Tawanda Blessing Chirewa (born 11 October 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a right winger for EFL Championship club Derby County on loan from Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers. Born in England, he represents Zimbabwe internationally.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Tawanda Blessing Chirewa[1] | ||
Date of birth | 11 October 2003 | ||
Place of birth | Chelmsford, England | ||
Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
Position(s) | Right winger | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Derby County (on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers) | ||
Number | 28 | ||
Youth career | |||
–2019 | Ipswich Town | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2019–2023 | Ipswich Town | 0 | (0) |
2023– | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 8 | (0) |
2024– | → Derby County (loan) | 2 | (0) |
International career‡ | |||
2024– | Zimbabwe | 4 | (1) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 October 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 September 2024 |
Club career
editIpswich Town
editChirewa made his debut for Ipswich Town on 12 November 2019, appearing as a second-half substitute in a 0–1 away loss to Colchester United in an EFL Trophy group stage match, he became the second youngest player to make his first-team debut for the club, after Connor Wickham, at 16 years and 31 days old.[2] On 14 July 2020 it was announced that Chirewa had signed a two-year scholarship with Ipswich.[3]
He signed his first professional contract with Ipswich on 2 November 2020, signing a deal until 2022, with the option of an additional year extension.[4]
Wolverhampton Wanderers
editOn 18 September 2023, Chirewa signed for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, joining the club's Under-21s side.[5]
Chirewa made his debut Wolves First XI appearance, as a second-half substitute, in the FA Cup away to Brentford on 5 January 2024.[6]
Chirewa made his Premier League debut, as a second-half substitute, in a 0–0 draw away to Brighton & Hove Albion on 22 January 2024.[7]
Chirewa made his first appearance in a Black Country derby in the Fourth Round of the F.A. Cup, in a 2–0 victory against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns on 28 January 2024. His appearance came as a second-half substitute after crowd unrest breaking out in sections of the ground designated for West Brom supporters led the game to be suspended for half an hour.[8]
On 26 August 2024, Chirewa signed on loan with Derby County until the end of the season.[9] Chirewa made his debut a day later in the EFL Cup at Barrow.[10] A concussion sustained on international duty would rule him of two games in September.[11] Chirewa made his first start for Derby County at Sunderland on 1 October 2024.[12] After this match, he sustained a "freak" quad injury which is expected to rule him out of action for four to eight weeks.[13]
International career
editIn March 2024, Chirewa was called up by the Zimbabwe national team.[14]
Chirewa made his debut for Zimbabwe on 7 June 2024 in a World Cup qualifier against Lesotho at the Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. He started the game and played 68 minutes, as Lesotho won the game 2–0.[15] He scored his first international goal in the next game 4 days later, a 1–3 loss to South Africa.[16]
Personal life
editBorn in England, Chirewa is of Zimbabwean descent.[17]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of match played 1 October 2024
Club | Season | Division | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
Ipswich Town | 2019–20[18] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 |
2020–21[19] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2021–22[20] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2022–23[21] | League One | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
Total | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2023–24[22] | Premier League | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 10 | 0 | |
2024–25[23] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
Total | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||
Derby County (loan) | 2024–25[23] | Championship | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | |
Career total | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.
International
edit- As of match played 11 September 2024[24]
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Zimbabwe | 2024 | 4 | 1 |
Total | 4 | 1 |
- Scores and results list Zimbabwe's goal tally first.
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 11 June 2024 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa | South Africa | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
References
edit- ^ "SQUAD LIST 2021/22 & U21 REGISTERED CONTRACT PLAYERS" (PDF). 9 September 2021. p. 68. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ Warren, Andy (12 November 2019). "Ratings: How the Ipswich Town players performed in their 1–0 EFL Trophy defeat at Colchester United". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
- ^ "Seven Earn Academy Scholarship". Ipswich Town F.C. 14 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- ^ "Tawanda Pens Pro Deal". Ipswich Town F.C. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ^ "Chirewa signs for under-21s". www.wolves.co.uk. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
- ^ Smith, Emma (5 January 2024). "Brentford 1–1 Wolves: Tommy Doyle thunderbolt earns replay after Joao Gomes' early red". BBC Sport.
- ^ Rindl, Joe (22 January 2024). "Brighton & Hove Albion 0–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Duo play out goalless draw in Premier League". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ Stone, Simon (28 January 2024). "West Brom 0–2 Wolves: Visitors progress after crowd trouble sees game suspended". BBC Sport.
- ^ "TRANSFER NEWS: Zimbabwe International Chirewa Joins Derby On Loan". Derby County. 26 August 2024.
- ^ "Paul Warne names Derby County team to face Barrow as new signing starts". Derby Telegraph. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ "Paul Warne issues Derby County update as summer signing injured on international duty". Derby Telegraph. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ "Paul Warne springs quartet of surprises as he names Derby County team to face Sunderland". Derby Telegraph. 1 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ "Derby County 'freak' injury blow confirmed but Paul Warne given triple boost". Derby Telegraph. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ "EPL honours Tawanda Chirewa as youngster receives first Warriors call-up".
- ^ "Zimbabwe v Lesotho game report". ESPN. 6 June 2024.
- ^ "South Africa v Zimbabwe game report". ESPN. 11 June 2024.
- ^ Reporter, Staff (19 September 2023). "Zim teenager Tawanda Chirewa turns down Ipswich deal, signs for Wolves".
- ^ "Games played by Tawanda Chirewa in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
- ^ "Games played by Tawanda Chirewa in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ "Games played by Tawanda Chirewa in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ "Games played by Tawanda Chirewa in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
- ^ "Games played by Tawanda Chirewa in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Games played by Tawanda Chirewa in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "Tawanda Chirewa World Football.net". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 11 June 2024.