{{short description|Cameroonian footballer (born 1983)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Somen Tchoyi | image = Somen Tchoyi.png | image_size = | caption = Tchoyi in 2010 | fullname = Somen Alfred Tchoyi | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|3|29|df=y}} | birth_place = Douala, Cameroon | height = 1.90 m<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.premierleague.com/page/PlayerProfile/0,,12306~48799,00.html|title = Premier League Player Profile Somen Tchoyi|accessdate = 25 April 2011|publisher = Premier League}}</ref> | currentclub = | position = Attacking midfielder | years1 = 2004–2005 |clubs1 = Union Douala |caps1 = 13 |goals1 = 2 | years2 = 2005–2006 |clubs2 = Odd Grenland |caps2 = 30 |goals2 = 1 | years3 = 2006–2008 |clubs3 = Stabæk |caps3 = 49 |goals3 = 8 | years4 = 2008–2010 |clubs4 = Red Bull Salzburg |caps4 = 68 |goals4 = 14 | years5 = 2010–2012 |clubs5 = West Bromwich Albion |caps5 = 41 |goals5 = 7 | years6 = 2012–2014 |clubs6 = FC Augsburg |caps6 = 2 |goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2015 |clubs7 = Austria Salzburg |caps7 = 15 |goals7 = 1 | totalcaps = 218 | totalgoals = 33 | nationalyears1 = 2008–2011 |nationalteam1 = Cameroon |nationalcaps1 = 15 |nationalgoals1 =2 }}
'''Somen Alfred Tchoyi''' (born 29 March 1983) is a Cameroonian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He played for the Cameroon national team from to 2008 to 2011 scoring two goals in 15 appearances.
== Club career ==
=== Odd Grenland & Stabæk IF === Tchoyi signed for Odd Grenland in time for the 2005–2006 season from Union Douala. After Odd purchased Tommy Svindal Larsen, he played less due to the two not mixing well on the field and due to restrictions on non-EU players in Norway. Subsequently, Tchoyi was sold to Stabæk during the 2006–07 season for 3.000.000 NOK (approx. £330,000).
=== West Bromwich Albion === During the early summer of 2010, Tchoyi was reportedly the subject of interest from Premier League clubs, including Blackburn, Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_6136274,00.html | work=Sky Sports | title=Prem trio eye Cameroon ace | date=6 May 2010}}</ref> but on 20 August 2010, after some lengthy preparation work, including a successful appeal for a UK work permit, newly promoted West Bromwich Albion acquired the player's services for two years on an undisclosed fee.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6326146,00.html | work=Sky Sports | title=Baggies bag Tchoyi}}</ref> He made his debut for the club when he came on as a substitute in a 1–0 defeat to Liverpool on 29 August 2010. He scored his first goal for the club against Manchester United at Old Trafford on 16 October 2010. He scored his second goal for the club in the 4–1 win over Leicester City in the English League Cup on 27 October 2010. He scored his third goal for West Bromwich Albion against Everton in a Premier League fixture on 27 November 2010, with a fourth the following weekend against Newcastle United. In a feat revered as 'Tchoyi Story 3' by Baggies fans (referencing the film ''Toy Story 3'') he scored a hat-trick against Newcastle United at St. James' Park on the last day of the 2010–11 season, rescuing a point for the Baggies after being down 3–0 early into the second half.<ref>{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Louise |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/may/22/newcastle-united-west-bromwich-albion-premier-league |title=West Bromwich's Tchoyi bags a hat-trick to snatch draw at Newcastle |date=22 May 2011 |accessdate=14 September 2014 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>
He picked up his form by starting West Brom's first game of the 2011–12 campaign at home to Manchester United, linking up well with the club's new record signing Shane Long. Despite a battling performance to level the score at 1–1, United won the game 2–1. Tchoyi scored his last goal for the club away to Fulham to level the score at 1–1 late on in the game. He was an enigmatic but liked player at the Hawthorns, earning the nickname 'big unit'.
=== FC Augsburg === Following 41 games at West Brom netting 7 goals, Tchoyi was released. He subsequently signed a contract with Augsburg in Germany until the end of the season with an option for an extension.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://asia.eurosport.com/football/bundesliga/2011-2012/tchoyi-joins-augsburg_sto3602402/story.shtml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112050209/http://asia.eurosport.com/football/bundesliga/2011-2012/tchoyi-joins-augsburg_sto3602402/story.shtml | url-status=dead | archive-date=12 November 2013 | work=Eurosport | title=Tchoyi joins Augsburg}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{soccerway|somen-tchoyi/7513}}
{{Cameroon squad 2010 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tchoyi, Somen}} Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Douala Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Cameroonian men's footballers Category:Union Douala players Category:Odds BK players Category:FC Augsburg players Category:Stabæk Fotball players Category:FC Red Bull Salzburg players Category:West Bromwich Albion F.C. players Category:Eliteserien players Category:Austrian Football Bundesliga players Category:Premier League players Category:2. Bundesliga players Category:Cameroon men's international footballers Category:Cameroonian expatriate men's footballers Category:Cameroonian expatriate sportspeople in Norway Category:Cameroonian expatriate sportspeople in Austria Category:Cameroonian expatriate sportspeople in England Category:Cameroonian expatriate sportspeople in Germany Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Norway Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Austria Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany