Armstrong Oko-Flex

Armstrong Inya Echezolachuku Oko-Flex (born 2 March 2002) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Swiss Super League club FC Zürich and the Republic of Ireland under-21 national team.

Armstrong Oko-Flex
Oko-Flex with West Ham United in 2022
Personal information
Full name Armstrong Inya Echezolachuku Oko-Flex[1]
Date of birth (2002-03-02) 2 March 2002
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 FC Zürich
Number 22
Youth career
2007–2009 Tolka Rovers
2009–2013 St Kevin's Boys
2013–2018 Arsenal
2018–2021 Celtic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021 Celtic 2 (0)
2021–2023 West Ham United 0 (0)
2022–2023 → Swansea City (loan) 13 (0)
2023– FC Zürich 4 (1)
International career
2017 Republic of Ireland U16 2 (0)
2018 England U16 5 (1)
2019 Republic of Ireland U19 1 (0)
2023– Republic of Ireland U21 3 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:55, 13 October 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Oko-Flex was born in Dublin and started out playing with a local academy, Tolka Rovers, then St Kevin's Boys before being spotted by Arsenal scout Liam Brady, who had also come through the St Kevin's, with Oko-Flex then signing for the London club.[2] He joined Celtic on a three-year deal from Arsenal in September 2018.[3] He made his first team debut for the club as a substitute against Hibernian in January 2021.[4]

West Ham United

On 25 June 2021, Oko-Flex joined West Ham United on a two-year contract with an option for a third year.[5]

On 16 August 2021, Oko-Flex scored a hat-trick in his Premier League 2 debut against his boyhood club Arsenal in a 6–1 home win.[6] On 15 December 2021, Oko-Flex was an unused substitute for West Ham's Premier League fixture at the Emirates Stadium, a match won 2–0 by Arsenal.[7] This was the first time he had made a first-team squad for the club. Oko-Flex made his debut for West Ham United on 25 August 2022 coming on as an 82nd minute substitute for Manuel Lanzini in a 3–0 away win against Viborg in the second leg of a play-off round game in the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League.[8][9] He left the club at the end of the 2022-23 season. He made one first team appearance, in the UEFA Europa Conference League Play-Off round and featured on 35 occasions for the U21 side scoring 14 goals.[10]

Swansea City (loan)

On 30 August 2022, Oko-Flex joined Swansea City on loan for the remainder of the 2022-23 season.[11] He was recalled from his loan in January 2023.[12]

FC Zürich

On 14 August 2023, he signed a two-year contract with Swiss Super League club FC Zürich.[13][14] On 17 September 2023, he scored on his debut for the club, in a 3–0 win away to FC Tuggen in the Swiss Cup.[15]

International career

Oko-Flex was called up to the Republic of Ireland U21 squad for the first time in November 2021, for their 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers against Italy & Sweden.[16][17] Oko-Flex made his Republic of Ireland U21 debut on 16 June 2023, in a 2–2 draw with Ukraine U21 in a friendly played in Bad Blumau, Austria.[18] On 13 October 2023, he scored both of his sides goals in a 2–1 win away to Latvia U21.[19]

Career statistics
As of match played 7 October 2023[20]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Celtic 2019–20 Scottish Premiership 0000002[lower-alpha 1]121
2020–21 2000000020
Total 2000002141
West Ham United U21 2021–22 ———2[lower-alpha 2]121
West Ham United 2022–23 Premier League 0000001[lower-alpha 3]010
Swansea City (loan) 2022–23 Championship 130000000130
FC Zürich 2023–24 Swiss Super League 4111000052
Career total 191110052254
  1. Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup
  2. Appearances in EFL Trophy
  3. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

Personal life

Oko-Flex is the son of the Nigerian-Irish community organiser Reginald Oko-Flex Inya.[21]

References
  1. "2021/22 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  2. Appearances in Football League Trophy
  3. FC, Celtic. "Official Celtic Football Club Website | celticfc.com". Celtic FC.
  4. "Celtic 1-0 Hibernian - Turnbull crashes in stunning free-kick for late lead". BBC Sport. 11 January 2021.
  5. "West Ham United sign promising forward Armstrong Oko-Flex | West Ham United". www.whufc.com.
  6. Flood, George (16 August 2021). "New signing Oko-Flex nets treble as West Ham U23s thrash Arsenal 6-1". www.standard.co.uk.
  7. "Arsenal 2-0 West Ham". www.bbc.co.uk. 15 December 2021.
  8. "Irish underage international makes first-team debut as West Ham cruise past Danish side". The42. Press Association. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  9. "West Ham beat Viborg to cruise into group stage". BBC Sport. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  10. "West Ham United issue Retain List". West Ham United F.C. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  11. "Armstrong Okoflex joins Swansea City on loan". West Ham United F.C. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  12. "Armstong Oko-Flex recalled from Swansea City loan spell". www.swanseacity.com. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  13. "News". FC Zürich.
  14. "Irish striker Armstrong Oko-Flex signs deal with Swiss side FC Zurich". Independent.ie. 14 August 2023.
  15. Fennessy, Paul (17 September 2023). "Irish duo score amid encouraging starts at new clubs abroad". The 42.
  16. "U-21 call-up for West Ham's Armstrong Oko-Flex". 3 November 2021 – via www.rte.ie. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  17. "Crawford names squad for Italy/Sweden qualifiers | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
  18. "REPORT | U21 | Ireland 2-2 Ukraine | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
  19. https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/report-u21-oko-flex-at-the-double-for-ireland
  20. "Republic of Ireland - A. Oko-Flex - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  21. Ifeanyi, Emmanuel (10 April 2017). "Nigeria and England Battling Republic of Ireland For Arsenal Prodigy Okoflex". All Nigeria Soccer. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
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