Emmanuel Ekong (born 25 June 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as a

forward Forward is a relative direction, the opposite of backward. Forward may also refer to: People * Forward (surname) Sports * Forward (association football) * Forward (basketball), including: ** Point forward ** Power forward (basketball) ** Sm ...

for Croatian club Istra 1961 on loan from the Italian club club

Empoli Empoli () is a town and ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Florence, Tuscany, Italy, about southwest of Florence, to the south of the Arno in a plain formed by the river. The plain has been usable for agriculture since Roman times. The comm ...

. Born in Italy to Nigerian parents, he is a Sweden youth international.

Club career

As a youth player, Ekong joined the youth academy of Swedish seventh tier side

Bollstanäs SK Bollstanäs SK is a Swedish football club located in Upplands Väsby in Stockholm County. Background Bollstanäs Sportklubb was formed in May 1922 and is one of the largest sports clubs in the Greater Stockholm area running a total of 93 teams (8 ...

. in 2015, he joined the youth academy of IF Brommapojkarna in the Swedish second tier. In 2018, he joined the youth academy of Italian Serie A club

. On 5 September 2022, Ekong debuted for

during a 2–2 draw with Salernitana. In January 2023, Ekong signed for Serie B club Perugia on loan until the end of the season. On 8 September 2023, Ekong joined Istra 1961 in Croatia on loan with an option to buy.

International career

Born in Italy to Nigerian parents and raised in Sweden, Ekong is eligible to represent Nigeria, Italy and Sweden. He has represented the Sweden U19 team five times, scoring one goal.

Personal life

Ekong is the son of Nigeria international

Prince Ikpe Ekong Prince Ikpe Ekong (born 5 October 1978) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He is best remembered for representing Reggiana, Shenyang Ginde, Xiamen Lanshi, GAIS, and Djurgårdens IF during his career. A f ...

References

External links

* * Living people 2002 births Footballers from Reggio Emilia Swedish men's footballers Sweden men's youth international footballers Italian men's footballers Swedish people of Nigerian descent Italian people of Nigerian descent Italian emigrants to Sweden Men's association football forwards Serie A players Serie B players Empoli FC players AC Perugia Calcio players NK Istra 1961 players Swedish expatriate men's footballers Expatriate men's footballers in Croatia Swedish expatriate sportspeople in Croatia {{Sweden-footy-bio-stub