Emeka Eneli

Chukwuemeka Somto "Emeka" Eneli (born October 18, 1999) is an American soccer player who plays for Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake.

Emeka Eneli
Personal information
Full name Chukwuemeka Somto Eneli
Date of birth (1999-10-18) October 18, 1999
Place of birth Lansing, Michigan, United States
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Full-back
Winger
Forward
Team information
Current team
 Real Salt Lake
Number 25
Youth career
2012–2017 Columbus Crew
2017–2018 Ohio Premier
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2022 Cornell Big Red 60 (20)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019 Lionsbridge 10 (1)
2022 Flint City Bucks 12 (4)
2023– Real Salt Lake 16 (0)
2023– Real Monarchs 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Youth and college

Eneli was born in Lansing, Michigan, but moved to Dublin, Ohio was he was eight years old.[1] He attended Dublin Coffman High School, where he played one year of varsity soccer. He also played soccer with the Columbus Crew academy between 2012 and 2017, before spending a season with Ohio Premier, who he helped to the ENPL national title in 2018 and was named to the ECNL All-American and ECNL All-Midwest teams.[2][3][4]

In 2018, Eneli attended Cornell University graduating in 2022 with a major in Biological Engineering and a minor in Business. He played college soccer, serving as team captain in his junior and senior year. In four seasons with Big Red, including a canceled 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Eneli made 60 appearances, scoring 20 goals and tallying 17 assists. In 2021, Eneli earned All-Ivy League First Team and Second Team United Soccer Coaches Men's Northeast Region honors. 2022 saw Eneli named a Second Team All-American and helped Cornell qualify for the NCAA Sweet Sixteen for the first time in nearly three decades.[2] Eneli earned 2018 Rookie of the Year for the Ivy League Mens Soccer conference. https://cornellbigred.com/news/2018/11/14/eneli-tabbed-ivy-mens-soccer-rookie-of-the-year-four-named-all-league.aspx. Eneli finished the season second in the Ivy League in points (16) and goals (7).

While at college, Eneli also competed in the USL League Two. He spent 2019 with Lionsbridge FC, scoring one goal in ten games.[5] In 2022, he spent the season with Flint City Bucks, making 16 appearances across the regular season and playoffs, netting four goals and adding a single assist.[6]

Following the 2022 season, Eneli was announced as an eligible player in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft.[7]

Professional

On December 22, 2022, Eneli was selected 25th overall in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft by Real Salt Lake.[8][9][10] He officially signed with the Major League Soccer club on March 24, 2023.[11][12][13][14][15] He made his professional debut on March 25, 2023, starting in a 4–0 loss at home to St. Louis City SC.[16][17]

Personal

Eneli holds both American and Nigerian citizenship.[11]

References
  1. Harris, Jonathan (September 17, 2018). "10 Questions With Men's Soccer's Emeka Eneli". The Cornell Daily Sun.
  2. "Emeka Eneli - 2022-23 - Men's Soccer". Cornell University Athletics.
  3. "TBT: The Inaugural ENPL National Champions – Ohio Premier Boys ECNL U18/U19". December 6, 2018.
  4. DIRENNA, FRANK. "Soccer: Ohio Premier 19U boys capture national title". The Columbus Dispatch.
  5. "Lionsbridge FC | uslleaguetwo.com". www.uslleaguetwo.com.
  6. "Flint City Bucks | uslleaguetwo.com". www.uslleaguetwo.com.
  7. "MLS SuperDraft 2023 eligible players | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer.
  8. "RSL Selects Five in 2023 MLS SuperDraft | Real Salt Lake". rsl.
  9. Staff, USLLeagueTwo com (December 22, 2022). "43 players from 2022 League Two season taken in MLS SuperDraft". USL League Two.
  10. "Eneli Selected by Real Salt Lake in 2023 MLS SuperDraft". Cornell University Athletics.
  11. "Real Salt Lake Adds First-Round Pick Emeka Eneli To First-Team Roster | Real Salt Lake". rsl.
  12. "Real Salt Lake sign Emeka Eneli after SuperDraft selection | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer.
  13. Hinkhouse, Madisan (March 24, 2023). "Real Salt Lake Adds Emeka Eneli To First-Team Roster". KSL Sports.
  14. "RSL announces draft pick Emeka Eneli signs with first team". www.wasatch.soccer.
  15. "Eneli Inks MLS Contract With Real Salt Lake". Cornell University Athletics.
  16. "Trio Of RSL Debutants Reflect On Experience | Real Salt Lake". rsl.
  17. "RSLvsSTL 03-25-2023 | Real Salt Lake". rsl.
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