Daniel Kanu (footballer)

For other people named Daniel Kanu, see Daniel Kanu (disambiguation).

Daniel Malanga Kanu (born 14 November 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League One side Charlton Athletic. Born in England, he plays for the Sierra Leone national team.^[3]

Daniel Kanu

Daniel Kanu in 2025.
Personal information
Full name	Daniel Malanga Kanu[1]
Date of birth	(2004-11-14) 14 November 2004 (age 20)[2]
Place of birth	Lambeth, England
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Charlton Athletic
Number	29
Youth career
2014–2022	Charlton Athletic
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–	Charlton Athletic	57	(7)
2023	→ Southend United (loan)	6	(4)
International career‡
2023–	Sierra Leone	5	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:10, 22 February 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:10, 10 September 2024 (UTC)

Club career

Charlton Athletic

Kanu joined Charlton Athletic at under-11 level. On 2 February 2022, after scoring 31 goals in all competitions across Charlton's youth sides, Kanu signed his first professional contract with the club.^[4][5][6] Ten days later, on 12 February 2022, Kanu made his debut for Charlton, coming on as an 82nd-minute substitute in a 2–1 League One loss against Wigan Athletic.^[7]

On 22 November 2022, Kanu scored his first professional goal for the club in a 3–2 defeat away at Plymouth Argyle in the EFL Trophy.^[8]

On 7 February 2024, it was announced that Kanu had signed a new long-term contract with the club.^[9]

Southend United (loan)

On 6 October 2023, Kanu joined Southend United on an initial 28-day loan.^[10] On his first start, Kanu scored his first goals for the club, netting four times in a 5–0 victory over Solihull Moors.^[11]

On 2 December 2023, Kanu was recalled early by Charlton Athletic from his loan.^[12]

International career

Born in England, Kanu is of Sierra Leonean descent. He was called up to the Sierra Leone national team for a set of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches in November 2023.^[13]

Kanu made his international debut for Sierra Leone on 19 November 2023, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 defeat to the Egypt national team.^[14]

Personal life

Born in England, Kanu is of Sierra Leonean descent. He attended Dartford Grammar School, where he represented his school on numerous occasions as part of the athletics team. He specialised in long-distance running and even set a handful of school records.^[15]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 22 February 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		EFL Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Charlton Athletic	2021–22[16]	League One	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
	2022–23[17]	League One	10	0	0	0	0	0	4[a]	1	14	1
	2023–24[18]	League One	30	6	1	0	1	1	2[b]	0	34	7
	2024–25[19]	League One	15	1	0	0	1	0	2[c]	0	18	1
	Charlton Athletic total		57	7	1	0	2	1	8	1	68	9
Southend United (loan)	2023–24[20]	National League	6	4	0	0	—		0	0	6	4
Career total			63	11	1	0	2	1	8	1	74	13

1. Four appearances in the EFL Trophy
2. Two appearances in the EFL Trophy
3. Two appearances in the EFL Trophy

International

As of match played 10 September 2024

International statistics

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Sierra Leone	2023	1	0
	2024	4	0
Total		5	0

Honours

Individual

• Charlton Athletic Young Player of the Year: 2021–22^[21]
• Charlton Athletic Young Player of the Year: 2023–24^[22]

References

1. "Club List of Registered Players as at September 2024" (PDF). English Football League. p. 58 and 59. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
2. "Daniel Kanu Charlton Athletic Biography". Charlton Athletic Official Site. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
3. Daniel Kanu at Soccerway. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
4. "Daniel Kanu signs first pro deal until 2024". Charlton Athletic F.C. 2 February 2022. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
5. Cawley, Richard (2 February 2022). "Red-hot academy striker Daniel Kanu signs long-term pro deal at Charlton Athletic". Archived from the original on 2 February 2022.
6. Cawley, Richard (10 February 2022). "Charlton Athletic boss Jackson on next step in red-hot striker Daniel Kanu's progression". Archived from the original on 10 February 2022.
7. "Wigan Athletic 2–1 Charlton Athletic". BBC Sport. 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
8. "Kanu and Anderson score first senior goals but Addicks coach left ruing first-half defensive display". South London Press. 23 November 2022.
9. "DANIEL KANU SIGNS NEW LONG-TERM CONTRACT". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 7 February 2024.
10. "DANIEL KANU JOINS SOUTHEND UNITED ON LOAN". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
11. "MATCH REPORT: BLUES 5-0 SOLIHULL".
12. "DANIEL KANU RECALLED FROM SOUTHEND LOAN SPELL". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
13. "DANIEL KANU EARNS FIRST SENIOR SIERRA LEONE CALL-UP". 10 November 2023.
14. "Sierra Leone 0-2 Egypt". 19 November 2023.
15. "Humble and grounded – South London Press exclusive interview with highly-rated Charlton teenager Daniel Kanu". 18 February 2022. Archived from the original on 18 February 2022.
16. "Games played by Daniel Kanu in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
17. "Games played by Daniel Kanu in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
18. "Games played by Daniel Kanu in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
19. "Games played by Daniel Kanu in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
20. "Games played by Daniel Kanu in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
21. "George Dobson named 2022 Player of the Year". Charlton Athletic Official Website. 1 May 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
22. "2023/24 AWARD WINNERS CONFIRMED". Charlton Athletic Official Website. 28 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.