Tai Sodje
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Taione Richard Evumena Sodje[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 20 September 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | Sheffield, England[1] | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Manchester City | ||
| Number | 60 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Years | Team | ||
| Sheffield United | |||
| 2015– | Manchester City | ||
Taione Richard Evumena "Tai" Sodje (born 20 September 2003) is an English professional footballer currently playing as a forward for Manchester City.
Club career
Born in Sheffield to an English mother and Nigerian father,[2] Sodje began his footballing career with local side Sheffield United, before a switch to Premier League side Manchester City in 2015.[3] He signed a professional contract with Manchester City in July 2021.[4] Despite suffering an injury in late October 2021, which he described as the worst moment of his career,[2] he returned to action for Manchester City's youth teams in April 2022.[5]
International career
Eligible to represent both England and Nigeria, Sodje reportedly turned down an invitation to the England under-19 squad in October 2021.[6] He was quoted in May 2022 as saying he would choose to represent whichever nation approached him first.[2][7]
Style of play
Described by Manchester City as a "prolific goal-scorer" and a "versatile striker [who] can also operate to impressive effect on both the right or left flanks", Sodje describes himself as a "goal scorer", capable of playing "across the front three".[8]
Personal life
Sodje is the son of former professional rugby league player Bright Sodje, and the nephew of former Nigerian international footballers Efe and Sam Sodje.[3][9]
Career statistics
Club
- As of 18 February 2023[10]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manchester City U21 | 2021–22 | — | — | — | 2[a] | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 2022–23 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Career total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
- Notes
- ^ Appearances in the EFL Trophy
References
- ^ a b c Tai Sodje at WorldFootball.net
- ^ a b c Aiyejina, Tana (20 May 2022). "I want to play for Man City's first team soon – Sodje". punchng.com. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ a b Bajkowski, Simon (23 March 2021). "'I think I've opened up to different ways of playing': Man City academy striker Tai Sodje is firing his way to goals target". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ Edwards, John (15 July 2021). "Academy contracts update". mancity.com. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ Emmanuel, Ifeanyi (26 October 2021). "Manchester City's teenage Nigerian striker faces months on the sidelines after". allnigeriasoccer.com. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ "Man City teen wonder Tai Sodje turns down England call up again, keen on Super Eagles". owngoalnigeria.com. 2 October 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ Kazeem, Kolawole (20 May 2022). "I will play for Nigeria if they ask me before England – Tai Sodje". ojbsport.com. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ Leigh, Neil (11 October 2020). "Academy one to watch: Tai Sodje". mancity.com. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ "TAI SODJE Can He Continue the Family Dynasty with Eagles?". thisdaylive.com. 10 October 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ Tai Sodje at Soccerway