Nelson Ighodaro Abbey (born 28 August 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Rio Ave.[2]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nelson Ighodaro Abbey[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 28 August 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | Reading, England | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Rio Ave | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2020 | Reading | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2024 | Reading | 25 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | Olympiacos | 5 | (0) |
| 2024 | → Swansea City (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2025 | → Rio Ave (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2025– | Rio Ave | 26 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2020 | England U17 | 3 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | England U20 | 5 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 25 May 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 13:27, 27 March 2024 (UTC) | |||
Club career
editReading
editAbbey made his debut for Reading on 15 September 2020 as a substitute in a 1–0 EFL Cup defeat to Luton Town.[3] Abbey signed his first professional contract with Reading on 15 December 2020, until the summer of 2022.[4]
Olympiacos
editOn 24 January 2024, Abbey left Reading to sign for Super League Greece club Olympiacos for an undisclosed fee.[5][6] At the club, Nelson was part of the 2023/24 UEFA Conference League winning side in which the club was able to win in a 1-0 Victory.
Swansea City (loan)
editOn 23 August 2024, Abbey joined EFL Championship club Swansea City on a season-long loan.[7]
Abbey made his debut for the club in a 1-0 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers in the EFL Cup second round on 28 August 2024.[8] On 3 January 2025, Abbey was recalled from his loan spell by Olympiacos, having made one appearance for Swansea City.[9]
Rio Ave (loan - to buy)
editOn 7 January 2025, Abbey joined Primeira Liga club Rio Ave on loan for the remainder of the season. With the deal being permanent the following season. [10]
International career
editAbbey was born in England, but is also of Nigerian and Dutch descent.[11] He was called up to the England under-17 squad in February 2020.[12] He has made three appearances for England at under-17 level.[13]
On 6 October 2023, Abbey was called up to the England U20 team for the first time as a replacement for Reuell Walters.[14]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played 4 January 2026
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Reading | 2020–21[15] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22[16] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2022–23[17] | Championship | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2023–24[18] | League One | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 2[c] | 0 | 26 | 0 | ||
| Total | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | 2 | 0 | 31 | 0 | |||
| Olympiacos | 2023–24 | Super League Greece | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | – | 5 | 0 | ||
| Swansea City (loan) | 2024–25 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 1 | 0 | ||
| Rio Ave (loan) | 2024–25 | Primeira Liga | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 10 | 0 | ||
| Rio Ave | 2025–26 | Primeira Liga | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 13 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 49 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 59 | 0 | ||
- ↑ Includes FA Cup, Taça de Portugal
- ↑ Includes EFL Cup
- ↑ Appearances in EFL Trophy
References
edit- ↑ "Notification of shirt numbers: Reading" (PDF). English Football League. 11 September 2020. p. 58. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ↑ "Swansea City: Nelson Abbey joins Rio Ave after loan cut short". BBC Sport. 7 January 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ↑ Low, Jonathan (16 September 2020). "Paunovic defends team selection as Reading bow out of Carabao Cup". BerkshireLive. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ↑ "Nelson Abbey signs professional contract". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 15 December 2020. Archived from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
- ↑ "NELSON ABBEY JOINS OLYMPIACOS". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ↑ "Ο Νέλσον Άμπι στον Ολυμπιακό". olympiacos.org (in Greek). Olympiacos F.C. 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ↑ "Swansea City complete loan signing of Nelson Abbey | Swansea". www.swanseacity.com. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ↑ "Swansea City vs Wycombe Wanderers: League Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ↑ "Nelson Abbey recalled from Swansea City loan spell | Swansea". www.swanseacity.com. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ↑ "Nelson Abbey reforça defesa do Rio Ave FC" [Nelson Abbey strengthens Rio Ave FC's defense]. rioavefc.pt (in Portuguese). 7 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
- ↑ "2003-Born Center Back Eligible For Nigeria, England, Netherlands, Signs New Reading Deal :: All Nigeria Soccer - The Complete Nigerian Football Portal". www.allnigeriasoccer.com.
- ↑ "Three young Royals receive England U17 call-ups". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ↑ Nelson Abbey at Soccerway. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ↑ "England squad named for Elite League openers". englandfootball.com. England Football. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ↑ "Games played by Nelson Abbey in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ↑ "Games played by Nelson Abbey in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
- ↑ "Games played by Nelson Abbey in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
- ↑ "Games played by Nelson Abbey in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
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