Victor Udoh
Udoh with Royal Antwerp in 2024
Personal information
Full name Victor Akaniyene Udoh
Date of birth (2004-10-18)18 October 2004[1]
Place of birth Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Date of death 25 May 2026(2026-05-25) (aged 21)
Place of death Abuja, Nigeria
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position Forward
Youth career
Hypebuzz
Royal Antwerp
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023–2025 Young Reds Antwerp 27 (12)
2024–2025 Royal Antwerp 24 (0)
2025 Southampton 0 (0)
2025–2026 Dynamo České Budějovice 0 (0)
2025 Dynamo České Budějovice B 3 (2)
Total 54 (14)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Victor Akaniyene Udoh[2] (18 October 2004 – 25 May 2026) was a Nigerian professional footballer who played as a forward.

Udoh was a product of the Royal Antwerp academy in Belgium and made his senior debut for the club during the 2023–24 season. In February 2025, he joined English club Southampton. Udoh left the club by mutual consent in September 2025 in an attempt to move into regular senior football. In October 2025, he joined Czech club Dynamo České Budějovice which was his last club before his death.

Career

Royal Antwerp

In March 2023, 18-year-old Udoh moved from Hypebuzz FC in Abuja to Royal Antwerp of the Belgian Pro League.[3] He signed his first professional contract there.[4]

Udoh was first called up for first-team training by manager Mark van Bommel in July 2023.[5] For the 2023 Belgian Super Cup on 23 July, he remained an unused substitute as his team won on penalties against Mechelen.[6] He made his debut in the Belgian Pro League on 21 January 2024, playing the final 12 minutes of a 4–1 home win over Charleroi.[7] Having made two substitute appearances in previous rounds, he was unused on 9 May as they lost the 2024 Belgian Cup final by a single goal to Union SG.[8]

Southampton

On 3 February 2025, Udoh joined Premier League side Southampton on a three-and-a-half-year contract, initially joining the Under-21s squad.[9] On 9 September, he left the club by mutual consent to facilitate a move into regular senior football.[10]

Dynamo České Budějovice

On 23 October 2025, Udoh joined Czech National Football League side Dynamo České Budějovice on a three-year contract.[11]

Personal life and death

Udoh grew up in Madalla in the Federal Capital Territory. He returned there to distribute food and drink.[4]

Udoh was found dead on 25 May 2026, at the age of 21, in the Nigerian capital Abuja. His death was announced the following day.[12][13]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[14]
Club Season League National cup League cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Young Red Antwerp 2023–24 Belgian National Division 1 21 12 0 0 — — 21 12
2024–25 Belgian National Division 1 6 0 0 0 — — 6 0
Total 27 12 0 0 — — 27 12
Royal Antwerp 2023–24 Belgian Pro League 12 0 2 0 — 0 0 14 0
2024–25 Belgian Pro League 12 0 2 0 — — 14 0
Total 24 0 4 0 — 0 0 28 0
Southampton 2024–25[15] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Dynamo České Budějovice 2025–26 Czech National Football League 0 0 0 0 — — 0 0
Dynamo České Budějovice B 2025–26 Bohemian Football League 3 2 — — — 3 2
Career total 54 14 4 0 0 0 0 0 58 14

Honours

Royal Antwerp

  • Belgian Super Cup: 2023[6]

References

  1. ^ a b "Victor Udoh Southampton U21 Forward, Profile & Stats". Premier League. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  2. ^ Victor Udoh at WorldFootball.net
  3. ^ Oguntimehin, Ayomide (14 March 2023). "Victor Udoh: Royal Antwerp sign Nigerian youth international". Soccernet.ng. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Groot gebaar: Nigeriaanse spits van Antwerp deelt tijdens vakantie eten en drinken uit in arme geboortestreek" [Big gesture: Nigerian striker from Antwerp distributes food and drinks in poor native region during holiday]. Gazet van Antwerpen (in Dutch). 15 June 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  5. ^ Geypen, Diederik (28 June 2023). "Architect van de dubbel Mark van Bommel wil succes met Antwerp voortzetten: "Ik spreek met de club, dan heb je de intentie om te blijven"" [Architect of the double Mark van Bommel wants to continue success with Antwerp: “I speak to the club, then you have the intention to stay”]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  6. ^ a b Woos, Loïc (23 July 2023). "Et de 3 ! L'Antwerp remonte Malines aux tirs au but et remporte la première Supercoupe de son histoire" [Three and counting! Antwerp come from behind against Mechelen on penalties and bring home the first Super Cup of their history] (in French). Walfoot. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  7. ^ Van den Broeck, David (21 January 2024). "Afterparty op de Bosuil: hoe Antwerp zijn fans verwende en het Ejuke-mysterie misschien toch nog opgelost raakt" [Afterparty at the Bosuil: how Antwerp spoiled their fans and the Ejuke mystery may yet be solved]. Gazet van Antwerpen (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  8. ^ Bourlon, Antoine (9 May 2024). "L'Union domine l'Antwerp et remporte la troisième Coupe de Belgique, sa première depuis 110 ans" [Union dominate Antwerp and bring home their third Belgian Cup, their first in 110 years] (in French). Walfoot. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Saints sign Antwerp forward Udoh". Southampton F.C. 3 February 2025. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  10. ^ "Udoh to depart the club". Southampton F.C. 9 September 2025. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  11. ^ "Do Dynama přichází útočník Victor Udoh" [Forward Victor Udoh joins Dynamo] (in Czech). SK Dynamo České Budějovice. 23 October 2025. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  12. ^ Udoh, Colin (26 May 2026). "Nigeria FA confirm death of former Southampton, Antwerp forward Victor Udoh". ESPN. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  13. ^ "Southampton pay tribute as Udoh dies aged 21". BBC Sport. 26 May 2026. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  14. ^ Victor Udoh at Soccerway. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  15. ^ "Games played by Victor Udoh in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 February 2025.