Emeka Adiele

Emeka Adiele
Personal information
Full name Chukwuemeka Fortune Adiele
Date of birth (2007-07-31) 31 July 2007 (age 19)
Place of birth London, England
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position Left-back
Team information
Current team
 Burton Albion
(on loan from Utrecht)
Number 23
Youth career
2016–2026 West Ham United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2026– Jong Utrecht 8 (0)
2026– Utrecht 2 (0)
2026– → Burton Albion (loan) 0 (0)
International career‡
2023 England U17 3 (0)
2024–2025 England U18 6 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 28 April 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 14:42, 18 August 2026 (UTC)

Chukwuemeka Fortune Adiele (born 31 July 2007) is an English professional footballer who plays as a full-back for EFL League One club Burton Albion, on loan from Eredivisie club Utrecht.

Club career

Adiele is a youth product of West Ham United, having joined the club at the age of nine.

In July 2024, he signed his first professional contract with West Ham.

In February 2026, Adiele signed for Utrecht in the Eredivisie, first playing with the reserve in Eerste Divisie, while regularly training with the first team.

Adiele made his professional debut with Jong Utrecht in a 1–1 Eerste Divisie draw with Willem II on 16 February 2026.

On 18 August 2026, Adiele joined League One side Burton Albion on a season-long loan deal.

International career

Born in England, Adiele also has Nigerian origins. He is a youth international for England, having played for the under-17s and under-18s.

Career statistics

As of match played 26 April 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
West Ham United U21 2024–25 ———5050
2025–26 ———6060
Total ———110110
Jong Utrecht 2025–26 Eerste Divisie 70———70
Utrecht 2025–26 Eredivisie 20———20
Career total 900000110200
  1. ↑ Three appearances in EFL Trophy, two appearances in Premier League Cup
  2. ↑ Five appearances in EFL Trophy, one appearance in Premier League Cup

References

  1. ↑ Emeka Adiele at WorldFootball.net
  2. 1 2 "Emeka Adiele signs first professional contract". West Ham United FC. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  3. 1 2 Dagnon, Ambroise (1 August 2024). "Emeka Adiele : le jeune nigérian signe son premier contrat professionnel". Africa Top Sport (in French). Retrieved 8 April 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. 1 2 3 Guerreiro, Adefolahan (3 February 2026). "Nigeria-eligible English defender exits West Ham to join FC Utrecht". Afrik-Foot. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  5. ↑ "Utrecht schudt topclubs af en presenteert nieuwe linksback: 'Ik kan niet wachten'". VoetbalPrimeur.nl (in Netherlands Dutch). 2 February 2026. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  6. ↑ "FC Utrecht troeft Dortmund en Juventus af en doet zaken met West Ham United". VoetbalNieuws.nl (in Netherlands Dutch). 2 February 2026. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  7. ↑ van den Berg, René; van Leeuwen, Wessel (1 April 2026). "Adiele (18) voelt zich dankzij 'Ron' al thuis bij FC Utrecht: 'Zo snel mogelijk debuut maken'". RTV Utrecht (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  8. ↑ "FC Utrecht tegen NEC: Adiele (18) debuteert in Eredivisie". De Telegraaf (in Dutch). 10 February 2026. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  9. ↑ van Aert, Dolf (16 February 2026). "Willem II komt bijzonder goed weg tegen Jong FC Utrecht: Haen redt in de slotfase een punt". Brabants Dagblad. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  10. ↑ "ADIELE JOINS ALBION ON LOAN". Burton Albion F.C. 18 August 2026. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  11. ↑ O'Rourke, Pete (4 December 2025). "Exclusive: Host of European clubs chase West Ham sensation Emeka Adiele". Football Insider. Retrieved 8 April 2026.