Like some other Nigerian players, Samuel Kalu was born and bred in Nigeria, precisely Abia State, one of the states in the South-Eastern region of Nigeria.
Now at Watford, his fledgling football career could be traced back to Nigeria, where he began with a football academy in Jos, Plateau, named GBS Academy as a teenager.
A young Kalu would sign his first professional career as a footballer in 2016 as he was signed by a Slovakian clubside AS Trenčín, which at that time, was the partner of his former academy, GBS for two years.
Kalu began life in Slovakia like a house on fire, putting up a fine display for his Slovak employers.
His development and impact in the team rapidly caught the eyes of suitors as was courted and signed by Belgian side, KAA Gent after one year at AS Trenčín.
At Gent, Kalu never let down his guard, he kept on mesmerizing the fans of the Jupiler League outfit and soon enough, got an offer from Bordeaux in France to play in one of Europe’s top five leagues.
The Nigerian signed a five-year contract with the club but after another scintillating outing with the French side in four years, Watford beckoned to him, and he obliged. Without doubts, Kalu’s career as a footballer has been on tremendous ascendancy.
At 24, Samuel Kalu was priced away from Bordeaux by Watford for a fee of around €3.00 million for three years in January 2022, and he has remained at the club since then.
Watford, however, are in the Premier League’s second division – English Football Championship after relegation.
Samuel Kalu Profile
- Full name: Samuel Kalu Ojim
- Date of birth: 26 August 1997
- Place of birth: Aba, Abia State, Nigeria
- Height: 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
- Position: Winger
- Current club: Watford
Youth career
–2016: GBS Academy
Senior career
- 2016–2017: AS Trenčín; 32 Apps; (4 Gls)
- 2017–2018: Gent; 48 Apps; (10 Gls)
- 2018–2022: Bordeaux; 72 Apps; (9 Gls)
- 2022– Watford; 4 Apps
National team
2018– Nigeria; 16 Apps; (2 Gls)
Samuel kalu’s International Career
Kalu was integrated into the Super Eagles team by erstwhile manager of the side Gernot Rohr in 2018 despite not featuring for any Nigerian team at youth levels.
This is because the winger was busy thriving in the French Ligue1 at the time of his invitation into the national team.
Following Nigeria’s group stage ouster from the 2018 FIFA World Cup, a couple of players in the team were dropped by the Franco-German tactician and the trio of Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze and Samuel Kalu were invited.
On his Super Eagles debut, Kalu scored his first international goal during an AFCON qualifier against Libya which the Eagles won by 4-nil.
He has been in the corridors of the national team since that time.
His Health Issues
The Nigerian international has had two instances of health issues, and both made headlines. The first was during the 2019 AFCON in Egypt where he collapsed after severe dehydration.
He was later released from the hospital to link up with the rest of the squad in Alexandria.
The second incident would happen during his time at Bordeaux, Kalu collapsed in a league game against Marseille, but he got up to his feet and walked off the pitch with his teammates’ help while holding an ice pack against his head.
Kalu’s Cars and House
Expectedly, the 25-year-old skilful winger has gotten a couple of cars in his collection as well as a mansion in Nigeria.
Wife and Family
It hasn’t been confirmed if the winger has gotten a relationship or not, though there is a picture of him and an unknown lady online.
Neither has he ever shown the faces of any of his family members except his mother who was kidnapped for six days in 2019.
Salary and Net-Worth
In 2020, Kalu’s net worth was calculated to be around $1 Million – $5 Million which is obviously from his gains in the round leather game.
And at Watford where he currently plays, Samuel Kalu’s weekly wage is £15,000 while his yearly salary is £ £780,000.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
