Eddie Nketiah


Edward Keddar Nketiah is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for club Arsenal, and the England national under-21 team.

Club career

Early career

Born in London and raised in Lewisham, Nketiah started his career with Chelsea after being scouted at the age of nine while playing for south-east London Sunday team Hillyfielders. He was released by Chelsea in 2015.

Arsenal

He then joined the Arsenal Academy and played for the club at youth levels. During the 2016–17 season, Nketiah scored 15 goals in 16 appearances for the under-18s while also scoring 12 goals in 26 appearances for the under-23 side. After that season, Nketiah was called up by Arsène Wenger for the senior side's pre-season trip to Australia and China.
On 28 September 2017, Nketiah was called up again to the senior side, this time for Arsenal's Europa League match against BATE Borisov. He came on as an 89th-minute substitute for Joe Willock as Arsenal won 4–2. His next appearance came nearly a month later against Norwich City in the League Cup as an 85th-minute substitute. He scored after 15 seconds with his first touch to tie the match, adding another in extra time to win it for the Gunners. Nketiah was set for a loan move to German Bundesliga side FC Augsburg in January 2019 transfer window, but due to an injury to Danny Welbeck, Nketiah stayed at Arsenal.
He scored his first goal in the Premier League on the last day of the season at Burnley on 12 May 2019.
On 29 May, Nketiah was an unused substitute in the UEFA Europa League final 4–1 defeat against Chelsea in the 2018–19 final, with him receiving a runners-up medal.
He started the 2019–20 pre-season regularly involved in the Arsenal first team, scoring four goals, including scoring in pre-season friendlies against Bayern Munich and Fiorentina.

Loan to Leeds United

On 8 August 2019, the summer deadline day for Championship clubs, Nketiah joined Leeds United on loan for the 2019–20 season. He chose the squad number 14 in homage to one of his former Arsenal youth coaches, Thierry Henry. Leeds head coach Marcelo Bielsa described Nketiah upon signing as a "young, important player in English football".
He made his debut for the club on 13 August in the EFL Cup against Salford City, scoring his side's first goal during a 3–0 victory. He then scored on his Championship debut the following week, netting the only goal of the game against Brentford. He continued his goal-scoring form on 27 August 2019, with his third of the season, scoring in Leeds' EFL Cup match against Stoke City in a 2–2 draw in normal time, with Nketiah scoring also in the ensuing penalty shootout, with Leeds losing on 4–5 on penalties.
After scoring his fourth goal of the season in Leeds 2–0 win against Barnsley on 15 September 2019, Bielsa described Nketiah as a "complete player". After being behind Patrick Bamford in the pecking order, Marcelo Bielsa revealed Nketiah would have his chance to become the first choice striker against Queens Park Rangers, however the day before the game Nketiah picked up a lower abdomen injury, which kept him out of action for one month.
He returned from injury after one month out injured on 7 December, as a substitute in Leeds' 2–0 victory against Huddersfield Town.
His first league start for Leeds came on 29 December 2019, in a 4–5 victory in a dramatic win against Birmingham City. Nketiah also started the consecutive game on New Year's Day 2020, in the Arsenal loanee's final game for Leeds at then-second-placed West Bromwich Albion in a 1–1 draw. The result kept Leeds on top of the table on goal difference.

Return to Arsenal

After a match on 1 January 2020, Nketiah was recalled from his loan spell early by Arsenal. He was on the starting line up in Arsenal's FA Cup Fourth Round victory against A.F.C. Bournemouth on 27 January 2020. Nketiah scored the second goal of the match which Arsenal won 2–1 at the Vitality Stadium, progressing to the fifth round. Nketiah made his first Premier League start, at home to Newcastle United, hitting the crossbar, before scoring in the next game against Everton, sliding a volley into the corner. He then scored at Portsmouth in the FA Cup fifth round, sealing a 2–0 win. He was a starting forward in Arsenal's first return to league play after the COVID-19 hiatus, in the team's 3–0 loss at Manchester City, being replaced in the 67th minute by Alexandre Lacazette. On 7 July 2020, Nketiah received the first red card of his playing career, in a league game against Leicester City.
On the 18th of July, Nketiah picked up his first major medal of his career as Leeds United were declared Champions of the English Championship. The 19 games Nketiah participated in at the start of the season enough to be eligible for a winners medal.
Two weeks later, Nketiah lifted his first major trophy of his career with Arsenal, coming on as a substitute in the 82nd minute in the 2–1 victory over London rivals Chelsea in the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.

International career

Nketiah is eligible for both England and Ghana national sides at international level. Nketiah made his international debut for England at the U18 level, playing a match against Saudi Arabia U19 on 22 March 2017. He scored the second goal for England in the 58th minute as they won 2–0. In his next match, against Qatar U19, Nketiah scored a hat-trick as England won 4–0. In November 2017, Nketiah scored four goals for the England under-19 team in a qualifier for the 2018 UEFA European Under-19 Championship against the Faroe Islands. Nketiah was one of a number of players withdrawn from selection for the tournament by their club.
On 18 May 2018, Nketiah received his first call up to the England U21 team by manager Aidy Boothroyd for the Toulon Tournament. Nketiah scored twice in the semi-final against Scotland and provided the assist for Kieran Dowell to score the winning goal against Mexico in the final.
In September 2018, Nketiah scored for the England under-20 team in a defeat away to the Netherlands.
In January 2019, Nketiah reportedly turned down a call up from Ghana manager James Kwesi Appiah to the senior Ghana national side, with Nketiah favouring to play for England.

Style of play

Nketiah is known for his pace, movement and finishing ability, his style has been compared to former Arsenal striker Ian Wright. In August 2019 he described Wright as his "mentor".
His playing style was also compared to Jermain Defoe, due to his movement to play off the last defender's shoulder and his sharp shooting ability from all angles. Nketiah can play as a striker or as a wide forward, with Nketiah describing his own playing style as 'I'm a striker, I'm brave, I like to put myself in the places where the chances are going to fall'.

Career statistics

Honours

Arsenal
Leeds United
England U21