Daniel Kanu (footballer)
|
Daniel Kanu in 2025. | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Daniel Malanga Kanu[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 14 November 2004[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Lambeth, England | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Walsall (on loan from Charlton Athletic) | ||
| Number | 15 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2014–2022 | Charlton Athletic | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022– | Charlton Athletic | 59 | (7) |
| 2023 | → Southend United (loan) | 6 | (4) |
| 2025– | → Walsall (loan) | 17 | (9) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023– | Sierra Leone | 5 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:10, 20 December 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 15:10, 11 September 2025 (UTC) | |||
Daniel Malanga Kanu (born 14 November 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League Two club Walsall on loan from EFL Championship side Charlton Athletic. Born in England, he plays for the Sierra Leone national team.[3]
Club career
Charlton Athletic
Kanu joined Charlton Athletic at under-11 level. On 2 February 2022, after scoring 31 goals in all competitions across Charlton's youth sides, Kanu signed his first professional contract with the club.[4][5][6] Ten days later, on 12 February 2022, Kanu made his debut for Charlton, coming on as an 82nd-minute substitute in a 2–1 League One loss against Wigan Athletic.[7]
On 22 November 2022, Kanu scored his first professional goal for the club in a 3–2 defeat away at Plymouth Argyle in the EFL Trophy.[8]
On 7 February 2024, it was announced that Kanu had signed a new long-term contract with the club.[9]
Southend United (loan)
On 6 October 2023, Kanu joined Southend United on an initial 28-day loan.[10] On his first start, Kanu scored his first goals for the club, netting four times in a 5–0 victory over Solihull Moors.[11]
On 2 December 2023, Kanu was recalled early by Charlton Athletic from his loan.[12]
Walsall (loan)
On 22 August 2025, January joined Walsall on a season-long loan.[13][14] Following a strong start to his time with the club, he was named EFL Young Player of the Month for September 2025.[15]
International career
Born in England, Kanu is of Sierra Leonean descent. He was called up to the Sierra Leone national team for a set of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches in November 2023.[16]
Kanu made his international debut for Sierra Leone on 19 November 2023, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 defeat to the Egypt national team.[17]
Personal life
Born in England, Kanu is of Sierra Leonean descent. He attended Dartford Grammar School, where he represented his school on numerous occasions as part of the athletics team. He specialised in long-distance running and even set a handful of school records.[18]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 20 December 2025
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Charlton Athletic | 2021–22[19] | League One | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022–23[20] | League One | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4[a] | 1 | 14 | 1 | |
| 2023–24[21] | League One | 30 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2[b] | 0 | 34 | 7 | |
| 2024–25[22] | League One | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 20 | 1 | |
| 2025–26[23] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| Total | 59 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 71 | 9 | ||
| Southend United (loan) | 2023–24[24] | National League | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | |
| Walsall (loan) | 2025–26[23] | League Two | 17 | 9 | 2 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 | 19 | 11 | |
| Career total | 82 | 20 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 96 | 24 | ||
- ^ Four appearances and one goal in the EFL Trophy
- ^ Two appearances in the EFL Trophy
- ^ Two appearances in the EFL Trophy
International
- As of match played 10 September 2024
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Leone | 2023 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 5 | 0 | |
Honours
Individual
- Charlton Athletic Young Player of the Year: 2021–22,[25] 2023–24[26]
- EFL Young Player of the Month: September 2025[15]
References
- ^ "Club List of Registered Players as at September 2024" (PDF). English Football League. p. 58 and 59. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
- ^ "Daniel Kanu Charlton Athletic Biography". Charlton Athletic Official Site. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
- ^ Daniel Kanu at Soccerway. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ "Daniel Kanu signs first pro deal until 2024". Charlton Athletic F.C. 2 February 2022. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ Cawley, Richard (2 February 2022). "Red-hot academy striker Daniel Kanu signs long-term pro deal at Charlton Athletic". Archived from the original on 2 February 2022.
- ^ Cawley, Richard (10 February 2022). "Charlton Athletic boss Jackson on next step in red-hot striker Daniel Kanu's progression". Archived from the original on 10 February 2022.
- ^ "Wigan Athletic 2–1 Charlton Athletic". BBC Sport. 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- ^ "Kanu and Anderson score first senior goals but Addicks coach left ruing first-half defensive display". South London Press. 23 November 2022. Archived from the original on 23 November 2022.
- ^ "DANIEL KANU SIGNS NEW LONG-TERM CONTRACT". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 7 February 2024.
- ^ "DANIEL KANU JOINS SOUTHEND UNITED ON LOAN". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ^ "MATCH REPORT: BLUES 5-0 SOLIHULL".
- ^ "DANIEL KANU RECALLED FROM SOUTHEND LOAN SPELL". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ "Daniel Kanu joins Walsall on loan". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 22 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
- ^ "Saddlers snap up Daniel Kanu from Charlton Athletic". Walsall Official Site. 22 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Daniel Kanu named EA Sports FC Young Player of the Month". www.efl.com. 9 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
- ^ "DANIEL KANU EARNS FIRST SENIOR SIERRA LEONE CALL-UP". 10 November 2023.
- ^ "Sierra Leone 0-2 Egypt". 19 November 2023.
- ^ "Humble and grounded – South London Press exclusive interview with highly-rated Charlton teenager Daniel Kanu". 18 February 2022. Archived from the original on 18 February 2022.
- ^ "Games played by Daniel Kanu in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ "Games played by Daniel Kanu in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ "Games played by Daniel Kanu in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ "Games played by Daniel Kanu in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Games played by Daniel Kanu in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- ^ "Games played by Daniel Kanu in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ "George Dobson named 2022 Player of the Year". Charlton Athletic Official Website. 1 May 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- ^ "2023/24 AWARD WINNERS CONFIRMED". Charlton Athletic Official Website. 28 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.