Elite round in March 2023.
Ezeh was part of the Finland U18 squad winning the friendly tournament Baltic Cup in June 2023, scoring two goals in three games.
In October 2023, Ezeh was part of the Finland U19 squad in the 2024 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification tournament, scoring three goals in three games against Romania, Czech Republic and San Marino.
Career statistics
As of 22 July 2024
Honours
HJK
Veikkausliiga: 2023
Finnish League Cup: 2023
Finland U18
Baltic Cup: 2023
Individual
Kakkonen Group A Player of the Year: 2023
Kakkonen Group A Top scorer: 2023
References
External links
David Ezeh at Soccerway
David Ezeh at WorldFootball.net
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- HJK Helsinki
- Skuad Piala Dunia U-20 FIFA 2015
- David Ezeh
- Raków Częstochowa
- 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification
- 2024 HJK season
- 2024 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification
- Finland national under-19 football team
- Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi
- 2024–25 Raków Częstochowa season
- 2023 HJK season
- Obi Ezeh
