Ike Orazi
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ikechukwu Orazi | ||
| Date of birth | 11 June 2007 | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland[1] | ||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Reims | ||
| Number | 73 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2013–2016 | Corduff FC | ||
| 2016–2019 | Bolton Wanderers | ||
| 2019–2023 | Shamrock Rovers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023– | Reims B | 17 | (2) |
| 2024– | Reims | 1 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022–2023 | Republic of Ireland U16 | 4 | (2) |
| 2022–2023 | Republic of Ireland U17 | 17 | (2) |
| 2024– | Republic of Ireland U19 | 6 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17 May 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 16:31, 25 March 2025 (UTC) | |||
Ikechukwu Orazi (born 11 June 2007) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for French Ligue 2 club Reims. He is a Republic of Ireland youth international.[2]
Early life
He started playing football in Avondale, Mulhuddart, in the north-west of Dublin, with his older brothers. He joined up with join local club Corduff from the age of six or seven years-old. After his family moved to Manchester, England he joined a local team before being spotted by the Bolton Wanderers Academy where he played for 3 years before moving back to Blanchardstown in Ireland by the time he was 12 years-old.[3] He won a league and cup double with Shamrock Rovers’ under-15s team and he earned a first call up to Ireland at Under-15s level.[4]
Club career
He played at Corduff FC prior to joining up with Shamrock Rovers with whom he won the National League and Cup double at under-15 level. He was one of three players to be nominated by the FAI for their U17 International Player of the Year Award in 2023.[5] He was also part of the Shamrock Rovers Academy Education Programme prior to joining Stade de Reims in September 2023.[6][7]
He began to be included in the Stade de Reims first-team squads for Ligue 1 matches during the 2023-24 season.[8] He made his debut in the Coupe de France against AS Mutzig on 22 December 2024.[9] He made his senior league debut for the club as a late second-half substitute for Mamadou Diakhon, against Olympique Lyonnais on 9 February 2025 in a 4-0 defeat in Ligue 1.[10]
International career
Born in the Republic of Ireland, Orazi is of Nigerian descent.[11] He is a youth international for the Republic of Ireland, featuring at the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Budapest, Hungary.[12] His performances included a goal in a 3-0 win over Wales U17.[13]
In September 2024, he was called-up for the Republic of Ireland under-19 national football team.[14] He featured for the Ireland U19 team in a 0–0 against Moldova U19 on 13 November 2024, in Nisporeni.[15]
Honours
Reims
- Coupe de France runner-up: 2024–25[16]
References
- ^ Ike Orazi at WorldFootball.net
- ^ Ike Orazi at Soccerway
- ^ "Irish underage international John Patrick and Ike Orazi talk about their journey to Stade de Reims and facing PSG". www.fai.ie.
- ^ "The Irish of Stade de Reims - John Patrick and Ike Orazi's path to France". fai.ie. 13 February 2025. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
- ^ Ferris, Macdara (3 September 2023). "Stade de Reims sign Ike Orazi from Shamrock Rovers". Extra Time. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
- ^ "Rovers' education programme goes from strength to strength". Echo.ie. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
- ^ Fitzmaurice, Aidan (3 September 2023). "Top flight French side swoop for Shamrock Rovers' 16-year-old Ike Orazi". Independent.ie. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
- ^ Fitzmaurice, Aidan (25 April 2024). "'We're not set up in academies to keep our so-called best players here' – Stephen Bradley backs call for funding". Independent.ie. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
- ^ "ASS STILL MUTZIG VS. REIMS 1 - 3". Soccerway. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
- ^ "LYON VS. REIMS 4 - 0". Soccerway. 9 February 2025. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
- ^ "4 Irish Under-17 starlets to look out for - ACSOM". 29 May 2023.
- ^ "Ireland U17 international Ike Orazi joins Ligue 1 side Reims". the42.ie. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
- ^ "Shamrock Rovers teen Ike Orazi moves to Stade de Reims". RTE. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
- ^ "McLaughlin and Patton named in Ireland Under 19 squad". Donegal News. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
- ^ "REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U19 VS. MOLDOVA U19 0 - 0". Soccerway. 13 November 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
- ^ Guillemet, Hugo (24 May 2025). "Le PSG s'offre une 16e Coupe de France après une victoire facile en finale contre Reims". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 24 May 2025.