Jump to content

Luca Koleosho

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The printable version is no longer supported and may have rendering errors. Please update your browser bookmarks and please use the default browser print function instead.

Luca Koleosho
Koleosho with Espanyol in 2022
Personal information
Full name Luca Warrick Daeovie Koleosho[1]
Date of birth (2004-09-15) 15 September 2004 (age 20)[1]
Place of birth Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S.
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
Burnley
Number 30
Youth career
2011–2012 Trumbull United
2012–2016 Manhattan Kickers
2016–2020 Reus
2020–2022 Espanyol
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2023 Espanyol B 14 (2)
2022–2023 Espanyol 5 (1)
2023– Burnley 33 (3)
International career
2019 United States U15 4 (0)
2023 Italy U19 7 (0)
2023 Italy U20 2 (0)
2023– Italy U21 2 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Italy
UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Winner 2023 Malta
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:45, 6 December 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 October 2023

Luca Warrick Daeovie Koleosho (born September 15, 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as a left winger or forward for EFL Championship club Burnley. Born in the United States, he is currently a youth international for Italy.

Early life

Koleosho began playing with his local soccer club Trumbull United at the age of 7.[2] Afterwards, he played for the Manhattan Kickers from age 7 to 11.[3] After two trips to Spain with the Kickers, his parents decided to help him develop in Spain.[2][4] In 2016, he joined the youth academy of Reus, before moving to the Espanyol youth system in 2020.[5][6] Working his way up their youth sides, he signed his first professional contract with Espanyol on June 2, 2021, keeping him at the club for 3 additional seasons.[7] In 2022, he helped the Espanyol U19 reach the Copa del Rey Juvenil final, where they were defeated by Real Madrid.[8]

Club career

Espanyol

He debuted at the senior level with Espanyol B in the fourth tier Segunda División RFEF during the 2021–22 season.[8] He made his first start on October 8, 2022, and scored his first goal against RCD Mallorca B.[9][10]

He made his first team debut with Espanyol in a 0–0 La Liga tie with Granada on May 22, 2022, coming as a late substitute in the 90th minute.[11] Koleosho scored his first goal for the senior side in Espanyol's final match of the 2022–23 La Liga season against Almería, netting the third goal for his club in a 3–3 draw on June 4, 2023.[12][13]

Burnley

On July 25, 2023, Koleosho joined Premier League side Burnley for a transfer fee of £2.6m, plus £860,000 in add-ons, signing a four-year deal with the club.[14][15][16] He made his debut for the Clarets on August 11, starting in a 3–0 league defeat to Manchester City.[17] On December 2, he scored his first Premier League goal in a 5–0 victory over Sheffield United.[18][19]

International career

Koleosho is eligible to represent the United States, Canada, Nigeria, and Italy, as he was born and raised in the United States to a Nigerian father and an Italian-Canadian mother.[20]

United States

In August 2019, Koleosho appeared with the United States U15 team, making four appearances.[21][22] In April 2022, Koleosho was called up to a United States under-20 training camp in Carson, California.[23] After his call-up to Canada's senior side in June 2022, Koleosho confirmed he had not closed the door on representing the United States.[8]

Canada

Koleosho was called up to the Canada senior national team for a friendly and two CONCACAF Nations League matches in June 2022.[24] He departed the camp after the cancellation of the Iran friendly and the subsequent cancellation of the replacement Panama friendly.[25] In September 2022, Koleosho was re-called to Canada ahead of friendlies against Qatar and Uruguay.[26][27] In May 2023, Koleosho was listed on the Canada preliminary rosters for the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals.[28]

Italy

In March 2023, Koleosho accepted a call-up to the Italy under-19 national team, joining a training camp in preparation to the Elite round of the qualifications to the 2023 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.[29] He was subsequently included in the 20-men squad that took part in the aforementioned round.[30][31] He debuted with them as a late substitute in a 0–0 friendly tie with Slovenia U19 on March 25.[32]

In June 2023, he was included in the Italian squad for the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Malta,[33] where the Azzurrini eventually won their second continental title.[34][35]

On November 21, 2023, he made his debut for the Italian under-21 national team in a 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying match against the Republic of Ireland.[36]

Career statistics

As of match played 6 December 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Espanyol 2021–22[1] La Liga 1 0 0 0 1 0
2022–23[1] La Liga 4 1 1 0 5 1
Total 5 1 1 0 6 1
Burnley 2023–24[1] Premier League 15 1 0 0 0 0 15 1
2024–25[1] Championship 18 2 0 0 0 0 18 2
Total 33 3 0 0 0 0 33 3
Career total 38 4 1 0 0 0 39 4
  1. ^ Includes Copa del Rey

Honours

Italy U19

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Luca Koleosho at Soccerway
  2. ^ a b Sciaretta, Brian (November 30, 2021). "Luca Koleosho progressing at Espanyol, aiming for big steps in 2022". American Soccer Now.
  3. ^ Kloke, Joshua (September 22, 2022). "Luca Koleosho's Canada role could progress like his career has: quickly". The Athletic.
  4. ^ "Alumni Updates". Manhattan Kickers.
  5. ^ Vertelney, Seth (May 27, 2022). "Who is Luca Koleosho? Teenage La Liga debutant in tug-of-war between USMNT and Canada". Pro Soccer Wire.
  6. ^ Gangué-Ruzic, Alexandre (May 26, 2022). "Who is Luca Koleosho? A deep dive on the CanMNT's newest call-up". OneSoccer.
  7. ^ "Luca Warrick renova tres temporades" [Luca Warrick renews for three seasons]. RCD Espanyol (in Spanish).
  8. ^ a b c Marsden, Sam; Llorens, Moises (May 26, 2022). "Luca Koleosho hasn't closed the door on USMNT despite Canada call-up – source". ESPN.
  9. ^ Fanio, Carlos (October 8, 2022). "RCD Mallorca B – Espanyol B: Victoria corta para un filial muy maduro (0–2)" [RCD Mallorca B – Espanyol B: Short victory for a very mature subsidiary (0–2)]. La Grada Online (in Spanish). Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  10. ^ Fanio, Carlos (October 25, 2022). "Luca Koleosho sigue arrastrando molestias en el tobillo" [Luca Koleosho continues to drag discomfort in the ankle]. La Grada Online (in Spanish). Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  11. ^ Wassink, Zac. "Luca Koleosho could still join USMNT despite Canada call-up?". MSN.
  12. ^ "FLASH – Puado i Koleosho". Espanyol. June 5, 2023.
  13. ^ "3–3: Empat a l'RCDE Stadium". Espanyol. June 4, 2023.
  14. ^ "Luca Koleosho: Burnley sign Espanyol winger for £2.6m". BBC Sport. July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  15. ^ Molero, Iván (July 25, 2023). "Oficial: Koleosho, al Burnley". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  16. ^ "KOLEOSHO IS A CLARET!". Burnley FC. July 25, 2023. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  17. ^ McNulty, Phil (August 11, 2023). "Haaland scores twice as Man City beat Burnley". BBC Sport. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  18. ^ Hafez, Shamoon (December 2, 2023). "Burnley thrash Sheff Utd to move off bottom". BBC Sport. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  19. ^ "Primo gol in Premier League per Luca Koleosho: VIDEO". Sky Sport (in Italian). December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  20. ^ Davidson, Neil (September 25, 2022). "Teenager Luca Koleosho has international options, but enjoys time in Canada's camp". Toronto Star.
  21. ^ "U.S.-Born Espanyol Winger Luca Koleosho Accepts Canada Call-Up". Sports Bonanza. May 27, 2022.
  22. ^ "U.S. U-15 Boys National Team roster announced for Italy trip". Soccer Wire. April 23, 2019.
  23. ^ "Varas calls 22 players for U-20 men's youth national training camp in Carson, Calif". US Soccer Federation.
  24. ^ Becherano, Lizzy (May 27, 2022). "Luca Koleosho accepts CanMNT call-up – but remains eligible for USMNT". 90min. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  25. ^ Galindo, Peter. "Canadian men's team players still seeking transparency as they prepare for Curacao". Sportsnet.
  26. ^ "Luca Koleosho y Nabil, convocados con sus selecciones" [Luca Koleosho and Nabil called up with their national teams]. RCD Espanyol (in Spanish). September 25, 2022.
  27. ^ "Uncapped Waterman, Koleosho head to CanMNT". TSN. September 20, 2022.
  28. ^ "CONCACAF drops stacked Canada preliminary Nations League roster with some surprise names". Canada Soccer Daily. May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  29. ^ "I convocati del raduno prima della partenza per la fase élite in Germania" [The squad for the rally before the departure for the elite stage in Germany]. FIGC (in Italian). February 2, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  30. ^ "Fase élite. A caccia dell'Europeo: lunedì partenza per Brema. I 20 Azzurrini convocati da Bollini" [Elite stage. Hunting for the European Championship: Monday departure for Bremen. The 20 players called up by Bollini]. FIGC (in Italian). March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  31. ^ Distaso, Andrea (March 29, 2023). "Quattro passaporti, tre nazionali, un futuro tra Under 19 e mercato: Italia, ecco Koleosho" [Four passports, three national teams, a future between the Under 19s and the transfer market: Italy, here is Koleosho]. Calcio Mercato (in Italian).
  32. ^ Herman, Rose (March 26, 2023). "Luca Koleosho and his unique record". Today Times Live.
  33. ^ "Bollini sceglie i 20 Azzurrini per l'Europeo. Domani mattina partenza per Malta". Italian Football Federation (in Italian). June 29, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  34. ^ a b "Portugal 0–1 Italy: Kayode heads resilient Azzurrini to second Under-19 title". UEFA.com. UEFA. July 16, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  35. ^ a b Scognamiglio, Pietro (July 16, 2023). "Gli azzurrini trionfano: campioni d'Europa Under 19. Battuto il Portogallo" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  36. ^ Torrisi, Antonio (November 21, 2023). "Irlanda-Italia Under 21 2–2, cronaca, tabellino e voti: pari in extremis, Azzurrini ancora in testa". Goal.com (in Italian). Retrieved December 3, 2023.