Jaden Umeh
Irish association football player (born 2008)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jaden Chidi Umeh (born 18 March 2008) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for the under-23 side of Portuguese Primeira Liga club Benfica. He is a Republic of Ireland youth international.[3]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jaden Chidi Umeh[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 18 March 2008 | ||
| Place of birth | Mahon, Cork, Ireland[2] | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1] | ||
| Positions | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Benfica U23 | ||
| Number | 57 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2023 | Cork City | ||
| 2024– | Benfica | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023–2024 | Cork City | 16 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022–2023 | Republic of Ireland U15 | 13 | (7) |
| 2023–2024 | Republic of Ireland U16 | 9 | (2) |
| 2023–2025 | Republic of Ireland U17 | 25 | (9) |
| 2026– | Republic of Ireland U21 | 2 | (0) |
| 2026– | Republic of Ireland | 1 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 00:15, 11 February 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 18:02, 31 March 2026 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Umeh started his career at Irish club Cork City. He made his senior debut against Bohemians on 3 November 2023, becoming the youngest player ever to play for Cork at the age of just 15 years and 230 days.[4] He later became Cork City's youngest ever goal-scorer in a 1–1 draw with Wexford, aged just 16 years and 14 days.[5][6]
He made 15 appearances and scoring two goals in the League of Ireland in 2024. In August 2024, he signed for Portuguese club Benfica. Cork received compensation from Benfica under FIFA compensation regulations, with further future benefits based on the player's progress.[7][8]
International career
Born in Ireland, Umeh is of Nigerian descent.[9] He has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-15, under-16 and under-17 level.[10] He was named in the squad for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar in November 2025.[11] After impressing at the U17 World Cup, Umeh received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland U21 squad in March 2026.[12]
On 5 May 2026, Umeh received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland senior team for a friendly against Grenada in Murcia, Spain,[13] but he wasn't released by Benfica since the game fell outside of the FIFA international window.[14]
Personal life
He is from Mahon, Cork.[2] He is the brother of professional footballer Franco Umeh who plays in England for Portsmouth.[15][16]
