Nigerian descent, Jeff Ekhator, is up in a competition with Mario Balotelli for a starting spot in Genoa’s attacking line following the latter’s arrival at the club last week, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The 17-year-old has been having a splendid run with the side since the start of this season, starting two of his nine appearances with a goal in the kitty.
He has been basking in European prominence, with Ballon d’Or Young Player of the Year winner Yamine Lamal the only player younger than Ekhator to have scored and provided an assist in the 5 major European leagues.
The arrival of the maverick Balotelli means Ekhator needs to double his effort, as underscored in Monday’s Serie A trip to Parma, where he was pulled off four minutes from regulation time for the former Manchester City striker in the Game Week 11 fixture at Stadio Ennio Tardini.
A typical Genoa product, Ekhator, who was promoted to the first team in the summer, has only one goal to his name, recorded in their 5-1 defeat to Atalanta in a Game Week 7 fixture at Gewiss Stadium, Bergamo, on October 5.
Born in Genoa, Italy, to Nigerian parents, Ekhator started playing football at Don Bosco, a grassroots club based in the Sampierdarena area of Genoa. After being noticed by the scouts of Sampdoria, Virtus Entella, and Genoa, he joined the latter club’s youth academy at the age of eight. He then came through the Rossoblu’s youth ranks, as he eventually featured both for the under-18 and under-19 teams during the 2023–24 season, helping the former side win the national title.
He started training with Genoa’s first team during their pre-season camp under manager Alberto Gilardino and made his professional debut for the club, coming on as a substitute in the 84th minute of a 1–0 win over Reggiana in the first round of the Coppa Italia on August 9, 2024.
He made his Serie A debut on August 17, coming on for Milan Badelj in the 86th minute of a 2–2 league draw with Inter Milan.
The teenage sensation can represent either Italy or Nigeria for his international football, and being currently uncapped at any level by his country of birth means he can turn out for his country-of-origin, Nigeria.