Footballer (born 2004)
Luca Koleosho
Full name
Luca Warrick Daeovie Koleosho[ 1] Date of birth
(2004-09-15 ) 15 September 2004 (age 20) [ 1] Place of birth
Norwalk, Connecticut , U.S. Height
1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[ 1] Position(s)
Winger Current team
Burnley Number
30 2011–2012
Trumbull United 2012–2016
Manhattan Kickers 2016–2020
Reus 2020–2022
Espanyol Years
Team
Apps
(Gls ) 2022–2023
Espanyol B
14
(2) 2022–2023
Espanyol
5
(1) 2023–
Burnley
39
(3) 2019
United States U15
4
(0) 2023
Italy U19
7
(0) 2023
Italy U20
2
(0) 2023–
Italy U21
2
(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:09, 18 January 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 October 2023
Luca Warrick Daeovie Koleosho (born September 15, 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as a left winger or forward for EFL Championship club Burnley . Born in the United States , he is currently a youth international for Italy.
Early life
Koleosho began playing with his local soccer club Trumbull United at the age of 7.[ 2] Afterwards, he played for the Manhattan Kickers from age 7 to 11.[ 3] After two trips to Spain with the Kickers, his parents decided to help him develop in Spain.[ 2] [ 4] In 2016, he joined the youth academy of Reus , before moving to the Espanyol youth system in 2020.[ 5] [ 6] Working his way up their youth sides, he signed his first professional contract with Espanyol on June 2, 2021, keeping him at the club for 3 additional seasons.[ 7] In 2022, he helped the Espanyol U19 reach the Copa del Rey Juvenil final, where they were defeated by Real Madrid .[ 8]
Club career
Espanyol
He debuted at the senior level with Espanyol B in the fourth tier Segunda División RFEF during the 2021–22 season.[ 8] He made his first start on October 8, 2022, and scored his first goal against RCD Mallorca B .[ 9] [ 10]
He made his first team debut with Espanyol in a 0–0 La Liga tie with Granada on May 22, 2022, coming as a late substitute in the 90th minute.[ 11] Koleosho scored his first goal for the senior side in Espanyol's final match of the 2022–23 La Liga season against Almería , netting the third goal for his club in a 3–3 draw on June 4, 2023.[ 12] [ 13]
Burnley
On July 25, 2023, Koleosho joined Premier League side Burnley for a transfer fee of £2.6m, plus £860,000 in add-ons, signing a four-year deal with the club.[ 14] [ 15] [ 16] He made his debut for the Clarets on August 11, starting in a 3–0 league defeat to Manchester City .[ 17] On December 2, he scored his first Premier League goal in a 5–0 victory over Sheffield United .[ 18] [ 19]
International career
Koleosho is eligible to represent the United States, Canada, Nigeria, and Italy, as he was born and raised in the United States to a Nigerian father and an Italian-Canadian mother.[ 20]
United States
In August 2019, Koleosho appeared with the United States U15 team, making four appearances.[ 21] [ 22]
In April 2022, Koleosho was called up to a United States under-20 training camp in Carson, California .[ 23] After his call-up to Canada's senior side in June 2022, Koleosho confirmed he had not closed the door on representing the United States.[ 8]
Canada
Koleosho was called up to the Canada senior national team for a friendly and two CONCACAF Nations League matches in June 2022.[ 24] He departed the camp after the cancellation of the Iran friendly and the subsequent cancellation of the replacement Panama friendly.[ 25] In September 2022, Koleosho was re-called to Canada ahead of friendlies against Qatar and Uruguay .[ 26] [ 27] In May 2023, Koleosho was listed on the Canada preliminary rosters for the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals .[ 28]
Italy
In March 2023, Koleosho accepted a call-up to the Italy under-19 national team , joining a training camp in preparation to the Elite round of the qualifications to the 2023 UEFA European Under-19 Championship .[ 29] He was subsequently included in the 20-men squad that took part in the aforementioned round.[ 30] [ 31] He debuted with them as a late substitute in a 0–0 friendly tie with Slovenia U19 on March 25.[ 32]
In June 2023, he was included in the Italian squad for the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Malta ,[ 33] where the Azzurrini eventually won their second continental title.[ 34] [ 35]
On November 21, 2023, he made his debut for the Italian under-21 national team in a 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying match against the Republic of Ireland .[ 36]
Career statistics
As of match played 17 January 2025
Honours
Italy U19
References
^ a b c d e f g Luca Koleosho at Soccerway
^ a b Sciaretta, Brian (November 30, 2021). "Luca Koleosho progressing at Espanyol, aiming for big steps in 2022" . American Soccer Now .
^ Kloke, Joshua (September 22, 2022). "Luca Koleosho's Canada role could progress like his career has: quickly" . The Athletic .
^ "Alumni Updates" . Manhattan Kickers .
^ Vertelney, Seth (May 27, 2022). "Who is Luca Koleosho? Teenage La Liga debutant in tug-of-war between USMNT and Canada" . Pro Soccer Wire .
^ Gangué-Ruzic, Alexandre (May 26, 2022). "Who is Luca Koleosho? A deep dive on the CanMNT's newest call-up" . OneSoccer .
^ "Luca Warrick renova tres temporades" [Luca Warrick renews for three seasons]. RCD Espanyol (in Spanish).
^ a b c Marsden, Sam; Llorens, Moises (May 26, 2022). "Luca Koleosho hasn't closed the door on USMNT despite Canada call-up – source" . ESPN .
^ Fanio, Carlos (October 8, 2022). "RCD Mallorca B – Espanyol B: Victoria corta para un filial muy maduro (0–2)" [RCD Mallorca B – Espanyol B: Short victory for a very mature subsidiary (0–2)]. La Grada Online (in Spanish). Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022 .
^ Fanio, Carlos (October 25, 2022). "Luca Koleosho sigue arrastrando molestias en el tobillo" [Luca Koleosho continues to drag discomfort in the ankle]. La Grada Online (in Spanish). Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022 .
^ Wassink, Zac. "Luca Koleosho could still join USMNT despite Canada call-up?" . MSN .
^ "FLASH – Puado i Koleosho" . Espanyol . June 5, 2023.
^ "3–3: Empat a l'RCDE Stadium" . Espanyol . June 4, 2023.
^ "Luca Koleosho: Burnley sign Espanyol winger for £2.6m" . BBC Sport . July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023 .
^ Molero, Iván (July 25, 2023). "Oficial: Koleosho, al Burnley" . Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved December 3, 2023 .
^ "KOLEOSHO IS A CLARET!" . Burnley FC . July 25, 2023. Retrieved December 3, 2023 .
^ McNulty, Phil (August 11, 2023). "Haaland scores twice as Man City beat Burnley" . BBC Sport . Retrieved December 3, 2023 .
^ Hafez, Shamoon (December 2, 2023). "Burnley thrash Sheff Utd to move off bottom" . BBC Sport . Retrieved December 3, 2023 .
^ "Primo gol in Premier League per Luca Koleosho: VIDEO" . Sky Sport (in Italian). December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 3, 2023 .
^ Davidson, Neil (September 25, 2022). "Teenager Luca Koleosho has international options, but enjoys time in Canada's camp" . Toronto Star .
^ "U.S.-Born Espanyol Winger Luca Koleosho Accepts Canada Call-Up" . Sports Bonanza . May 27, 2022.
^ "U.S. U-15 Boys National Team roster announced for Italy trip" . Soccer Wire . April 23, 2019.
^ "Varas calls 22 players for U-20 men's youth national training camp in Carson, Calif" . US Soccer Federation .
^ Becherano, Lizzy (May 27, 2022). "Luca Koleosho accepts CanMNT call-up – but remains eligible for USMNT" . 90min . Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022 .
^ Galindo, Peter. "Canadian men's team players still seeking transparency as they prepare for Curacao" . Sportsnet .
^ "Luca Koleosho y Nabil, convocados con sus selecciones" [Luca Koleosho and Nabil called up with their national teams]. RCD Espanyol (in Spanish). September 25, 2022.
^ "Uncapped Waterman, Koleosho head to CanMNT" . TSN . September 20, 2022.
^ "CONCACAF drops stacked Canada preliminary Nations League roster with some surprise names" . Canada Soccer Daily . May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023 .
^ "I convocati del raduno prima della partenza per la fase élite in Germania" [The squad for the rally before the departure for the elite stage in Germany]. FIGC (in Italian). February 2, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023 .
^ "Fase élite. A caccia dell'Europeo: lunedì partenza per Brema. I 20 Azzurrini convocati da Bollini" [Elite stage. Hunting for the European Championship: Monday departure for Bremen. The 20 players called up by Bollini]. FIGC (in Italian). March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023 .
^ Distaso, Andrea (March 29, 2023). "Quattro passaporti, tre nazionali, un futuro tra Under 19 e mercato: Italia, ecco Koleosho" [Four passports, three national teams, a future between the Under 19s and the transfer market: Italy, here is Koleosho]. Calcio Mercato (in Italian).
^ Herman, Rose (March 26, 2023). "Luca Koleosho and his unique record" . Today Times Live .
^ "Bollini sceglie i 20 Azzurrini per l'Europeo. Domani mattina partenza per Malta" . Italian Football Federation (in Italian). June 29, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023 .
^ a b "Portugal 0–1 Italy: Kayode heads resilient Azzurrini to second Under-19 title" . UEFA.com . UEFA. July 16, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023 .
^ a b Scognamiglio, Pietro (July 16, 2023). "Gli azzurrini trionfano: campioni d'Europa Under 19. Battuto il Portogallo" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved July 17, 2023 .
^ Torrisi, Antonio (November 21, 2023). "Irlanda-Italia Under 21 2–2, cronaca, tabellino e voti: pari in extremis, Azzurrini ancora in testa" . Goal.com (in Italian). Retrieved December 3, 2023 .
External links