4
Nedum Onuoha *
Loaned to Sunderland for 2010/11.
Position
Defender
Height (ft)
6'0"
Date of birth
12 November 1986
Weight (st)
14.13
Place of birth
Warri, Nigeria
International caps / goals
0 / 0
A former star junior from the Academy, Nedum signed his first professional contract with the Blues in November 2004 when he turned 18.
The deal came just weeks after he made his full debut in the 2-1 Carling Cup defeat at the hands of Arsenal.
Onuoha made his first start in the top flight in the win over Portsmouth in November of that year playing at right-back in place of the suspended Danny Mills.
He earned an international call up to the England U-20s for their friendly against Russia at the Valley and scored in the opening five minutes of the game.
Onuoha was called into England Under-21 squad in the 2005/06 season and made his debut for that side as a substitute against Poland.
Since then he’s been a permanent fixture in City’s first team squad and at Under 21 level for England. He has signed a contract that will keep him with the Blues until 2011.
Thigh and knee injuries restricted the defender’s availability at the start of Mark Hughes’ reign in 2008/09, but after regaining full fitness he established himself as first choice clocking up 20 Premier League starts. His reward for an excellent season was a new, five-year contract, signed in July 2009.
Nedum found his opportunities restricted in 2009-10, first under Hughes and then his successor Roberto Mancini, and he started only seven matches, including a memorable man-of-the-match scoring performance against Birmingham.
