Tochi Chukwuani

Tochi Phil Chukwuani (born 24 March 2003) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Austrian Football Bundesliga club Sturm Graz.

Tochi Chukwuani

Personal information
Full name	Tochi Phil Chukwuani
Date of birth	(2003-03-24) 24 March 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth	Herlev, Denmark[1]
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Sturm Graz
Number	21
Youth career
	B1973 Herlev
	B.93
	Nordsjælland
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2022	Nordsjælland	33	(3)
2022–2024	Lyngby	54	(5)
2024–	Sturm Graz	13	(2)
International career‡
2018–2019	Denmark U16	6	(2)
2019–2020	Denmark U17	15	(0)
2020–2021	Denmark U19	8	(3)
2021	Denmark U20	1	(0)
2023–	Denmark U21	11	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 December 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 September 2024

Club career

Nordsjælland

Born in Herlev to Nigerian parents,^[1] Chukwuani started playing football in the youth of B.93 before moving to the youth academy of Superliga club FC Nordsjælland. He practiced with the first team at age 14, and head coach Flemming Pedersen stated that he was "one of the top players of the future".^[2] In July 2019, Chukwuani signed a three-year contract, keeping him in Nordsjælland until 2022.^[3]

On 22 September 2019, Chukwuani made his professional debut in the Superliga in a 2–1 home win over AaB, thereby becoming the sixth youngest player to appear in a game in the league.^[4] He came on as a substitute in the 82nd minute for Magnus Kofod Andersen.^[5] On 17 July 2020, Chukwuani scored his first senior goal in a 6–3 away loss to eventual champions Midtjylland.^[6] With the goal, he became the club's youngest scorer in league history, a record that was broken the following season by teammate Andreas Schjelderup at 16 years and 284 days.^[7] He finished the season with 9 total appearances his which he scored one goal.^[8]

On 5 April 2022, it was reported that Chukwuani had signed with Italian Serie A club Hellas Verona. Among others, the well-known transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano posted a picture of Chukwuani back in April, wearing a Verona jersey.^[9] However, according to an Italian newspaper on 14 July 2022, Chukwuani failed the medical check in Verona because the medical staff had found a minor heart defect and as there were strict rules in Italy regarding heart problems, the transfer was no longer possible.^[10]

Lyngby

After training with Lyngby Boldklub for several weeks, the club confirmed on 31 August 2022, that Chukwuani had signed a two-year deal with the newly promoted Danish Superliga team.^[11] He made his debut for the club on 4 September, starting in a 2–0 home loss to Randers.^[12] On 7 May 2023, he scored his first goal for De Kongeblå, opening the score in the second minute of a 2–1 league victory against Midtjylland.^[13]

Sturm Graz

On 20 March 2024, it was announced that Chukwuani would be joining Austrian club Sturm Graz from the summer.^[14]

International career

He is a youth international for Denmark.^[15]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 1 February 2025^[16]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Clubvvvv	Season	League			Danish Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Nordsjælland	2019–20	Superliga	7	1	2	0	—		—		9	1
	2020–21	Superliga	26	2	1	0	—		—		5	0
	2021–22	Superliga	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	Total		33	3	3	0	—		—		36	3
Lyngby	2022–23	Superliga	23	1	—		—		—		23	1
	2023–24	Superliga	31	4	4	0	—		—		18	2
	Total		54	5	4	0	—		—		41	3
Sturm Graz	2024–25	Austrian Bundesliga	13	2	2	0	7[a]	0	—		22	2
Career total			85	8	7	0	7	0	0	0	99	8

1. Appearances in UEFA Champions League

References

1. Erboe Vestergaard, Andreas (27 November 2017). "I FC Nordsjælland coacher Superligaspillerne de unge: Inspirationen til den specielle ordning kommer blandt andet fra Paul Scholes". Euroman (in Danish). Retrieved 28 October 2020. Tochi Chukwuani, [...] er født og opvokset i Herlev og går i 9. klasse.
2. Blond, Mikael (4 August 2018). "FCN-træner teaser: 16-årig stortalent er på vej". bold.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 29 October 2020.
3. Schmidt, Martin (25 July 2019). "FC Nordsjælland forlænger med 16-årig midt". bold.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 29 October 2020.
4. Schmidt, Martin (23 September 2019). "FCN-boss roser 16-årig: AGF slipper for ham". bold.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 29 October 2020.
5. Hebo, Benjamin Alexander (22 September 2019). "Chanceorgie da FC Nordsjælland slog AaB". bold.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 29 October 2020.
6. Frigaard, Anders (17 July 2020). "MINUT FOR MINUT Midtjylland tager sejren i målfest mod Nordsjælland". DR (in Danish). Retrieved 29 October 2020. Stik mod spil og chancer lykkedes det den indskiftede Tochi Chukwuani at udligne med 20 minutter igen.
7. "ANDREAS SCHJELDERUP ER YNGSTE FCN-MÅLSCORER I SUPERLIGAEN NOGENSINDE". FCN (in Danish). 12 March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
8. "T. Chukwuani - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Perform Group. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
9. Se billedet: Superliga-spiller rykker til Serie A, tipsbladet.dk, 5 April 2022
10. Medie: Tochi Chukwuani glipper Serie A-skifte grundet hjerteproblemer, bt.dk, 16 July 2022
11. "Talentfulde Tochi skifter til De Kongeblå" [Talented Tochi moves to the Royal Blues]. Lyngby Boldklub (in Danish). 31 August 2022. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
12. "Lyngby vs. Randers 0–2: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
13. Bitsch, Ole (7 May 2023). "FCM smeltede i forårssolen: Tabte til bundholdet". Herning Folkeblad (in Danish). Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
14. "Lyngby sælger Tochi til danskerklub" [Lyngby sells Tochi to "Danish club"]. bold.dk (in Danish). 20 March 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
15. "Official : Denmark U17 Star Of Nigerian Descent Chukwuani Signs New Deal With FC Nordsjaelland | All Nigeria Soccer". allnigeriasoccer.com. 25 July 2019. Archived from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
16. Tochi Chukwuani at Soccerway. Retrieved 28 October 2019.

External links

• Tochi Chukwuani at Soccerway
• Tochi Chukwuani national team profile at the Danish Football Association (in Danish)