Maduka Emilio Okoye is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie A club Udinese and the Nigeria national team. Born in Düsseldorf, Germany, he chose to represent Nigeria through his Nigerian father and has become one of the Super Eagles’ leading goalkeepers. His career has taken him from Bayer Leverkusen’s academy to Fortuna Düsseldorf, Sparta Rotterdam, Watford and Udinese.
Maduka Okoye Profile
| Detail | Information |
| Full name | Maduka Emilio Okoye |
| Date of birth | 28 August 1999 |
| Age | 26 |
| Place of birth | Düsseldorf, Germany |
| Nationality | Nigerian, German |
| State of origin | Enugu State |
| Ethnicity | Igbo |
| Height | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) |
| Position | Goalkeeper |
| Preferred foot | Right |
| Current club | Udinese |
| Jersey number | 40 |
| Contract expires | 30 June 2028 |
| Nigeria appearances | 21 |
| Parents | Nigerian father, German mother |
| Partner | Jelicia Westhoff |
| Children | One son |
| Estimated net worth | €1.5–3 million |
Maduka Okoye Profile and Biography
The former Watford goalkeeper was born on 28 August 1999 in Düsseldorf, Germany. His father is Nigerian, and his mother is German, giving him dual nationality from birth. Despite growing up in Germany, Okoye always maintained a close connection with Nigeria through his family and later chose to represent the Super Eagles instead of Germany.
His father comes from Amechi Uwani in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State, while the family belongs to the Igbo ethnic group. Okoye has repeatedly described Nigeria as his father’s country and has said representing the Super Eagles was always his dream. During visits to Enugu, he has toured his father’s childhood home and former primary school.
Standing at 1.98 metres (6 feet 6 inches), Okoye is among Nigeria’s tallest professional goalkeepers. His height, quick reflexes and command of the penalty area have become key strengths throughout his career. He wears the number 40 shirt for Udinese and has established himself as one of the most recognisable Nigerian goalkeepers playing in Europe.
Maduka Okoye Club Career
Maduka Okoye started playing football at a young age in Germany before progressing through several respected academies. His professional journey has taken him across Germany, the Netherlands, England and Italy, where he has continued to develop into an experienced top-flight goalkeeper.
Bayer Leverkusen Academy
Okoye joined Bayer Leverkusen’s academy in 2009 after spending time with Borussia Mönchengladbach’s youth system. During his eight years at Leverkusen, he developed his technical ability and tactical understanding while progressing through the club’s age-group teams. Although he never made a senior appearance for Bayer Leverkusen, the academy laid the foundation for his professional career.
Fortuna Düsseldorf II
In 2017, Okoye left Bayer Leverkusen to join Fortuna Düsseldorf’s youth setup.
He made his senior debut for Fortuna Düsseldorf II on 14 October 2017 against Wuppertaler SV after replacing the injured Max Schijns.
His first senior season proved encouraging. He played five league matches, conceded only one goal and kept four clean sheets. His performances helped Fortuna Düsseldorf II avoid relegation from the Regionalliga West.
During the 2018/19 campaign, Okoye became the club’s first-choice goalkeeper. He made 15 league appearances and continued to gain valuable senior experience despite the team’s mid-table finish.
He remained with Fortuna Düsseldorf II during the 2019/20 season before attracting interest from clubs outside Germany. Across three seasons, he made 34 senior appearances for the reserve team.
Sparta Rotterdam
In July 2020, Okoye completed a free transfer to Dutch Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam.
He quickly established himself as Sparta’s first-choice goalkeeper and impressed throughout the 2020/21 Eredivisie season.
Okoye kept 10 clean sheets in 28 league matches, making numerous important saves that helped Sparta secure a comfortable league finish.
His performances earned him the Sparta Rotterdam Player of the Season award, while several analysts rated him among the league’s best young goalkeepers.
The club rewarded his outstanding displays with a contract extension until 2025 in August 2021.
Across two Eredivisie seasons, Okoye made 58 league appearances and significantly increased his market value, attracting interest from clubs across Europe’s top leagues.
Watford
Premier League side Watford agreed to sign Okoye in November 2021 on a five-and-a-half-year contract.
He officially joined the English club on 1 January 2022 before immediately returning to Sparta Rotterdam on loan for the remainder of the season.
Competition for places limited his opportunities after arriving at Watford.
He made his official debut in the EFL Cup against MK Dons in August 2022 before featuring once in the FA Cup.
Although he never played in the Championship or Premier League for Watford, the move exposed him to one of Europe’s most competitive football environments.
Udinese
Udinese signed Okoye from Watford on 24 August 2023.
The move to Serie A gave him another opportunity to establish himself as a first-choice goalkeeper.
He gradually became Udinese’s regular starter and impressed with his shot-stopping ability, command of aerial balls and composure in possession.
By the end of the 2025/26 Serie A season, Okoye had made 76 league appearances for Udinese while keeping 19 clean sheets.
His performances helped increase his market value to €10 million, the highest valuation of his professional career.
In July 2025, the Italian Football Federation suspended Okoye for two months after ruling that he breached sporting fairness regulations during a Serie A match against Lazio. The investigation cleared him of intentionally fixing the match but found that his conduct violated competition rules.
Despite the suspension, he returned to action and continued as Udinese’s first-choice goalkeeper during the 2025/26 season.
His contract with Udinese runs until 30 June 2028, and he remains one of Nigeria’s highest-rated goalkeepers playing in Europe.
Maduka Okoye International Career and Nigeria Stats
Former Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr first identified Okoye in 2017 while searching for a long-term replacement for Carl Ikeme. Although an initial invitation did not materialise, Okoye continued to impress in club football and remained on Nigeria’s radar.
In February 2019, he expressed his willingness to play for Nigeria during an interview with sports journalist Oma Akatugba. He later received invitations to the Nigeria U23 squad for the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifiers but could not make his debut because of club commitments.
Rohr eventually handed Okoye his first senior call-up for an international friendly against Ukraine before giving him his debut on 13 October 2019 against Brazil. He replaced the injured Francis Uzoho during the match as Nigeria secured a 1-1 draw.
Okoye became Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. He played a key role in the group stage, helping Nigeria record victories over Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau before the team’s elimination in the Round of 16.
Following the tournament, he remained part of Nigeria’s squad for FIFA World Cup qualifiers, AFCON qualifiers and international friendlies. As of June 2026, he has made 21 senior appearances for the Super Eagles.
Maduka Okoye International Statistics
| National Team | Years | Appearances | Goals |
| Nigeria | 2019 | 1 | 0 |
| Nigeria | 2020 | 4 | 0 |
| Nigeria | 2021 | 8 | 0 |
| Nigeria | 2022 | 3 | 0 |
| Nigeria | 2024 | 1 | 0 |
| Nigeria | 2025 | 1 | 0 |
| Nigeria | 2026 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 21 | 0 |
Maduka Okoye Honours and Career Statistics
The Udinese shot-stopper has earned recognition for his performances in both domestic and international football. His breakthrough season at Sparta Rotterdam established him as one of the Eredivisie’s best young goalkeepers and helped secure his move to one of Europe’s top five leagues.
Individual Honours
- Sparta Rotterdam Player of the Season (2020/21)
- Eredivisie Team of the Month (March 2022)
Career Statistics
| Club | Appearances | Goals |
| Fortuna Düsseldorf II | 34 | 0 |
| Jong Sparta | 2 | 0 |
| Sparta Rotterdam | 58 | 0 |
| Watford | 2 | 0 |
| Udinese | 76 | 0 |
| Career Total | 190 | 0 |
During his professional career, Okoye has played in the Regionalliga West, Eredivisie, Championship, Serie A, Coppa Italia, FA Cup, EFL Cup and European play-off competitions. By the end of the 2025/26 season, he had recorded 46 career clean sheets across all senior competitions.
Maduka Okoye Wife, Girlfriend and Son
Maduka Okoye is not married.
He is in a long-term relationship with Jelicia Westhoff, a Dutch model, entrepreneur and former beauty queen. The couple have been together since 2020 and share one son.
Jelicia Westhoff was born in the Netherlands and owns the luxury fashion brand Westhoff Collection. She has also worked as a model and businesswoman.
The couple welcomed their son, Isaiah Emil Okoye, in October 2022.
Their relationship received media attention in late 2024 after Westhoff made allegations against Okoye on social media during a temporary separation. The couple later reconciled and have since appeared together publicly.
Maduka Okoye Salary, Net Worth and Market Value
Maduka Okoye earns an estimated €900,000 per year at Udinese, which works out to approximately €17,300 per week before bonuses. His current contract runs until 30 June 2028.
The German-born goalkeeper’s estimated net worth is between €1.5 million and €3 million. His income comes primarily from football salaries, signing bonuses, sponsorship agreements and endorsement deals, including a partnership with Nike.
Okoye’s transfer market value reached €10 million in May 2026, making it the highest valuation of his professional career.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Maduka Okoye?
Maduka Okoye is 26 years old. He was born on 28 August 1999.
Where was Maduka Okoye born?
He was born in Düsseldorf, Germany.
What is Maduka Okoye’s state of origin?
His family comes from Enugu State, Nigeria.
Which club does Maduka Okoye play for?
He plays for Udinese in Italy’s Serie A.
What position does Maduka Okoye play?
He plays as a goalkeeper.
How tall is Maduka Okoye?
Maduka Okoye is 1.98 metres (6 feet 6 inches) tall.
Is Maduka Okoye married?
No. He is in a long-term relationship with Dutch model Jelicia Westhoff.
Does Maduka Okoye have children?
Yes. He has one son, Isaiah Emil Okoye.
What is Maduka Okoye’s salary?
He earns an estimated €900,000 per year, excluding bonuses.
What is Maduka Okoye’s net worth?
His estimated net worth is between €1.5 million and €3 million.
What is Maduka Okoye’s market value?
His current estimated market value is €10 million.
