Nigerian-heritage centre-back Chetam Ezenwata has officially completed a move to Brighton & Hove Albion, joining from Charlton Athletic as the promising defender begins an exciting new chapter in his development.
The talented centre-back is set to compete with Brighton’s U18 side in the club’s Premier League youth setup, giving him the opportunity to test himself against some of the best young players in English football.
Ezenwata arrives at Brighton after an outstanding campaign with Charlton Athletic, where his performances earned him the prestigious Academy Player of the Season award.
His impressive development has also seen him represent Team Nigeria at the Bayern Youth Cup in Germany, where he played an important role as the team went on to lift the trophy.
The move to Brighton is therefore another significant step for a defender whose progress has continued to attract attention.
The signing was made even more special by the presence of Ezenwata’s family, who were there to witness the youngster put pen to paper on his new chapter.
Among those celebrating was his elder brother Chizzy Ezenwata, who is also pursuing a career in English football with Chelsea’s U18 and U21 sides.
Speaking after completing the move, Chetam said:
“This is a very special moment for me and my family. I’ve worked hard to reach this point, but I know the real work starts now. I’m looking forward to learning, competing and becoming a better player at Brighton. I want to make the most of every opportunity and continue making my family proud.”
For Brighton, the arrival of Ezenwata adds another exciting young defender to their academy pathway, while for the Nigerian football community, his progress represents another promising connection between Nigerian heritage and elite youth football in England.
From Charlton’s academy to Brighton’s U18 setup, Ezenwata now has a fresh opportunity to develop his game and take another step towards his long-term ambition of reaching professional football.
With his family behind him, a major academy award already on his CV and a youth tournament trophy in Germany, the young centre-back now begins another important chapter on England’s south coast.
The journey continues for Chetam Ezenwata.
