Chituru
Odunze

National Team: With an imposing 6-8 frame, he will provide the USA with a quality option between the sticks at the World Cup … Played for the USA at September’s 4 Nations Tournament in the Netherlands … Helped the USA qualify for a record 17th FIFA U-17 World Cup at the 2019 Concacaf U-17 Championship, starting two matches … Recorded a shutout vs. Barbados … Brings a 0.67 goals against average this year into the World Cup … Kept a clean sheet vs. Turkey at the 2018 Nike International Friendlies … Represented the U.S. at October 2018’s U17 International Youth Tournament in England … Made his international debut vs. Costa Rica in August 2018 … Earned his first Youth National Team call-up with the U-17 MNT at a June 2018 domestic training camp in Bradenton, Fla. … Also eligible to represent Canada, England and Nigeria at the international level.

Professional: Transferred to Leicester City on Aug. 1, 2019 … Announced as a Homegrown Player by Vancouver Whitecaps FC on that same day.

Youth: Has made four appearances with Leicester City U-18 this season … Played with the Vancouver Whitecaps in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy from U-15 to U-17 … Earned Goalkeeper of the Tournament honors at this year’s GA Cup … Spent U-14-15 at Calgary Foothills FC, U-14 at Calgary Blizzards SC and U-13 at Calgary Villains FC … Played U-9 to U-12 with Chelsea in England … Kicked off his youth soccer career with Royal Greenwich JFC from U-8 to U-9, Thames Moorings JFC at U-7 and Kingfishers JFC at U-6 … Started playing soccer at age five.

Personal: Full name is Chituru Ethan Odunze … Nicknamed C or Big C … Mom and dad own a chain of medical clinics in Calgary … Mom is a family physician and dad is a retired chemist and university lecturer … Older brother Eddie and older sister Adanna are studying to become doctors … Enjoys playing basketball, listening to and making music … Describes himself on the field as “versatile, calm, powerful” … Describes himself off the field as “charismatic, loud, sociable” … Favorite soccer player is Edwin Van Der Sar … Lists his dad as his biggest athletic inspiration … Greatest soccer moment thus far was signing his first pro contract for Leicester City … Favorite movies are the Rush Hour trilogy, favorite TV show is The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air … Loves playing FIFA … Favorite musical artist is Michael Jackson … Loves eating his mom’s homemade jollof rice.