Derrick Abu

Derrick Abu (born 18 December 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a right-back for EFL Championship club Southampton. Born in Germany, he is a former youth international for England U-17’s.

Derrick Abu
Derrick Abu playing for Chelsea Academy in 2018.
Personal information
Date of birth (2003-12-18) 18 December 2003
Place of birth Regensburg, Germany[1]
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Right-back
Team information
Current team
 Southampton
Youth career
Coezer FC
2012–2023 Chelsea
2023– Southampton
International career‡
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020 England U17 2 (0)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 2 January 2023

Club career

Early career

Born in Regensburg, Germany to Nigerian parents, Abu's family moved to England in 2006, when he was two years old.[2][3] After representing grassroots side Coezer FC at a tournament in Spain, he was scouted and signed by Premier League side Chelsea at under-11 level.[4][5] He signed a scholarship contract with The Blues in July 2020, before signing on professional terms in February 2021.[6]

In late April 2023, he went on trial with fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace, scoring the winning penalty in a 5–3 penalty shoot-out win against the youth team of Valencia in the Premier League International Cup semi-final.[7][8] On 16 June 2023, Chelsea announced that Abu would leave the club when his contract expired at the end of June.[9]

Southampton

On 5 July 2023, Abu joined Southampton on a two-year contract, initially joinining the Under-21 side for the 2023–24 season.[10]

International career

Abu is eligible to represent England, Germany and Nigeria at international level.[1] In 2019, he reportedly made himself available to represent Nigeria at youth international level.[11] He has since stated his desire to represent all three countries before making a final decision on who to represent.[3]

He has represented England at under-17 level.[1]

Music career

Describing himself as having a "huge passion for music",[3] Abu was involved with his church's choir from a young age, and wrote his first song at the age of eleven.[12] He released a rap single in early 2022, and followed this up with an EP later the same year, under the name Cho$en.[12][13]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 2 January 2023[14]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Chelsea U21 2022–23 ————2[lower-alpha 1]020
Southampton 2023–24 Championship 000000——00
Career total 000000002020
  1. Appearances in EFL Trophy

Discography

Singles
  • Life's Changing (2022)
  • Real Love (2022)
  • Gucci (2022)
  • little do you know (2022)
  • Waste my time (2022)
  • Outside (2023)
  • Get in motion (2023)

EPs
  • Page 1 (2022)

References
  1. Derrick Abu at WorldFootball.net
  2. "Meet Nigeria born Chelsea youngster with promising football and rap careers". 234sportsng.com. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  3. Rotzer, Magnus (25 December 2020). "Derrick Abu: Auf den Spuren von Callum Hudson-Odoi" [Derrick Abu: In the footsteps of Callum Hudson-Odoi]. idowa.de (in German). Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  4. Emmanuel, Ifeanyi (27 June 2022). "Pictured : Nigerian defender reports for pre-season training with Chelsea Youth". allnigeriasoccer.com. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  5. "Derrick Abu". chelseafc.com. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  6. "Nigeria-eligible Derrick Abu signed first professional contract". en.africatopsports.com. 12 February 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  7. "U21s Report: Palace beat Valencia on penalties to reach PL International Cup Final". cpfc.co.uk. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  8. Emmanuel, Ifeanyi (4 May 2023). "Crystal Palace take Chelsea's young Nigerian RB on trial with a view to a permanent move". allnigeriasoccer.com. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  9. "Retained list and goodbye to Bakayoko". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
  10. "Saints confirm Derrick Abu signing". Southampton FC. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  11. Emmanuel, Ifeanyi (30 October 2019). "Highly-Rated Chelsea Right-Back Abu Wants To Play For Nigeria". allnigeriasoccer.com. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  12. "'There's no reason I can't develop as a music artist too' - Academy youngster Derrick Abu on finding the right notes on the field and in the studio". chelseafc.com. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  13. Clark, Gill (19 December 2022). "Chelsea academy player Derrick Abu (AKA Cho$en) releases first EP - including track titled 'Reece James'". goal.com. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  14. Derrick Abu at Soccerway
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