Samuel Chimerenka Chukwueze (born 22 March 1997) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Serie A club AC Milan and the Nigeria national team.
Chukwueze was born in Amaokwe Ugba Ibeku, Abia State.
He is of Igbo descent and was brought up in a Christian family with a younger brother and a younger sister.
He attended Government College Umuahia and Evangel Secondary School.
He started playing football at the age of 8 and he admired Jay-Jay Okocha and Arjen Robben as his football idols growing up.
2013
On 13 December, he scored a later winner in the 84th minute in a 2–1 away victory over Newcastle United, which made his club to finish third in their group and qualify to the Europa League.
2017
Chukwueze joined Villarreal CF's prolific youth setup in 2017, from local side Diamond Football Academy.
2018
After being initially assigned to the club's Juvenil A squad, he made his senior debut with the reserves on 15 April 2018, coming on as a second-half substitute for Sergio Lozano in a 1–1 Segunda División B away draw against CE Sabadell FC.
Chukwueze scored his first senior goal on 20 May 2018, netting his team's second in a 3–2 away defeat against Bilbao Athletic.
He contributed with two goals in 11 appearances during his first season, as his side missed out promotion in the play-offs.
Chukwueze made his first-team debut on 20 September 2018, replacing Nicola Sansone in a 2–2 home draw against Rangers, for the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League.
He also made his Laliga debut on 5 November 2018, playing a 90-minute full play in a 1–1 home draw against Levante, for the 2018–19 La Liga.
After playing for Nigeria at under-17 level, he received his first call-up to the senior team in October 2018.
He made his debut for the Nigerian senior team on 20 November 2018 as a starter in a 0–0 friendly draw against Uganda.
2019
In April 2019, he won the Nigeria Football Federation's 2018 Young Player of the Year award.
On 12 April 2022, in the second leg of the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League quarter-final away to Bayern Munich, Chukwueze scored the equaliser in the 88th minute, helping Villarreal progress to the semi-finals of the tournament.
On 8 April 2023, Chukwueze scored a brace and recorded an assist against Real Madrid in a 3–2 away victory.
On 27 July 2023, Serie A club AC Milan announced the signing of Chukwueze, on a contract until 30 June 2028.
On 28 November, he scored his first goal at the club in a 3–1 home defeat against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
In May 2019, Chukwueze was invited to represent Nigeria's senior team at the Africa Cup of Nations and the Under-20 team at the Under-20 World Cup.
However, Villarreal said he could only play in one of the tournaments.
He ultimately decided to take part with Nigerian's senior squad for Africa Cup of Nations hosted in Egypt and scored his first senior goal in Nigeria's 2–1 win over South Africa in the quarter finals.
