Ike Orji

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Ike Orji
Personal information
Full name Ikechukwu Sunny Smart Orji[1]
Date of birth (2003-01-04) 4 January 2003 (age 21)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Hemel Hempstead Town
(on loan from Gillingham)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2023 Chatham Town 71 (2)
2023– Gillingham 1 (0)
2023 → Chatham Town (loan) 13 (0)
2023 → Welling United (loan) 4 (0)
2024– → Hemel Hempstead Town (loan) 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:14, 15 April 2024 (UTC)

Ikechukwu Sunny Smart Orji is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for National League South side Hemel Hempstead Town on loan from EFL League Two club Gillingham.

Career[edit]

Orji began his career with Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division club Chatham Town, joining League One club Gillingham on trial in March 2021.[3] He was a part of the Chatham squad that were promoted as runners-up from the 2021–22 SCEFL Premier Division.[4]

In January 2023, Orji attracted interest from League Two clubs Crawley Town and Gillingham,[5] joining the latter on 9 February, returning to Chatham Town on loan until the end of the season.[6] Following his return to the club, he played a key role as the club achieved back-to-back promotions as Isthmian League South East Division Champions.[7]

In October 2023, he made his first-team professional debut for Gillingham, featuring in a 5–1 EFL Trophy defeat to Portsmouth,[8] making his first league appearance eleven days later as 1 79th minute substitute in a 1–2 loss to Notts County.[9][10] On 4 December 2023, he joined National League South club Welling United on an initial one-month loan deal.[11] On 16 March 2024 he joined Hemel Hempstead Town, also of the National League South, on loan.[12]

Career statistics[edit]

As of match played 21 October 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chatham Town 2022–23[13] Isthmian League South East Division 18 1 3 0 — 1[a] 0 22 1
Gillingham 2022–23 League Two 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023–24[14] League Two 1 0 0 0 0 0 1[b] 0 2 0
Total 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
Chatham Town (loan) 2022–23[13] Isthmian League South East Division 13 0 0 0 — 0 0 13 0
Career total 32 1 3 0 0 0 2 0 37 1
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

References[edit]

  1. ^ "SQUAD LIST 2023/24 & U21 REGISTERED CONTRACT PLAYERS" (PDF). EFL. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  2. ^ Ike Orji at Soccerway. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  3. ^ "Chatham Town youngster joins Gillingham on Trial". www.scefl.com. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  4. ^ Cawdell, Luke (9 April 2022). "Chatham Town thrash Erith & Belvedere 10-1 to clinch promotion to the Isthmian League". Kent Online. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  5. ^ Dunford, Mark (31 January 2023). "Transfer Deadline Day: Crawley Town and Gillingham 'in battle' for 'the next Aaron Wan-Bissaka'". Sussex Express. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  6. ^ "Ike Orji signs for Gills". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Chats Take The Title!". www.isthmian.co.uk. 16 April 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Report | Portsmouth 5–1 Gillingham". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  9. ^ "Gillingham 1–2 Notts County". BBC Sport. 21 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  10. ^ Cawdell, Luke (23 October 2023). "Ike Orji makes Football League debut for Gillingham against Notts County, eight months after joining from Isthmian League side Chatham Town". Kent Online. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  11. ^ @wellingunited (4 December 2023). "✍️ Some pre-match news... Welling United are delighted to welcome defender Ike Orji on an initial one-month loan from @TheGillsFC. Welcome to the Wings, Ike! 🤝 #WeAreWings🪽" (Tweet). Retrieved 5 December 2023 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ Hemel Hempstead Town [@hemelfc] (16 March 2024). "𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗜𝗸𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗷𝗶 ✍️ Ahead of this afternoon's fixture vs Hampton & Richmond, we are pleased to announce the loan signing of defender Ike Orji from @TheGillsFC . #COYT" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ^ a b "Chatham Town – Appearances – Ike Orji – 2022-2023". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  14. ^ "Games played by Ike Orji in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
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