Blessing Eleke
Nigerian footballer (born 1996)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blessing Eleke (born 5 March 1996) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Maltese Premier League club Hamrun Spartans. He previously played for Gorica, Olimpija Ljubljana, Ashdod, Luzern, Beerschot, Gençlerbirligi, Kashima Antlers, Istiklol, Partizani Tirana and Kazincbarcika.
|
Eleke playing for Kazincbarcika in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Blessing Chibuike Eleke | ||
| Date of birth | 5 March 1996 | ||
| Place of birth | Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Hamrun Spartans | ||
| Number | 30 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2014 | Flying Sports Academy | ||
| 2014 | Gorica | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2014–2015 | Gorica | 37 | (15) |
| 2016–2017 | Olimpija Ljubljana | 43 | (10) |
| 2017–2018 | Ashdod | 27 | (4) |
| 2018–2020 | Luzern | 58 | (17) |
| 2020–2022 | Beerschot | 22 | (1) |
| 2021–2022 | → Gençlerbirligi SK (loan) | 24 | (7) |
| 2022–2023 | Kashima Antlers | 6 | (1) |
| 2024 | Istiklol | 10 | (6) |
| 2025 | Partizani Tirana | 10 | (3) |
| 2025 | Kazincbarcika | 6 | (0) |
| 2026– | Hamrun Spartans | 5 | (2) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16 March 2026 | |||
Professional career
Early life and career
Eleke grew up in Lagos with his three brothers and four sisters.[2] He started playing football at Flying Sports Academy in his home country, before having an unsuccessful trial at Serie A club Sassuolo.[2] Later on, he admitted that the transition from Nigeria to Europe was a difficult task to handle at the beginning.[2]
Slovenia
Eleke signed for Olimpija Ljubljana in January 2016 for a reported fee of €750,000.[3] On 10 April 2016, in a league fixture versus Zavrč, Olimpija's manager Nikolić reportedly called Eleke a "black idiot", for elaborately celebrating an injury-time equalizer in an eventual 1–1 draw.[4] Nikolić's contract was eventually terminated by mutual consent on 18 April 2016.,[5][6] although Eleke asked club president Milan Mandarić not to sack the manager.[7] Eleke revealed that, although he considered leaving the club, he did not want to see his coach sacked, as he did not believe in eye for an eye.[3]
Israel and Switzerland
In August 2017, Eleke transferred to Israeli Premier League club Ashdod for a reported fee of €800,000.[8] On 27 July 2018, Eleke signed a four-year contract with Swiss Super League club FC Luzern for a reported fee of approximately 1 million Swiss francs.[2][9] After being cleared to play for Luzern,[10] he managed to score on his debut, helping his club get past Lugano 4–2.[11]
Gençlerbirligi SK
On 1 September 2021, Eleke was loaned out to Turkish club Gençlerbirligi SK for the rest of the season.
Kashima Antlers
On 1 August 2022, Kashima Antlers confirmed an agreement with K Beerschot VA for him to join on a complete transfer, becoming one of the few Nigerian footballers to play in Japan.[12] Eleke only made 6 appearances for the club over two seasons and was released from the club when his contract expired at the end of the 2023 season.[13]
Istiklol
On 21 March 2024, Tajikistan Higher League club Istiklol announced the signing of Eleke to a one-year contract.[14] On 20 April, Eleke scored a Hattrick for Istiklol in their 6-0 victory over Kuktosh Rudaki in the Tajikistan Higher League.[15]
Partizani Tirana
On 23 January 2025, Partizani Tirana announced the signing of Eleke.[16]
Kazincbarcika
On 10 September 2025, Nemzeti Bajnokság I club Kazincbarcikai SC announced the signing of Eleke.[17] On 18 November 2025, Kazincbarcikai announced that Eleke had left the club.[18]
Hamrun Spartans
On 4 February 2026, Maltese Premier League club Hamrun Spartans announced the signing of Eleke.[19]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 15 March 2026 [20]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Gorica | 2014–15 | Slovenian PrvaLiga | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 2[a] | 0 | 19 | 3 | ||
| 2015–16 | 19 | 12 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 20 | 12 | |||||
| Total | 36 | 15 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | 39 | 15 | ||
| Olimpija Ljubljana | 2015–16 | Slovenian PrvaLiga | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 12 | 3 | |||
| 2016–17 | 30 | 5 | 5 | 1 | - | 2[b] | 2 | - | 37 | 7 | ||||
| 2017–18 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | 2[c] | 0 | - | 5 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 45 | 10 | 5 | 1 | - | - | 4 | 2 | - | - | 54 | 12 | ||
| Ashdod | 2017–18 | Israeli Premier League | 27 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 31 | 6 | ||
| Luzern | 2018–19 | Swiss Super League | 32 | 13 | 4 | 2 | - | 2[c] | 0 | - | 38 | 15 | ||
| 2019–20 | 26 | 4 | 2 | 1 | - | 4[c] | 0 | - | 32 | 5 | ||||
| Total | 58 | 17 | 6 | 3 | - | - | 6 | 0 | - | - | 70 | 20 | ||
| Beerschot | 2020–21 | Belgian Pro League | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 21 | 1 | |||
| 2021–22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 23 | 1 | ||
| Gençlerbirliği (loan) | 2021–22 | TFF First League | 24 | 7 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 24 | 7 | |||
| Kashima Antlers | 2022 | J1 League | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 4 | 1 | |||
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | 1 | ||
| Istiklol | 2024[21] | Tajikistan Higher League | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | - | 0[d] | 0 | 1[e] | 1 | 11 | 7 | |
| Partizani Tirana | 2024–25 | Kategoria Superiore | 10 | 3 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | 12 | 3 | |||
| Kazincbarcika | 2025–26 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | 8 | 2 | |||
| Hamrun Spartans | 2025–26 | Maltese Premier League | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 1[f] | 0 | 7 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 249 | 66 | 22 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 285 | 77 | ||
- Appearances and goals in the PrvaLiga play-off
- Appearances and goals in the UEFA Champions League
- Appearances and goals in the UEFA Europa League
- Appearances and goals in the AFC Champions League Two
- Appearances and goals in the Tajik Supercup
- Appearance in the Maltese Super Cup
