The 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup hero, Kelechi Iheanacho has endeared himself to a lot of Nigeria national football team fans for his social media antics and his ability on the ball.
A jovial man who enjoys the game, Iheanacho is one of the Nigeria Super Eagles’ most recognizable players in modern times. At the time of writing, fans are expecting the chapter on his Leicester City career to come to an end.
This article has the details of all he has achieved to date as well as his biography and information on his family, net worth and any romantic interests.
Kelechi Iheanacho profile
Kelechi Iheanacho was born October 3, 1996, in his hometown/village of Obogwe, Imo State, Nigeria. His parents were Elder James Iheanacho and Mercy Iheanacho of blessed memory. He is the third born in his family and the last son of four siblings comprising three boys and a girl.
Iheanacho started his career at the Taye Academy in Owerri, Imo State and that was how he got on the radar of the handlers of the Nigeria national football team U-17 side. This was the true beginning of his career which has earned him the moniker “Senior Man”.
Kelechi Iheanacho club career
In December 2012, Manchester City signed him but he did not link up with them until 2014 when he turned 18. This was despite attempts from Arsenal, FC Porto and Sporting CP Lisbon to sign him.
After getting all the clearances, Iheanacho finally joined Manchester City's Academy on 10 January 2015. It was later in the season that he began to take part in official games for the club with the various youth teams. A few months later, he was promoted to the first team where he made a big splash.
Many believed he would replace Sergio Aguero, whose injuries had begun to cause him to slow down. He was a big part of their 2015/16 season as a reliable squad option who offered options from the bench.
In 2017. He signed for Leicester City in August 2017 and that was where he exploded into superstardom.
At the King Power, he has become a cult hero for his many match-saving performances in the Premier League and FA Cup.
He was awarded Leicester City’s Player of the Year award for 2022/23 but his performances were not enough to help the team stay up.
🚨 Congratulations to Nigerian 🇳🇬 forward who Kelechi Iheanacho has been voted Leicester's best player of the season! 🥇🦊#LeicesterCity #Leicester #Nigeria #LCFC pic.twitter.com/a4QC25ikPf
— Pan-Africa Football (@PanAfricaFooty) June 1, 2023
They will play in the 2023/24 EFL Championship season which is why many expect him to leave the club in the coming weeks (at the time of writing).
Kelechi Iheanacho national team career
After winning the Golden Ball award (scoring six times and providing seven assists) for player of the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup tournament (which Nigeria won), Iheanacho made his way into the Nigeria senior national team in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Eswatini as a substitute.
He missed out on the 2014 World Cup final squad and did not play his first tournament for Nigeria until the 2018 World Cup.
His next tournament appearance was in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations because then-Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr glossed over him in the final squad selection for the 2019 AFCON tournament. He has 12 goals in 45 caps for Nigeria.
📽️ 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒: 🇳🇬 1-0 🇪🇬
🔥 Here's how both teams kept the thriller going right until the very end! 👇#TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | #AFCON2021 | #NGAEGY | @Football2Gether pic.twitter.com/8HFIaKnXG5
— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 11, 2022
Kelechi Iheanacho net worth – Earnings, house, cars
Kelechi Iheanacho earnings
According to multiple sources, Kelechi Ihanacho earns £60,000 a week at Leicester City. His net worth is estimated to be around $5 million thanks to his football earnings, influencer deals and campaigns as well as the businesses he has set up for himself in Nigeria and abroad.
Kelechi Iheanacho cars
He has been spotted with three cars: a Range Rover, a BMW 18 worth $260,000, and a Mercedes c300 worth $41,495.
Kelechi Iheanacho house
He has a house in Manchester worth $2.4 million and a mansion in Lagos approximately worth $2.8 million. He also has houses in his home state of Imo and one in his village of Obogwe.
Kelechi Iheanacho personal life – Family, girlfriend, kids
Kelechi Iheancho girlfriend
Kelechi Iheanacho is not romantically involved with anybody although he has been romantically linked by the media to a number of Nigerian celebrities, including two former Big Brother Naija housemates Nina and Khloe.
Kelechi Iheanacho family
His father, Elder James, used to be a building materials trader in Owerri but is now the primary contact and agent of his son when it comes to football deals. The player is represented by a proper agency, however, who runs everything through his father.
Kelechi Iheanacho is the third born in his family and the last son of four siblings comprising three boys and a girl. His sister, who goes by the name ‘Chibless’ is a fashionista and very active on social media.
One of his siblings is a teenager named Chibuike, who was rumoured to be born after his mother’s death. It is unclear whether she died during childbirth or that Kelechi is the father of the boy and the family is covering it up.
His elder brother took after his father’s former business and is now one of the biggest building materials importers in South East Nigeria.
This article was most recently revised and updated 4 months ago
