Luca Koleosho

Footballer (born 2004)

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 19)[1]
Place of birth Norwalk, CT, United States
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s) Left 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 15 (1)
International career‡
2019 United States U15 4 (0)
2023 Italy U19 7 (0)
2023– Italy U20 2 (0)
2023– Italy U21 1 (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 08:23, 5 December 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 November 2023

Luca Warrick Daeovie Koleosho (born September 15, 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as a left winger or forward for Premier League 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 5 December 2023
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
Career total 20 2 1 0 0 0 21 2
  1. ^ Includes Copa del Rey

Honours

Italy U19

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f 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).
  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).
  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.
  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.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Luca Koleosho.
  • Luca Koleosho at the Canadian Soccer Association
  • Luca Koleosho at Soccerway
  • Luca Koleosho at BDFutbol
  • Luca Koleosho at LaPreferente.com (in Spanish)
  • Luca Koleosho – UEFA competition record (archive) Edit this at Wikidata
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