Chituru Odunze - Goalkeeper
At 6-7 and 210 lbs., Odunze cuts an imposing figure in goal. Nicknamed “Big C”, Odunze has come up big for club and country. At the 2019 Under-17 World Cup in Brazil, the Leicester City goalkeeper made two appearances, producing four saves in the Americans' scoreless draw with Japan.
Odunze, 18, turned heads for the Vancouver Whitecaps in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, performing for the U-15 and U-17 squads. When he was two, Odunze and his family moved to London. He played three years at the Chelsea FC Academy and also for Cardiff City FC and West Ham United FC. Afterwards, his family moved to Calgary, Canada, as Odunze stood out for Foothills FC, Blizzards SC and Calgary Villains FC.
Aug. 1, 2019 was a red-letter day for the then 16-year-old Odunze. He signed a professional contract as a Homegrown Player with the Whitecaps, who transferred him to Leicester City after impressing the English Premier League club during a two-month trial that January.
Odunze's mother is a physician, his father a retired chemist and university lecturer. His older siblings are studying to become doctors.
He is also eligible to play for Canada, England and Nigeria.
