Obinna Nwobodo

FC Cincinnati have acquired midfielder Obinna Nwobodo from Göztepe S.K. of the Turkish Süper Lig via transfer on April 13, 2022. The club signed Nwobodo to a contract through the 2024 season, with a club option for 2025. Nwobodo joined the club as a Designated Player and occupy an international roster spot.

2023 (FC Cincinnati): Made 30 starts in 30 appearances in his second season in MLS with the club and was third on the team in minutes played (2,587) … scored his first two career goals and added a career-high five assists across regular season play … scored the first goal of his career in the season opener victory against Houston Dynamo FC, a game sealing solo shot that secured the 2-1 season opener for the Orange and Blue, the clubs first opening day win … started in two-of-the-three MLS Cup Playoff matches, with a full 90 minutes in the 3-0 win over the New York Red Bulls … started and played full minutes in four-of-five US Open Cup matches for the club. 

2022 (FC Cincinnati): Made 24 appearances, including 23 starts, in his first season in MLS, adding two assists as a defensive midfield staple for the Orange and Blue … made his debut off the bench, playing the final 23 minutes against Toronto FC on April 30 to help secure a 2-1 road win … from there, started every game he appeared in the rest of the season, and was only subbed off twice the rest of the way … recorded his first assist on August 13 against Atlanta United FC in a 2-2 draw … tallied an assist in the final home match of the year against Chicago Fire FC … ranked fourth in MLS in tackles (100).

OUTSIDE MLS: Arrived from Göztepe, where he made 62 appearances across all competitions since arriving in Turkey in September 2020 … at time of signing with FCC, ranked first in the Turkish Süper Lig in tackles (121), ball recoveries (432), and pressures (772) in 2022 … prior to his time in the Süper Lig, Nwobodo made 114 appearances with Újpest FC in Hungary’s NB I, the country’s top flight … with Újpest, he scored 15 goals and added 22 assists in four seasons … began his professional career in his hometown of Enugu, Nigeria with Rangers FC in 2015, and in his first season with the club, he scored seven goals, contributed 10 assists, and was named the club’s Player of the Year en route to the club’s first league title in 32 years … competed at the youth international level for Nigeria, representing the Super Eagles at the CAF U20 Championship in 2015 … scored a crucial goal in the semifinal against Ghana as the U20 Nigerian squad won their seventh title.