Armstrong Inya Echezolachuku Oko-Flex (born 2 March 2002) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Swiss Super League club FC Zürich and the Republic of Ireland under-21 national team.
 Oko-Flex with West Ham United in 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Armstrong Inya Echezolachuku Oko-Flex[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 2 March 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | FC Zürich | ||
| Number | 22 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2007–2009 | Tolka Rovers | ||
| 2009–2013 | St Kevin's Boys | ||
| 2013–2018 | Arsenal | ||
| 2018–2021 | Celtic | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021 | Celtic | 2 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | West Ham United | 0 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | → Swansea City (loan) | 13 | (0) |
| 2023– | FC Zürich | 17 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2017 | Republic of Ireland U16 | 2 | (0) |
| 2018 | England U16 | 5 | (1) |
| 2019 | Republic of Ireland U19 | 1 | (0) |
| 2023– | Republic of Ireland U21 | 5 | (4) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 May 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17:03, 11 June 2024 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Oko-Flex was born in Dublin and started out playing with a local academy, Tolka Rovers, then St Kevin's Boys before being spotted by Arsenal scout Liam Brady, who had also come through the St Kevin's, with Oko-Flex then signing for the London club.[2] He joined Celtic on a three-year deal from Arsenal in September 2018.[3] He made his first team debut for the club as a substitute against Hibernian in January 2021.[4]
West Ham United
On 25 June 2021, Oko-Flex joined West Ham United on a two-year contract with an option for a third year.[5]
On 16 August 2021, Oko-Flex scored a hat-trick in his Premier League 2 debut against his boyhood club Arsenal in a 6–1 home win.[6] On 15 December 2021, Oko-Flex was an unused substitute for West Ham's Premier League fixture at the Emirates Stadium, a match won 2–0 by Arsenal.[7] This was the first time he had made a first-team squad for the club. Oko-Flex made his debut for West Ham United on 25 August 2022 coming on as an 82nd minute substitute for Manuel Lanzini in a 3–0 away win against Viborg in the second leg of a play-off round game in the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League.[8][9]He left the club at the end of the 2022-23 season. He made one first team appearance, in the UEFA Europa Conference League Play-Off round and featured on 35 occasions for the U21 side scoring 14 goals.[10]
Swansea City (loan)
On 30 August 2022, Oko-Flex joined Swansea City on loan for the remainder of the 2022-23 season.[11] He was recalled from his loan in January 2023.[12]
FC Zürich
On 14 August 2023, he signed a two-year contract with Swiss Super League club FC Zürich.[13][14] On 17 September 2023, he scored on his debut for the club, in a 3–0 win away to FC Tuggen in the Swiss Cup.[15]
International career
Oko-Flex was called up to the Republic of Ireland U21 squad for the first time in November 2021, for their 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers against Italy & Sweden.[16][17] Oko-Flex made his Republic of Ireland U21 debut on 16 June 2023, in a 2–2 draw with Ukraine U21 in a friendly played in Bad Blumau, Austria.[18] On 13 October 2023, he scored both of his sides goals in a 2–1 win away to Latvia U21.[19]
Career statistics
- As of match played 17 May 2024[20]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Celtic | 2019–20 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2020–21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | ||
| West Ham United U21 | 2021–22 | — | — | — | 2[b] | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||||
| West Ham United | 2022–23 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[c] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Swansea City (loan) | 2022–23 | Championship | 13 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 13 | 0 | ||
| FC Zürich | 2023–24 | Swiss Super League | 17 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 20 | 3 | ||
| Career total | 32 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 40 | 5 | ||
Personal life
Oko-Flex is the son of the Nigerian-Irish community organiser Reginald Oko-Flex Inya.[21]
References
External links
- Armstrong Oko-Flex at Soccerway