Kelechi Iheanacho portrait, Wikimedia Commons (see CREDITS)
Celtic's Nigerian No. 9 Celtic

KELECHI
IHEANACHO

Centre-Forward #14 Nigerian flag Nigeria (Super Eagles)

Age

29 yrs

Height

1.85m

Value

€3m

Caps / Goals

58 / 14

Profile

Who is Kelechi

Kelechi Iheanacho is a Nigerian centre-forward who plays for Celtic in the Scottish Premiership. He broke through at Manchester City aged 18, spent seven seasons at Leicester City winning the 2020–21 FA Cup, and had a short Sevilla spell before joining Celtic in summer 2025. Iheanacho won the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup with Nigeria (named tournament Golden Ball winner) and has 58 senior Super Eagles caps, including the 2023 AFCON run to the final.

Tactical DNA

Iheanacho is a right-footed centre-forward with an unusually strong weak foot. His defining quality is near-post finishing off first touches: short sharp taps from inside the six-yard box where the angle is reduced. Across seven Leicester seasons he scored at a rate of roughly one goal every two full 90-minute appearances, strong for a striker who was not always a starter.

At Celtic under Brendan Rodgers (the same coach who managed him at Leicester 2019–2022), Iheanacho has returned to starter status. For Nigeria under Éric Chelle he mostly comes off the bench when Osimhen needs a rest, with a specific remit to attack crosses in the last 20 minutes.

Career Journey

Taye Academy (Nigeria)

Nigerian academy breakthrough. Won the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup with the Golden Eaglets, named tournament Golden Ball winner, the tournament's best player.

Manchester City (England)
46 apps 12 goals 6 assists £400k

Premier League debut at 18. Scored 8 goals in his debut season, one of the highest scoring rates ever by a Nigerian Premier League teenager.

Leicester City (England)
225 apps 54 goals 22 assists £25m (Leicester record at the time)

Seven senior seasons. 2020–21 FA Cup winner, scored the penalty in the 1–0 Wembley semi-final win over Southampton. Championship winner 2023–24 before his release.

Sevilla (Spain)
9 apps 0 goals Free

One-season La Liga spell. Limited minutes in a Sevilla struggling for Champions League qualification; mutually agreed termination summer 2025.

Middlesbrough (England, loan)
15 apps 1 goals Loan

Short loan spell in the EFL Championship before joining Celtic.

Celtic (Scotland)
13 apps 5 goals Free

Signed on a free transfer in September 2025, reuniting with Brendan Rodgers.

Honours

FIFA U-17 World Cup Winner

Nigeria, 2013 (Golden Ball)

FA Cup Winner

Leicester City, 2020–21

FA Community Shield Winner

Leicester City, 2021

EFL Championship Winner

Leicester City, 2023–24

AFCON Runner-up

Nigeria, 2023

With Nigeria (Super Eagles)

58
Caps
14
Goals
2015
Debut
FIFA U-17 World Cup 2013 (winner) AFCON 2019 AFCON 2021 AFCON 2023 (final) WCQ 2022 WCQ 2026

Beyond the Pitch

Born 3 October 1996 in Owerri, Imo State, south-east Nigeria. Came through Taye Academy in Lagos, one of the feeder institutions for Nigerian senior football. Credits his late father, who died when Kelechi was 12, as the motivating figure behind his football commitment. Spent his teenage years dividing time between Lagos and Owerri before the 2013 U-17 World Cup made him a national name.

Keeps a low-key personal profile, avoiding English tabloid-media culture beyond Premier League photo opportunities. Devout Christian; visible cross-on-chest celebrations after goals throughout his career.

Expert Analysis

Amara Okafor

Amara Okafor

Senior Writer

11 posts on Kelechi.

Kelechi Q&A

How old is Kelechi Iheanacho?
Kelechi Iheanacho was born on 3 October 1996 in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria, which makes him 29 years old as of April 2026.
Which club does Kelechi Iheanacho play for?
Iheanacho plays for Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, having signed on a free transfer in summer 2025 after his Sevilla contract was mutually terminated. He has reunited with manager Brendan Rodgers, who previously managed him at Leicester City (2019–2022).
Did Kelechi Iheanacho play for Leicester?
Yes. Iheanacho spent seven senior seasons at Leicester City (2017–2024), scoring 54 goals in 225 appearances. He won the 2020–21 FA Cup, the 2021 Community Shield, and the 2023–24 EFL Championship title before his release in summer 2024.
Did Kelechi Iheanacho win the FIFA U-17 World Cup?
Yes. Iheanacho was the Golden Ball winner (best player) at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the UAE, where Nigeria's Golden Eaglets won their fourth U-17 title. He scored 6 goals in the tournament, including a decisive goal in the final vs Mexico.
Did Kelechi Iheanacho play in the AFCON final?
Yes. Iheanacho was part of Nigeria's AFCON 2023 squad and played in the final against Côte d'Ivoire, a 2–1 loss in Abidjan. He also featured in Nigeria's AFCON 2019 third-place run and the AFCON 2021 campaign.
What is Kelechi Iheanacho's market value?
As of April 2026, Kelechi Iheanacho's market value has been estimated at around €3 million by mainstream player-valuation services. The figure reflects his age and free-transfer move but may rise if his current Scottish Premiership scoring form continues.
How tall is Kelechi Iheanacho?
Iheanacho is 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in). A genuine target-man height that lets him play as a lone forward or the target of a partnership, the reason Celtic's Brendan Rodgers has played him as the central striker in the 2025–26 season.
Is Kelechi Iheanacho related to any other footballer?
No direct relation to other professional footballers in the Nigerian national team setup. The Iheanacho surname is common in Imo State, south-east Nigeria, and is a recurring name in Nigerian youth football, but no confirmed family lineage to other capped Nigerian players.

Related

Country Football in Nigeria Player Victor Osimhen Player Ademola Lookman Coach Éric Chelle League NPFL Competition Africa Cup of Nations Player Rashidi Yekini Player Nwankwo Kanu Player Jay-Jay Okocha Player Asisat Oshoala

Last updated 2026-04-22 · written by Amara Okafor. · Reviewed by Ọmọlàgbà Olúwáyẹmí