George Ilenikhena
Personal information
Date of birth (2006-08-16) 16 August 2006
Place of birth Lagos, Nigeria
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Royal Antwerp
Number 9
Youth career
2009–2021 Antony FE
2021–2022 Amiens
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2023 Amiens B 10 (6)
2022–2023 Amiens 16 (2)
2023– Royal Antwerp 18 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:17, 26 December 2023 (UTC)

George Ilenikhena (born 16 August 2006) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Belgian Pro League club Royal Antwerp.[1]

Early life

George Ilenikhena was born in Lagos, Nigeria, but he arrived in France aged only 3, growing up in Antony, Hauts-de-Seine.[2][3]

Club career

Having made his way through all of the youth levels of the amateur Antony Football Evolution, George Ilenikhena joined the professional club of Amiens that was just relegated to Ligue 2, for the 2021–22 season.[2][4]

During that season he scored a total of 24 goals for the under-17 national side,[2] also playing and scoring in the Coupe Gambardella.[5][6] This soon drew the attention of big clubs in France and Abroad during the summer 2022, while he was still just aged 15.[5][7][8]

Ilenikhena made his professional debut for the Amiens SC on 19 November 2022, during a 10–0 home Coupe de France win to the Aiglon du Lamentin. He came on as a substitute for Jérémy Gelin, as his side was already 8–0 up.[9][10][11]

Having fully moved from the youth teams to the National 3 reserve team,[12] Ilenikhena still kept on training regularly with the first team, even making his first assist in December 2022 during a friendly game against FUS Rabat.[13]

On 29 June 2023, Ilenikhena signed for Belgian Pro League Champions, Royal Antwerp, on a four-year deal,[14] for a reported fee of €6 million.[15] On 11 October 2023, he was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2006 worldwide.[16] Later that year, on 13 December, he scored his first Champions League goal in the 92nd minute of stoppage time, securing a 3–2 victory against Barcelona to be his club's first ever win in the competition.[17]

International career

George Ilenikhena first featured with France youth teams in the summer of 2021, as he was selected with the Under-16, along with the likes of Warren Zaïre-Emery.[8][18]

Style of play

Ilenikhena is a quick centre-forward,[8] Philippe Hinschberger, the coach of his debut with Amiens, describes him as a strong left-footed player, with an outstanding ability to attack the depth of the field.[13]

He mentioned Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappé as his two favorite players.[2]

Career statistics

As of match played 26 December 2023[19]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Amiens B 2022–23 Championnat National 3 10 6 — — — 10 6
Amiens 2022–23 Ligue 2 16 2 1 0 — — 17 2
Royal Antwerp 2023–24 Belgian Pro League 18 5 2 3 6[lower-alpha 1] 1 1[lower-alpha 2] 0 27 9
Career total 44 13 3 3 6 1 1 0 54 17

Honours

Royal Antwerp

References

  1. ↑ George Ilenikhena at Soccerway. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Youcef, Rafik (20 August 2022). "Turfu [4/14] - George Ilenikhena (Amiens SC) : " Je sais ce que je veux être dans le foot "". Onze Mondial (in French). Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  3. ↑ "L'espoir du mois : George Ilenikhena, Mister George Junior". So Foot Club. No. 82. June 2022. p. 15.
  4. ↑ "Georges Ilenikhena (Antony Football Evolution-2006) signe à l'Amiens SC…". Panamefoot (in French). 2 November 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  5. 1 2 Aouna, Santi (16 July 2022). "George Ilenikhena dans le viseur de cadors européens". Foot Mercato (in French). Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  6. ↑ "Coupe Gambardella: l'Amiens SC éliminé par l'AC Ajaccio en 8e de finale". Courrier picard (in French). 20 February 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  7. ↑ Bricout, Nathan (16 July 2022). "Les infos mercato en direct : Lewandowski au Barça, le PSG officialise Ekitike..." Onze Mondial (in French). Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 "Mercato OM : Longoria pisterait un phénomène de 15 ans". Le Phocéen (in French). 10 December 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  9. ↑ Chaumier, Morgan (20 November 2022). "Philippe Hinschberger : " J'ai aimé notre sérieux "". Gazette Sports (in French). Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  10. ↑ Pechon, Romain (20 November 2022). "Amiens SC - Lamentin : les tops et flops". Le 11 HDF (in French). Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  11. ↑ "Amiens SC Football - Les Amiénois se sont vite mis à l'abri et éliminé facilement l'Aiglon du Lamentin". Amiens SC Football (in French). 19 November 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  12. ↑ "Football (N3): l'Amiens SC (b) surprend Marcq-en-Barœul". Courrier picard (in French). 26 November 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  13. 1 2 Pechon, Romain (16 December 2022). "Philippe Hinschberger (Amiens SC) : " On a un peu les boules "". Le 11 HDF (in French). Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  14. ↑ "SPITS GEORGE ILENIKHENA TEKENT CONTRACT BIJ RAFC" [STRIKER GEORGE ILENIKHENA SIGNS CONTRACT WITH RAFC]. royalantwerpfc.be (in Dutch). 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  15. ↑ Amosu, Adeboye (29 June 2023). "Done Deal: Belgian Champions Royal Antwerp Sign Nigerian Youngster". Complete Sports. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  16. ↑ Christenson, Marcus; Bloor, Steven; Blight, Garry (11 October 2023). "Next Generation 2023: 60 of the best young talents in world football". theguardian.com. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  17. ↑ "Royal Antwerp 3–2 Barcelona". BBC Sport. 13 December 2023.
  18. ↑ "Stage U16 : Rassemblement du 23.08.2021 au 26.08.2021" (PDF). FFF. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  19. ↑ George Ilenikhena at Soccerway
  20. ↑ "Antwerp wint nu ook de Supercup! KV Mechelen plooit pas na strafschoppen" (in Dutch). Sporza. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
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