Ike Orji
Personal information
Full name Ikechukwu Sunny Smart Orji[1]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Welling United
(on loan from Gillingham)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2023 Chatham Town 53 (2)
2023– Gillingham 1 (0)
2023 → Chatham Town (loan) 13 (0)
2023– → Welling United (loan) 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:31, 5 December 2023 (UTC)

Ikechukwu Sunny Smart Orji is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Welling United on loan from EFL League Two club Gillingham.

Career

Orji began his career with Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division club Chatham Town, joining League One club Gillingham on trial in March 2021.[2] He was a part of the Chatham squad that were promoted as runners-up from the 2021–22 SCEFL Premier Division.[3]

In January 2023, Orji attracted interest from League Two clubs Crawley Town and Gillingham,[4] joining the latter on 9 February, returning to Chatham Town on loan until the end of the season.[5] Following his return to the club, he played a key role as the club achieved back-to-back promotions as Isthmian League South East Division Champions.[6]

In October 2023, he made his first-team professional debut for Gillingham, featuring in a 5–1 EFL Trophy defeat to Portsmouth,[7] making his first league appearance eleven days later.[8][9] On 4 December 2023, he joined National League South club Welling United on an initial one-month loan deal.[10]

Career statistics

As of match played 21 October 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Chatham Town 2022–23[11] Isthmian League South East Division 18130—1[lower-alpha 1]0221
Gillingham 2022–23 League Two 0000000000
2023–24[12] League Two 1000001[lower-alpha 2]020
Total 1000001020
Chatham Town (loan) 2022–23[11] Isthmian League South East Division 13000—00130
Career total 321300020371
  1. ↑ Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  2. ↑ Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

References

  1. ↑ "SQUAD LIST 2023/24 & U21 REGISTERED CONTRACT PLAYERS" (PDF). EFL. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  2. ↑ "Chatham Town youngster joins Gillingham on Trial". www.scefl.com. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  3. ↑ Cawdell, Luke (9 April 2022). "Chatham Town thrash Erith & Belvedere 10-1 to clinch promotion to the Isthmian League". Kent Online. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  4. ↑ Dunford, Mark (31 January 2023). "Transfer Deadline Day: Crawley Town and Gillingham 'in battle' for 'the next Aaron Wan-Bissaka'". Sussex Express. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  5. ↑ "Ike Orji signs for Gills". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  6. ↑ "Chats Take The Title!". www.isthmian.co.uk. 16 April 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  7. ↑ "Report | Portsmouth 5–1 Gillingham". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  8. ↑ "Gillingham 1–2 Notts County". BBC Sport. 21 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  9. ↑ Cawdell, Luke (23 October 2023). "Ike Orji makes Football League debut for Gillingham against Notts County, eight months after joining from Isthmian League side Chatham Town". Kent Online. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  10. ↑ @wellingunited (4 December 2023). "✍️ Some pre-match news... Welling United are delighted to welcome defender Ike Orji on an initial one-month loan from @TheGillsFC. Welcome to the Wings, Ike! 🤝 #WeAreWings🪽" (Tweet). Retrieved 5 December 2023 – via Twitter.
  11. 1 2 "Chatham Town – Appearances – Ike Orji – 2022-2023". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  12. ↑ "Games played by Ike Orji in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 October 2023.


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