Haji Wright
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Haji Amir Wright[1] | ||
Date of birth | March 27, 1998 | ||
Place of birth | Los Angeles, California, United States | ||
Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Forward, winger | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Coventry City | ||
Number | 11 | ||
Youth career | |||
2012–2015 | LA Galaxy | ||
2016–2017 | Schalke 04 | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2015 | New York Cosmos | 3 | (0) |
2015 | New York Cosmos B | 4 | (5) |
2017–2019 | Schalke 04 II | 22 | (14) |
2017–2019 | Schalke 04 | 7 | (1) |
2017–2018 | → SV Sandhausen (loan) | 15 | (1) |
2019–2020 | VVV-Venlo | 22 | (0) |
2020–2022 | SønderjyskE | 29 | (11) |
2021–2022 | → Antalyaspor (loan) | 32 | (14) |
2022–2023 | Antalyaspor | 28 | (15) |
2023– | Coventry City | 26 | (8) |
International career‡ | |||
2013 | United States U15 | 10 | (2) |
2013–2015 | United States U17 | 34 | (27) |
2014–2015 | United States U18 | 5 | (2) |
2016 | United States U19 | 2 | (0) |
2019 | United States U23 | 2 | (0) |
2022– | United States | 7 | (2) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of January 1, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of December 3, 2022 |
Haji Amir Wright (born March 27, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward or winger for EFL Championship club Coventry City and the United States national team.
After making his professional debut with the New York Cosmos in 2015, he spent most of his career in Europe, with Schalke 04 in the German Bundesliga, VVV-Venlo in the Dutch Eredivisie, SønderjyskE in the Danish Superliga and Antalyaspor in the Turkish Süper Lig.
Wright made his senior debut for the United States national team in 2022 and played at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Youth soccer
Known for his finishing, ability to win headers, and quickness,[2] Wright was dubbed by many media outlets as one of the top prospects in the United States youth system.[3][4] His success with the under-17 national team prompted him to train with Schalke 04's academy.[5]
Club career
New York Cosmos
In March 2015, Wright officially signed with NASL club New York Cosmos for an undisclosed fee and contract length.[6] He made his professional debut on May 27 in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup, as a 79th-minute substitute for Sebastián Guenzatti in a 3–0 home win over the Jersey Express, and then played three league games for a total of 80 minutes, starting with the game versus Indy Eleven on July 26.[7] Wright's contract expired following the season, and he did not re-sign.[8]
Schalke 04
In April 2016, Wright signed with Schalke 04.[9] In his debut with the Schalke under-19 team on April 16, Wright scored a brace against Borussia Mönchengladbach U19.
Wright was promoted to the Schalke first team in May 2017.[10] He was named on the bench against FC Ingolstadt 04 on May 20, 2017.[11] In July 2018, Wright underwent a trial period with 2. Bundesliga club Union Berlin.[12] On November 24, 2018, Wright made his debut for Schalke first team when he replaced Steven Skrzybski in the 88th minute of the 5–2 win against 1. FC Nürnberg.[13] He played seven games for the team from Gelsenkirchen, all in the league, and scored a consolation goal in a 2–1 home loss to Bayer Leverkusen on December 19; the goal was assisted by compatriot Weston McKennie.[14]
VVV-Venlo
In July 2019, Wright joined VVV-Venlo on a free transfer.[15] He played 22 Eredivisie games without scoring, but scored in the first round of the KNVB Cup on October 30; coming on in the last minute, he tied the game at 2–2 at fourth-tier RKSV Groene Ster, but missed the decisive attempt in a penalty shootout defeat.[16]
SønderjyskE
In August 2020, Wright joined SønderjyskE on a free transfer.[17] He got off to a strong start in the league, with six goals in eight appearances by early November, and his performances led to him being named as the Danish Superliga Player of the Month for October 2020.[18]
In July 2021, Wright wanted to move on from SønderjyskE and failed to report back for pre-season training.[19] On July 21, Turkish club Antalyaspor confirmed that they had signed Wright on loan from SønderjyskE with an option to buy.[20] However, later on the same day, SønderjyskE went out and denied that the deal had gone through because they had not yet received any payment.[21] However, on July 28, SønderjyskE confirmed that he had been loaned out to Antalyaspor for the 2021–22 season and also signed a new deal with Sønderjyske until June 2024.[22]
Antalyaspor
Wright opened his account for Antalyaspor in his third game on August 28, 2021 in which he scored a hat-trick in a 3–2 home win over Çaykur Rizespor, concluding with a penalty kick in the tenth minute of added time.[23] He scored 14 goals in 31 games in the 2021–22 Süper Lig, including eight over seven consecutive games, and nine in the last ten games. He was then tracked by EFL Championship club Hull City and their manager Shota Arveladze.[24]
On July 19, 2022, Wright signed a three-year deal.[25]
Coventry City
Wright joined EFL Championship club Coventry City on August 4, 2023, on a four-year contract for a club-record transfer fee of €9 million.[26] On August 12, 2023 he scored his first goal for the club on his home debut in a 3-0 win against Middlesbrough.[27]
International career
Wright is of Liberian and Ghanaian descent. He has represented the United States at all levels.[28] In May 2022, Wright was called into the United States senior camp by Gregg Berhalter for a CONCACAF Nation's League window.[29]
Wright scored his first international goal on his senior debut for the United States on June 1, 2022, in a 3–0 friendly victory against Morocco.[30] In November 2022, Wright was named to the squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[31] In the 3–1 last-16 elimination by the Netherlands, he scored the American goal.[32]
Personal life
Haji's brother Hanif played on the under-19 team of Bonner SC in 2017.[33] Haji's cousins are also active in athletics: Joseph Putu played cornerback for the Florida Gators,[34] his second cousin, Isaac Nana Addai, played for the Liberia national under-23 team as well as Boston City FC, and his third cousin, Joseph Addai, won Super Bowl XLI in 2007 with the Indianapolis Colts.[35]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played on January 1, 2024[36]
Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
New York Cosmos | 2015 | NASL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 4 | 0 | ||
Schalke 04 | 2016–17 | Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | |||
2018–19 | Bundesliga | 7 | 1 | – | – | – | 7 | 1 | ||||
Total | 7 | 1 | – | – | – | 7 | 1 | |||||
SV Sandhausen (loan) | 2017–18 | 2. Bundesliga | 15 | 1 | – | – | – | 15 | 1 | |||
Schalke 04 II | 2018–19 | Oberliga Westfalen | 22 | 14 | – | – | – | 22 | 14 | |||
VVV-Venlo | 2019–20 | Eredivisie | 22 | 0 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 23 | 1 | ||
SønderjyskE | 2020–21 | Danish Superliga | 29 | 11 | 7 | 2 | – | 1[c] | 0 | 37 | 13 | |
Antalyaspor (loan) | 2021–22 | Süper Lig | 32 | 14 | 3 | 1 | – | – | 35 | 15 | ||
Antalyaspor | 2022–23 | Süper Lig | 28 | 15 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 29 | 16 | ||
Coventry City | 2023–24 | Championship | 26 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 27 | 8 | |
Career total | 184 | 64 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 199 | 69 |
- ^ Includes U.S. Open Cup, KNVB Cup, Danish Cup and Turkish Cup
- ^ Includes EFL Cup
- ^ Appearance in UEFA Europa League
International
- As of match played December 3, 2022[37]
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
United States | 2022 | 7 | 2 |
Total | 7 | 2 |
- Scores and results list United States' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Wright goal.
No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | June 1, 2022 | TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, United States | 1 | Morocco | 3–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
2 | December 3, 2022 | Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar | 7 | Netherlands | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2022 FIFA World Cup |
Honors
New York Cosmos
Individual
References
- ^ a b "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: List of players: United States" (PDF). FIFA. November 15, 2022. p. 31. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ^ "LA Galaxy's Haji Wright leads list of 7 MLS Academy players called to US U-17 national team". MLS Soccer. MLSSoccer.com. April 1, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
- ^ Davis, Noah (February 4, 2015). "Haji Wright and the Next Big Thing: Should the USMNT Be Getting More From Its Under-17 Team?". Grantland. Grantland.com. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
- ^ "The Wright stuff for USA?". FIFA. FIFA.com. February 27, 2015. Archived from the original on March 2, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
- ^ Parchman, Will. "Haji Wright on the precipice of Europe". Top Drawer Soccer. TopDrawerSoccer.com. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
- ^ "Cosmos Sign Striker Haji Wright". New York Cosmos. NYCosmos.com.
- ^ Haji Wright at Soccerway
- ^ "Cosmos Announce First Roster Moves Following Championship 2015 Season". New York Cosmos.
- ^ "Spielberechtigung für Haji Wright ist da" (in German). schalke04.de. April 16, 2016.
- ^ "Schalke promote American duo McKennie and Wright to senior squad". bundesliga.com – the official Bundesliga website.
- ^ "Ingolstadt vs. Schalke 04 – 20 May 2017 – Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com.
- ^ "Haji Wright trains with Union first-team". 1. FC Union Berlin. July 10, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
- ^ "Schalke 04 vs. Nürnberg 5 - 2". Soccerway. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
- ^ "American Haji Wright nets first goal for Schalke". Bundesliga. December 19, 2018. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
- ^ "Haji Wright joins VVV Venlo". Schalke 04. July 12, 2019.
- ^ "Amateurs Groene Ster zorgen voor enorme stunt tegen eredivisionist VVV" [Amateurs Groene Ster provide a huge shock against Eredivisie team VVV] (in Dutch). NOS. October 30, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
- ^ Henry jr., Larry (August 2, 2020). "Haji Wright joins Danish Superliga side Sonderjyske". SBI Soccer. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
- ^ a b "Haji Wright er Månedens Spiller i oktober". Superligaen (in Danish). November 9, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
- ^ "SE-direktør om Wright: Går imod trup og stab". bold.dk. July 20, 2021.
- ^ Bekræftet: Tyrkisk klub lejer SE's Haji Wright, bold.dk, July 21, 2021
- ^ SE er uenig: Wright-handel er ikke på plads, bold.dk, July 21, 2021
- ^ SØNDERJYSKE FORLÆNGER OG UDLEJER HAJI WRIGHT, soenderjyske.dk, July 28, 2021
- ^ Galarcep, Ives (August 29, 2021). "Haji Wright's stoppage-time winner completes hat-trick for Antalyaspor". SBI Soccer. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
- ^ Cooper, Barry (June 18, 2022). "Hull City target in-form striker who scored nine goals in 10 games and netted on USMNT debut". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
- ^ "Haji Wright transfers to Antalyaspor, gets 3-year deal". San Diego Tribune. July 19, 2022.
- ^ https://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/2023/august/transfer-haji-wright-joins-coventry-city/
- ^ "Sky Blues brush Boro aside despite Hamer departure". BBC Sport. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
- ^ "SønderjyskE Rejects €1.3m Bid From Malmo FF for American-Liberian Haji Wright | Liberia Public Radio". February 21, 2021.
- ^ "Berhalter Calls 27 Players For June Training Camp And Final Home Matches Before 2022 FIFA World Cup". ussoccer.com. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
- ^ "United States vs Morocco".
- ^ "Berhalter Names 26 Player USMNT Roster For 2022 FIFA World Cup". ussoccer.com.
- ^ "'Can't tell if lucky or intentional': US star scores 'accidentally excellent' goal that defies physics". Fox Sports. December 4, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
- ^ "Americans Overseas: January Transfer Triumph". BeIN Sports. February 14, 2017.
- ^ "Joseph Putu, a war refugee for six years, overcame long odds to reach Florida". SecCountry.com.
- ^ "Addai comes from a very athletic family including his cousin, Joseph Addai, an NFL running back and Super Bowl winner. Haji Wright". Santa Clara Broncos. February 7, 2017.
- ^ "Haji Wright » Club matches". WorldFootball.net.
- ^ Haji Wright at National-Football-Teams.com
- ^ Haji Wright at Soccerway
- 1998 births
- Living people
- American people of Liberian descent
- American people of Ghanaian descent
- American men's soccer players
- Men's association football forwards
- New York Cosmos (2010) players
- Soccer players from Los Angeles
- North American Soccer League (2011–2017) players
- FC Schalke 04 players
- FC Schalke 04 II players
- SV Sandhausen players
- VVV-Venlo players
- Sønderjyske Fodbold players
- Antalyaspor footballers
- Coventry City F.C. players
- Bundesliga players
- 2. Bundesliga players
- Eredivisie players
- Süper Lig players
- English Football League players
- United States men's youth international soccer players
- United States men's under-23 international soccer players
- United States men's international soccer players
- 2022 FIFA World Cup players
- American expatriate men's soccer players
- American expatriate sportspeople in Germany
- American expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands
- American expatriate sportspeople in Denmark
- American expatriate sportspeople in Turkey
- American expatriate sportspeople in England
- Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
- Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands
- Expatriate men's footballers in Denmark
- Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey
- Expatriate men's footballers in England