Haji Wright

Haji Wright
Wright with Antalyaspor in 2021
Personal information
Full name Haji Amir Wright[1]
Date of birth (1998-03-27) March 27, 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Los Angeles, California, United States
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1]
Position(s) Forward, winger
Team information
Current team
 Coventry City
Number 11
Youth career
2012–2015 LA Galaxy
2016–2017 Schalke 04
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015 New York Cosmos 3 (0)
2017–2019 Schalke 04 II 22 (14)
2017–2019 Schalke 04 7 (1)
2017–2018 → SV Sandhausen (loan) 15 (1)
2019–2020 VVV-Venlo 22 (0)
2020–2022 SønderjyskE 29 (11)
2021–2022 → Antalyaspor (loan) 32 (14)
2022–2023 Antalyaspor 28 (15)
2023– Coventry City 40 (15)
International career‡
2013 United States U15 10 (2)
2013–2015 United States U17 34 (27)
2014–2015 United States U18 5 (2)
2016 United States U19 2 (0)
2019 United States U23 2 (0)
2022– United States 9 (4)
Medal record
Men's soccer
Representing  United States
CONCACAF Nations League
Winner 2024 United States
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of April 13, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of March 24, 2024

Haji Amir Wright (born March 27, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward or winger for EFL Championship club Coventry City and the United States national team.

After making his professional debut with the New York Cosmos in 2015, he spent most of his career in Europe, with Schalke 04 in the German Bundesliga, VVV-Venlo in the Dutch Eredivisie, SønderjyskE in the Danish Superliga and Antalyaspor in the Turkish Süper Lig.

Wright made his senior debut for the United States national team in 2022 and played at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Youth soccer

Known for his finishing, ability to win headers, and quickness,[2] Wright was dubbed by many media outlets as one of the top prospects in the United States youth system.[3][4] His success with the under-17 national team prompted him to train with Schalke 04's academy.[5]

Club career

New York Cosmos

In March 2015, Wright officially signed with NASL club New York Cosmos for an undisclosed fee and contract length.[6] He made his professional debut on May 27 in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup, as a 79th-minute substitute for Sebastián Guenzatti in a 3–0 home win over the Jersey Express, and then played three league games for a total of 80 minutes, starting with the game versus Indy Eleven on July 26.[7] Wright's contract expired following the season, and he did not re-sign.[8]

Schalke 04

In April 2016, Wright signed with Schalke 04.[9] In his debut with the Schalke under-19 team on April 16, Wright scored a brace against Borussia Mönchengladbach U19.

Wright was promoted to the Schalke first team in May 2017.[10] He was named on the bench against FC Ingolstadt 04 on May 20, 2017.[11] In July 2018, Wright underwent a trial period with 2. Bundesliga club Union Berlin.[12] On November 24, 2018, Wright made his debut for Schalke first team when he replaced Steven Skrzybski in the 88th minute of the 5–2 win against 1. FC Nürnberg.[13] He played seven games for the team from Gelsenkirchen, all in the league, and scored a consolation goal in a 2–1 home loss to Bayer Leverkusen on December 19; the goal was assisted by compatriot Weston McKennie.[14]

VVV-Venlo

In July 2019, Wright joined VVV-Venlo on a free transfer.[15] He played 22 Eredivisie games without scoring, but scored in the first round of the KNVB Cup on October 30; coming on in the last minute, he tied the game at 2–2 at fourth-tier RKSV Groene Ster, but missed the decisive attempt in a penalty shootout defeat.[16]

SønderjyskE

In August 2020, Wright joined SønderjyskE on a free transfer.[17] He got off to a strong start in the league, with six goals in eight appearances by early November, and his performances led to him being named as the Danish Superliga Player of the Month for October 2020.[18]

In July 2021, Wright wanted to move on from SønderjyskE and failed to report back for pre-season training.[19] On July 21, Turkish club Antalyaspor confirmed that they had signed Wright on loan from SønderjyskE with an option to buy.[20] However, later on the same day, SønderjyskE went out and denied that the deal had gone through because they had not yet received any payment.[21] However, on July 28, SønderjyskE confirmed that he had been loaned out to Antalyaspor for the 2021–22 season and also signed a new deal with Sønderjyske until June 2024.[22]

Antalyaspor

Wright opened his account for Antalyaspor in his third game on August 28, 2021 in which he scored a hat-trick in a 3–2 home win over Çaykur Rizespor, concluding with a penalty kick in the tenth minute of added time.[23] He scored 14 goals in 31 games in the 2021–22 Süper Lig, including eight over seven consecutive games, and nine in the last ten games. He was then tracked by EFL Championship club Hull City and their manager Shota Arveladze.[24]

On July 19, 2022, Wright signed a three-year deal.[25]

Coventry City

Wright joined EFL Championship club Coventry City on August 4, 2023, on a four-year contract for a club-record transfer fee of €9 million.[26] On August 12, 2023, he scored his first goal for the club on his home debut in a 3-0 win against Middlesbrough.[27] On March 16, 2024, Wright converted a 100th minute stoppage time goal for Coventry in the quarter-finals of the 2023–24 FA Cup against Wolverhampton Wanderers, helping the club progress beyond the round for the first time since Coventry's 1986–87 FA Cup victory.[28]

International career

Wright (in white) playing against Wales at the 2022 FIFA World Cup

Wright is of Liberian and Ghanaian descent. He has represented the United States at all levels.[29] In May 2022, Wright was called into the United States senior camp by Gregg Berhalter for a CONCACAF Nation's League window.[30]

Wright scored his first international goal on his senior debut for the United States on June 1, 2022, in a 3–0 friendly victory against Morocco.[31] In November 2022, Wright was named to the squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[32] He scored for the United States in their 3–1 loss to the Netherlands in the round of 16.[33]

On March 17, 2024, Wright was called up to the national team as an injury replacement for Josh Sargent to compete in the 2024 CONCACAF Nations League Finals.[34] On March 21, he scored an extra-time brace against Jamaica in a 3–1 win.[35]

Personal life

Haji's brother Hanif played on the under-19 team of Bonner SC in 2017.[36] Haji's cousins are also active in athletics: Joseph Putu played cornerback for the Florida Gators,[37] his second cousin, Isaac Nana Addai, played for the Liberia national under-23 team as well as Boston City FC, and his third cousin, Joseph Addai, won Super Bowl XLI in 2007 with the Indianapolis Colts.[38]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played April 13, 2024[39]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
New York Cosmos 2015 NASL 3 0 1 0 – – 4 0
Schalke 04 2016–17 Bundesliga 0 0 – – – 0 0
2018–19 Bundesliga 7 1 – – – 7 1
Total 7 1 – – – 7 1
SV Sandhausen (loan) 2017–18 2. Bundesliga 15 1 – – – 15 1
Schalke 04 II 2018–19 Oberliga Westfalen 22 14 – – – 22 14
VVV-Venlo 2019–20 Eredivisie 22 0 1 1 – – 23 1
SønderjyskE 2020–21 Danish Superliga 29 11 7 2 – 1[c] 0 37 13
Antalyaspor (loan) 2021–22 Süper Lig 32 14 3 1 – – 35 15
Antalyaspor 2022–23 Süper Lig 28 15 1 1 – – 29 16
Coventry City 2023–24 Championship 40 15 4 2 1 0 – 45 17
Career total 199 71 16 7 1 0 1 0 217 78
  1. ^ Includes U.S. Open Cup, KNVB Cup, Danish Cup, Turkish Cup and FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ^ Appearance in UEFA Europa League

International

As of match played March 24, 2024[40]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
United States 2022 7 2
2024 2 2
Total 9 4
Scores and results list United States' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Wright goal.
List of international goals scored by Haji Wright
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 June 1, 2022 TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, United States 1  Morocco 3–0 3–0 Friendly
2 December 3, 2022 Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar 7  Netherlands 1–2 1–3 2022 FIFA World Cup
3 March 21, 2024 AT&T Stadium, Arlington, United States 8  Jamaica 2–1 3–1 (a.e.t.) 2024 CONCACAF Nations League Finals
4 3–1

Honors

New York Cosmos

United States

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: List of players: United States" (PDF). FIFA. November 15, 2022. p. 31. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  2. ^ "LA Galaxy's Haji Wright leads list of 7 MLS Academy players called to US U-17 national team". MLS Soccer. MLSSoccer.com. April 1, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  3. ^ Davis, Noah (February 4, 2015). "Haji Wright and the Next Big Thing: Should the USMNT Be Getting More From Its Under-17 Team?". Grantland. Grantland.com. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  4. ^ "The Wright stuff for USA?". FIFA. FIFA.com. February 27, 2015. Archived from the original on March 2, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  5. ^ Parchman, Will. "Haji Wright on the precipice of Europe". Top Drawer Soccer. TopDrawerSoccer.com. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  6. ^ "Cosmos Sign Striker Haji Wright". New York Cosmos. NYCosmos.com.
  7. ^ Haji Wright at Soccerway
  8. ^ "Cosmos Announce First Roster Moves Following Championship 2015 Season". New York Cosmos.
  9. ^ "Spielberechtigung für Haji Wright ist da" (in German). schalke04.de. April 16, 2016.
  10. ^ "Schalke promote American duo McKennie and Wright to senior squad". bundesliga.com – the official Bundesliga website.
  11. ^ "Ingolstadt vs. Schalke 04 – 20 May 2017 – Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com.
  12. ^ "Haji Wright trains with Union first-team". 1. FC Union Berlin. July 10, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  13. ^ "Schalke 04 vs. Nürnberg 5 - 2". Soccerway. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  14. ^ "American Haji Wright nets first goal for Schalke". Bundesliga. December 19, 2018. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  15. ^ "Haji Wright joins VVV Venlo". Schalke 04. July 12, 2019.
  16. ^ "Amateurs Groene Ster zorgen voor enorme stunt tegen eredivisionist VVV" [Amateurs Groene Ster provide a huge shock against Eredivisie team VVV] (in Dutch). NOS. October 30, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  17. ^ Henry jr., Larry (August 2, 2020). "Haji Wright joins Danish Superliga side Sonderjyske". SBI Soccer. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  18. ^ a b "Haji Wright er Månedens Spiller i oktober". Superligaen (in Danish). November 9, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  19. ^ "SE-direktør om Wright: Går imod trup og stab". bold.dk. July 20, 2021.
  20. ^ Bekræftet: Tyrkisk klub lejer SE's Haji Wright, bold.dk, July 21, 2021
  21. ^ SE er uenig: Wright-handel er ikke på plads, bold.dk, July 21, 2021
  22. ^ SØNDERJYSKE FORLÆNGER OG UDLEJER HAJI WRIGHT, soenderjyske.dk, July 28, 2021
  23. ^ Galarcep, Ives (August 29, 2021). "Haji Wright's stoppage-time winner completes hat-trick for Antalyaspor". SBI Soccer. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  24. ^ Cooper, Barry (June 18, 2022). "Hull City target in-form striker who scored nine goals in 10 games and netted on USMNT debut". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  25. ^ "Haji Wright transfers to Antalyaspor, gets 3-year deal". San Diego Tribune. July 19, 2022.
  26. ^ "TRANSFER: Haji Wright joins Coventry City".
  27. ^ "Sky Blues brush Boro aside despite Hamer departure". BBC Sport. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  28. ^ Stone, Simon (March 16, 2024). "Wolves 2-3 Coventry: Haji Wright scores 100th-minute winner in FA Cup classic". BBC. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  29. ^ "SønderjyskE Rejects €1.3m Bid From Malmo FF for American-Liberian Haji Wright | Liberia Public Radio". February 21, 2021.
  30. ^ "Berhalter Calls 27 Players For June Training Camp And Final Home Matches Before 2022 FIFA World Cup". ussoccer.com. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  31. ^ "United States vs Morocco".
  32. ^ "Berhalter Names 26 Player USMNT Roster For 2022 FIFA World Cup". ussoccer.com.
  33. ^ "'Can't tell if lucky or intentional': US star scores 'accidentally excellent' goal that defies physics". Fox Sports. December 4, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  34. ^ "BRENDEN AARONSON AND HAJI WRIGHT ADDED TO USMNT ROSTER FOR 2024 CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE FINALS". United States Soccer Federation. March 13, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  35. ^ "U.S. MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM ADVANCES TO 2024 CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE FINAL WITH 3-1 SEMIFINAL WIN OVER JAMAICA". United States Soccer Federation. March 22, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  36. ^ "Americans Overseas: January Transfer Triumph". BeIN Sports. February 14, 2017.
  37. ^ "Joseph Putu, a war refugee for six years, overcame long odds to reach Florida". SecCountry.com.
  38. ^ "Addai comes from a very athletic family including his cousin, Joseph Addai, an NFL running back and Super Bowl winner. Haji Wright". Santa Clara Broncos. February 7, 2017.
  39. ^ "Haji Wright » Club matches". WorldFootball.net.
  40. ^ Haji Wright at National-Football-Teams.com
  41. ^ Haji Wright at Soccerway
  42. ^ "Adams Reyna on target as United States complete three peat". CONCACAF. March 25, 2024. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
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