William Troost-Ekong’s bio: The life and achievements of the Nigerian defender

William Troost-Ekong is a Dutch-born Nigerian professional footballer. He plays center-back for Super League Greece club PAOK and captains the Nigerian national team. Troost has gained a wealth of experience playing for numerous clubs. What's more, his successful soccer career has enabled Ekong to establish himself as one of the top-rated defenders on both continents.

Soccer player Troost-Ekong is a famous figure in Europe. His defensive skills, passion for football, hard work, and dedication have earned him tons of fans and millions through salaries and bonuses. Read about his life story, family, net worth, and how he lives his football dreams below.

Profile summary

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William Troost-Ekong's biography

Soccer defender William Paul Troost-Ekong (age 30 as of April 2024) was born into a mixed Dutch and Nigerian family on 1 September 1993 in Haarlem, Netherlands. He was raised in the Netherlands, where his football career began. Troost made his senior career debut in Nigeria in 2015 and has since earned more than 70 caps.

Troost-Ekong's family

William Troost-Ekong's father is a Nigerian from Etinan in Akwa Ibom State, while his mother, Eleanore Troost, is Dutch. The defender has two siblings, Emily and Everest.

What is William Troost-Ekong's state of origin?

The PAOK defender's ancestral roots are in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, Africa, where his father is from.

William Troost-Ekong's career history

Troost-Ekong has built a reputation as one of the best African defenders in Europe. His football journey, from childhood to senior career, has been incredible.

Youth career

The Nigerian began playing football with Bishop's Stortford FC's youth squad in England before joining Fulham's youth team in 2008. His parents later enrolled him at Tottenham Hotspur's academy in 2010, where he continued nurturing his talent until 2013.

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The player once talked about how his mum cried when Tottenham youth coach Matt de told her he would never make it as a footballer. William Troost-Ekong's mother was upset at the time because she backed him against his dad's will to sign for Spurs.

Senior career

William launched his senior career at FC Groningen after joining the team on a free transfer on 23 July 2013. He made only two appearances, and then the club loaned him out to FC Dordrecht on 29 January 2014, where he played 36 games and scored once.

The Dutch-born defender later moved to KAA Gent in Belgium on a free transfer on 27 July 2015 but was immediately loaned to Norwegian club FK Haugesund. He made 41 appearances for Haugesund, scoring four goals and providing two assists.

The player returned to Gent and played eight games before signing for Turkish club Bursaspor on 11 July 2017. 17 August 2018 was the date William Troost-Ekong joined the Italian Serie A club Udinese.

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In his debut season in the Serie A, he played 35 games for Udinese, helping them finish 12th in the 2019-20 season. After that, he signed a five-year contract with Watford on 29 September 2020.

The center-back helped Watford climb to the Premier League. He debuted in the English top flight against Aston Villa, where they won 3-2. William later joined Salernitana in Italy before moving to PAOK Thessaloniki.

National team career

William represented the Netherlands at the Under-19 and Under-20 levels but later opted to play for his father's home country. He won the 2016 Olympic Bronze Medal with Nigeria U23. His first game for the Super Eagles came on 13 June 2015, in an AFCON qualifier against Chad, where he played 90 minutes.

The center-back played for Nigeria in the 2018 World Cup against Croatia and the 2019 African Cup of Nations. He was named captain of the Nigerian national team ahead of their 2021 AFCON campaign in Cameroon, where they finished third.

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Speaking to MTN Nigeria’s We Move With Super Eagles, Troost-Ekong said:

It's a great honor to captain your country. I think when I first came to the Super Eagles, I didn't realize it could go that quickly. However, I think I've been here quite consistently, and it's a great honor from the coach and trust that I'm getting to get that role, but it comes with responsibility.

What are William Troost-Ekong's current teams?

He plays for the Super League Greece club PAOK Thessaloniki FC and captains the Nigeria national team. Here are the teams and clubs he has played for:

Youth career

Senior career

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International career

How many games has William Troost-Ekong played in his career?

The soccer defender has played over 300 games for around 10 clubs and scored 11 goals. He has also played around 80 games and scored 7 goals in his national team career. Here is a breakdown of Troost-Ekong's stats as of April 2024.

Stats by clubs

National team career stats

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William Troost-Ekong's stats by competitions

The soccer player has scored several goals in national, domestic, and international leagues. Below is a breakdown of his goals.

National leagues stats

Domestic cups stats

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International cups stats

William Troost-Ekong's FIFA 24 rating

The Nigerian center-back has an overall FIFA 24 rating of 71 with a potential of 71. He is an experienced defender who prefers shooting with his right foot. William's best stats are Strength (84), Jumping (80), Aggression (76), Heading (75), and Interceptions (73).

Troost-Ekong's honors

The player has received the following honors and recognitions in his career:

William Troost-Ekong's net worth and salary

Some sources estimate his net worth at $4 million, while others quote it at $5 million. William Troost-Ekong's salary at PAOK is £832,000 per year (around $1,040,997 annually). The club pays him £16,000 weekly (about $20,019). He signed a three-year contract with PAOK in 2023, which will expire in June 2026.

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Who is William Troost-Ekong's wife?

The Nigerian central defender is married to his long-term partner, Molly. The couple tied the knot in a private ceremony in London, attended by William's teammates Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi. Molly and Troost-Ekong's son, Oscar Ekong, was born in 2018.

Social media presence

William Troost-Ekong's Instagram page has 496K followers, his Facebook account has 690K followers as of April 2024, and his X (Twitter) account has 178.9K followers.

Facts about Troost-Ekong

• The Nigerian soccer captain is known for his defensive skills, good passing, and leadership.
• Degrading words from the Tottenham youth coach, Matt de, helped him push himself to become what he is today.
• His success on and off the pitch inspires many young African footballers to believe in their dreams.
• He underwent surgery after sustaining a ruptured biceps femur in his right leg during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Cote d'Ivoire.
• Since joining Common Goal, Troost-Ekong has committed to fighting Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Nigeria.

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William Troost-Ekong's stats and achievements are a testament of his hard work and dedication. The center-back has achieved his dream of playing professional football and leading his nation in the 2023 AFCON competition. Troost is in the age bracket where most defenders reach their peak, as top clubs continue monitoring his progress.

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