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Raphael Onyedika

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Raphael Onyedika
Onyedika with Nigeria in 2023
Personal information
Full name Raphael Onyedika Nwadike
Date of birth (2001-04-19) 19 April 2001 (age 25)
Place of birth Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Eintracht Frankfurt
Number 25
Youth career
2016–2019 Ebedei
2019–2020 Midtjylland
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2022 Midtjylland 37 (2)
2020–2021 → Fredericia (loan) 28 (3)
2022–2026 Club Brugge 125 (5)
2026– Eintracht Frankfurt 3 (0)
International career‡
2022– Nigeria 26 (3)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Nigeria
Africa Cup of Nations
Runner-up2023 Ivory Coast
Third place2025 Morocco
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:30, 12 September 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 23:10, 10 June 2026 (UTC)

Raphael Onyedika Nwadike MON (// ⓘ; born 19 April 2001) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt and the Nigeria national team.

Club career

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Midtjylland

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Onyedika used to play street football before joining Nigerian club F.C. Ebedei's academy at the age of 15.[1] After three years in Ebedei, Onyedika joined the academy of FC Midtjylland in Denmark, an affiliate club to FC Ebedei, shortly after his 18th birthday.

In his first full season in FC Midtjylland, he impressed in the U19 League and in the UEFA Youth League with his physique, speed and playing style. On 1 July 2020, he signed his first five-year professional contract with the club until June 2025.[2] To gain more experience, Onyedika was loaned out to Midtjylland's affiliate club, Danish 1st Division-side FC Fredericia, on 19 August 2020 for the whole 2020–21 season.[3] Onyedika did well on his loan spell, playing 28 games and scoring three goals. The season went well enough for the Nigerian to be named in TV3 Sport's team of the year in the Danish 1st Division.

Onyedika returned to Midtjylland in the summer 2021 and was promoted to the first team squad.[4] He got his official debut for Midtjylland on 16 July 2021 against Odense Boldklub, the first game of the 2021–22 Danish Superliga, where he was in the starting line-up and played the whole game.[5]

Club Brugge

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On 28 August 2022, Onyedika signed a five-year contract with Club Brugge in Belgium.[6]

Eintracht Frankfurt

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In August 2026, Raphael Onyedika joined Eintracht Frankfurt from Club Brugge in a €9m deal, with add‑ons potentially taking the package to €10m.[7]

International career

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In September 2022, Raphael Onyedika was first called up with the Nigeria national team by coach José Peseiro.[8] He honours his first selection at this gathering on 27 September 2022 in a friendly match against Algeria. He came into play in place of Frank Onyeka in this match lost by the Nigerians (2–1 final score).

On 29 December 2023, he was selected in the list of 25 Nigerian players selected by José Peseiro to compete in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

On 11 December 2025, Onyedika was called up to the Nigeria squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.[9]

Style of play

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Raphael Onyedika is primarily a defensive midfielder, known for his physical strength, ball-winning ability, and tactical discipline. He excels at breaking up opposition play through interceptions and well-timed tackles, while also possessing the composure to retain possession under pressure. His athleticism allows him to cover ground quickly, and he often serves as a shield in front of the defense.[10][11]

Onyedika also contributes to progressive build-up play, demonstrating good passing range and the ability to carry the ball forward. His style has drawn comparisons to classic holding midfielders, combining defensive solidity with transitional play.[12][13]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 12 September 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Midtjylland 2020–21 Danish Superliga 0000000000
2021–22 Danish Superliga 3126111[b]1—484
2022–23 Danish Superliga 60003[c]0—90
Total 3726114100574
Fredericia (loan) 2020–21 Danish 1st Division 28300——283
Club Brugge 2022–23 Belgian Pro League 310207[c]0—400
2023–24 Belgian Pro League 3032017[d]1—494
2024–25 Belgian Pro League 3416010[c]11[e]0522
2025–26 Belgian Pro League 3011010[c]21[e]0423
Total 1255110454201839
Eintracht Frankfurt 2026–27 Bundesliga 3010——40
Career total 193101815952027216
  1. ↑ Includes Danish Cup, Belgian Cup, DFB-Pokal
  2. ↑ Four appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, five appearances in UEFA Europa League, two appearances in UEFA Conference League
  3. 1 2 3 4 Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  5. 1 2 Appearance in Belgian Super Cup

International

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As of match played 10 June 2026[14]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Nigeria 202210
202320
2024111
202552
202670
Total263
Scores and results list Nigeria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Onyedika goal.[14]
List of international goals scored by Raphael Onyedika
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 10 June 2024Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, Nigeria9 Benin1–02–12026 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 30 December 2025Fez Stadium, Fez, Morocco19 Uganda2–03–12025 Africa Cup of Nations
3 3–0

Honours

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FC Midtjylland

Club Brugge

Nigeria

Individual

Orders

References

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  1. ↑ RAPHAEL ONYEDIKA OM DANMARK OG OVERGANGEN TIL SENIORFODBOLD, fcm.dk, 6 July 2021
  2. ↑ FCM binder talentfuld nigerianer til 2025, bold.dk, 1 July 2020
  3. ↑ FC Fredericia tilknytter endnu en spiller fra FC Midtjylland, frdb.dk, 19 August 2020
  4. ↑ FCM rykker seks talenter op på førsteholdet, bold.dk, 18 June 2021
  5. ↑ MIDTJYLLAND VS. OB 1 – 2, Soccerway, 16 July 2021
  6. ↑ "CLUB BRUGGE LANDS RAPHAEL ONYEDIKA". Club Brugge. 28 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  7. ↑ Godwin, Emmanuel (1 August 2026). "Raphael Onyedika Set for Eintracht Frankfurt Move as €10m Deal Reaches Agreement". Softfootball. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "Club Brugge Celebrate Onyedika's First Call-up To Super Eagles". Complete Sports. Lagos, Nigeria. 18 September 2022.
  9. ↑ "Nigeria name star-packed AFCON squad as Osimhen and Lookman lead Super Eagles challenge". Confederation of African Football. 11 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  10. ↑ Nigeria, Guardian (2 January 2026). "Osimhen: 'Onyedika is Nigeria's most underrated player in Morocco'". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  11. ↑ Silas, Don (2 January 2026). "AFCON: 'He's really talented' - Osimhen on Nigeria's most underrated player". Daily Post. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  12. ↑ Sports, Pulse (2 January 2026). "AFCON 2025: Onyedika, Chukwueze star in Group Stage Round 3 Best XI". Pulse Sports Nigeria. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  13. ↑ Mr, Score Nigeria (1 January 2026). "Onyedika selected for AFCON Best XI". Score Nigeria. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  14. 1 2 Raphael Onyedika at National-Football-Teams.com Edit this at Wikidata
  15. ↑ Stevens, Rob (11 February 2024). "Nigeria 1–2 Ivory Coast". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  16. ↑ Stevens, Rob (17 January 2026). "Afcon 2025: Egypt 0-0 Nigeria (2-4 pens) - Super Eagles finish third". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  17. ↑ "Afcon: Ivory Coast and Nigeria players get cash, villas and honours". BBC News. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
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