Idoma-born Anthony Ujah celebrates 10 years of professional football

Idoma-born Super Eagles striker and Mainz 05 forward Anthony Ujah on Tuesday July 17th, 2018 celebrated 10th anniversary as a professional footballer.

Ujah, who began his professional career with Abuja F.C. In 2008, and later signed for Warri Wolves left the Delta State club in January 2010 to attend a trial with
Lillestrøm.

Having impressed while attending the trial, Ujah signed a four-year contract with Lillestrøm and made his debut for the club on 14 March 2010 against Aalesunds FK .
In January 2011, Ujah was linked with a move to England with Football League One clubs
Swindon Town F.C. and Southampton F.C. reportedly interested. On transfer deadline day, he travelled to La Liga side Mallorca to discuss a move after Lillestrøm accepted a bid for the striker. However, no deal was signed, and Ujah started the 2011 campaign still in the Norway with Lillestrøm.

In his first game of the season on March 3rd, 2011, Ujah scored four goals in Lillestrøm’s 7–0 victory away against Stabæk . Following his strong performance, it was reported that PSV Eindhoven , among other European clubs such as Rennes , Lille , Toulouse and Sunderland, were keeping tabs on him. He added to his tally by scoring a brace in his side’s 5–0 of FK Haugesund on April 25th.

In May 2011, following his return of eight goals from the first six league matches for Lillestrøm, Ujah was linked to a host of bigger clubs from strong continental leagues including the Bundesliga ,
Ligue 1 and Eredivisie . A month later on May 28th, Ujah netted the winning goal in a 4–2 victory over Sarpsborg 08 . On 19 June 2011, he again hit four goals for Lillestrøm, this time against Strømsgodset, helping his side to a 4–2 win in the Tippeligaen. After just 15 months in Norway, he built up a tremendous rapport with the club’s supporters and arguably attained an almost legend-like status unheard of for a 20-year-old. He ended up scoring 30 goals in 42 matches across all official competitions for Lillestrøm that season.

In June 2011, Ujah signed for 1. FSV Mainz 05, after being tracked by several clubs, most notably Danish outfits F.C. Copenhagen and Brøndby IF. Ujah scored his first two goals for his new club in a 3–1 victory over VfB Stuttgart on 4 November, ending his side’s winless run that stretched back to mid-August and moved them three points clear of the relegation zone.
On the last day of the summer 2012 transfer window, Ujah signed a season-loan to 1. FC Köln.

At the end of May 2011, Ujah was called up to the U23 Nigerian National Team that faced Tanzania on 5 June 2011.
He was selected for Nigeria’s squad at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.

On 5 May 2015, Werder Bremen announced that they had signed Ujah on a four-year contract, starting from the 2015–16 season. On 24 October, Ujah scored a brace against his former club Mainz as Werder earned a 3–1 away win following five successive defeats. Four days laters, he netted again, helping Werder to a 1–0 victory over his former club 1. FC Köln in the second round of the DFB-Pokal . It was his first goal in a home match at the Weserstadion .

On 5 July 2016, Werder Bremen announced Ujah would be joining Liaoning Whowin pending a medical for a reported transfer fee of €13 million. Both player and club had rejected a similar offer from Liaoning Whowin in the previous winter transfer window. Two days later, the move was finalised with Ujah signing a three-year contract. On 8 July 2016, Ujah scored on his debut for Liaoning in a 2–1 win over Shijiazhuang Ever Bright and later return to Mainz 05 In December, it was announced that Ujah would return to the Bundesliga having re-signed with former club 1. FSV Mainz 05 on a 3½-year contract until 2021.

Ujah who has several appearances in the Europa league has scored over 300 goals as a professional footballer.