{{Short description|Nigerian footballer (2004–2026)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Victor Udoh | image = Victor_Udoh.png | upright = 0.8 | alt = | caption = Udoh with Royal Antwerp in 2024 | full_name = Victor Akaniyene Udoh | birth_date = {{birth date|2004|10|18|df=y}}<ref name=PremProfile>{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/137093/Victor-Udoh/overview |title=Victor Udoh Southampton U21 Forward, Profile & Stats |publisher=Premier League |access-date=13 April 2025}}</ref> | birth_place = Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria | death_date = {{death date and age|2026|5|25|2004|10|18|df=y}} | death_place = Abuja, Nigeria | height = 1.72 m<ref name=PremProfile/> | position = Forward | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Hypebuzz | youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = Royal Antwerp | years1 = 2023–2025 | clubs1 = Young Reds Antwerp | caps1 = 27 | goals1 = 12 | years2 = 2024–2025 | clubs2 = Royal Antwerp | caps2 = 24 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2025 | clubs3 = Southampton | caps3 = 0 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2025–2026 | clubs4 = Dynamo České Budějovice | caps4 = 0 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2025 | clubs5 = Dynamo České Budějovice B | caps5 = 3 | goals5 = 2 | totalcaps = 54 | totalgoals = 14 }}
'''Victor Akaniyene Udoh'''<ref>{{Worldfootball.net|victor-udoh|new_id=pe959083}}</ref> (18 October 2004 – 25 May 2026) was a Nigerian professional footballer who played as a forward.
Udoh was a product of the Royal Antwerp academy in Belgium and made his senior debut for the club during the 2023–24 season. In February 2025, he joined English club Southampton. Udoh left the club by mutual consent in September 2025 in an attempt to move into regular senior football. In October 2025, he joined Czech club Dynamo České Budějovice which was his last club before his death.
==Career== ===Royal Antwerp=== In March 2023, 18-year-old Udoh moved from Hypebuzz FC in Abuja to Royal Antwerp of the Belgian Pro League.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Oguntimehin |first1=Ayomide |title=Victor Udoh: Royal Antwerp sign Nigerian youth international |url=https://soccernet.ng/2023/03/antwerp-digs-into-nigerian-market-signs-promising-youngster.html |access-date=17 May 2024 |publisher=Soccernet.ng |date=14 March 2023}}</ref> He signed his first professional contract there.<ref name=gazet>{{cite news |title=Groot gebaar: Nigeriaanse spits van Antwerp deelt tijdens vakantie eten en drinken uit in arme geboortestreek|trans-title=Big gesture: Nigerian striker from Antwerp distributes food and drinks in poor native region during holiday |url=https://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20230615_95504463 |access-date=17 May 2024 |work=Gazet van Antwerpen |date=15 June 2023 |language=Dutch}}</ref>
Udoh was first called up for first-team training by manager Mark van Bommel in July 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Geypen |first1=Diederik |title=Architect van de dubbel Mark van Bommel wil succes met Antwerp voortzetten: "Ik spreek met de club, dan heb je de intentie om te blijven"|trans-title=Architect of the double Mark van Bommel wants to continue success with Antwerp: “I speak to the club, then you have the intention to stay” |url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20230628_95366739 |access-date=17 May 2024 |work=Het Nieuwsblad |date=28 June 2023 |language=Dutch}}</ref> For the 2023 Belgian Super Cup on 23 July, he remained an unused substitute as his team won on penalties against Mechelen.<ref name=super>{{cite news |last1=Woos |first1=Loïc |title=Et de 3 ! L'Antwerp remonte Malines aux tirs au but et remporte la première Supercoupe de son histoire |trans-title=Three and counting! Antwerp come from behind against Mechelen on penalties and bring home the first Super Cup of their history|url=https://www.walfoot.be/belgique/super-cup/2022-2023/calendrier/finale/antwerp/kv-mechelen/et-de-3--lantwerp-remonte-malines-aux-tirs-au-but-et-remporte-la-premiere-supercoupe-de-son-histoire |access-date=17 May 2024 |publisher=Walfoot |date=23 July 2023 |language=French}}</ref> He made his debut in the Belgian Pro League on 21 January 2024, playing the final 12 minutes of a 4–1 home win over Charleroi.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Van den Broeck |first1=David |title=Afterparty op de Bosuil: hoe Antwerp zijn fans verwende en het Ejuke-mysterie misschien toch nog opgelost raakt|trans-title=Afterparty at the Bosuil: how Antwerp spoiled their fans and the Ejuke mystery may yet be solved |url=https://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20240121_96023429 |access-date=17 May 2024 |work=Gazet van Antwerpen |date=21 January 2024 |language=Dutch}}</ref> Having made two substitute appearances in previous rounds, he was unused on 9 May as they lost the 2024 Belgian Cup final by a single goal to Union SG.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bourlon |first1=Antoine |title=L'Union domine l'Antwerp et remporte la troisième Coupe de Belgique, sa première depuis 110 ans|trans-title=Union dominate Antwerp and bring home their third Belgian Cup, their first in 110 years|url=https://www.walfoot.be/belgique/coupe-de-belgique/2023-2024/calendrier/finale/union-sg/antwerp/lunion-domine-lantwerp-et-remporte-la-troisieme-coupe-de-belgique-sa-premiere-depuis-110-ans |access-date=17 May 2024 |publisher=Walfoot |date=9 May 2024 |language=French}}</ref>
===Southampton=== On 3 February 2025, Udoh joined Premier League side Southampton on a three-and-a-half-year contract, initially joining the Under-21s squad.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 February 2025 |title=Saints sign Antwerp forward Udoh |url=https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/saints-sign-antwerp-forward-udoh |access-date=4 February 2025 |website=Southampton F.C.}}</ref> On 9 September, he left the club by mutual consent to facilitate a move into regular senior football.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 September 2025 |title=Udoh to depart the club |url=https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/udoh-to-depart-the-club |access-date=9 September 2025 |website=Southampton F.C.}}</ref>
===Dynamo České Budějovice=== On 23 October 2025, Udoh joined Czech National Football League side Dynamo České Budějovice on a three-year contract.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 October 2025 |title=Do Dynama přichází útočník Victor Udoh|trans-title =Forward Victor Udoh joins Dynamo|url=https://www.dynamocb.cz/clanek.asp?id=Do-Dynama-prichazi-utocnik-Victor-Udoh-10727 |access-date=5 November 2025 |publisher=SK Dynamo České Budějovice |language=cs}}</ref>
==Personal life and death== Udoh grew up in Madalla in the Federal Capital Territory. He returned there to distribute food and drink.<ref name=gazet/>
Udoh was found dead on 25 May 2026, at the age of 21, in the Nigerian capital Abuja. His death was announced the following day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Udoh |first=Colin |date=26 May 2026 |title=Nigeria FA confirm death of former Southampton, Antwerp forward Victor Udoh |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/48884070/nigeria-fa-confirm-death-former-southampton-antwerp-forward-victor-udoh |access-date=27 May 2026 |website=ESPN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=26 May 2026 |title=Southampton pay tribute as Udoh dies aged 21 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cdjpp0jgjnzo |access-date=26 May 2026 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{Soccerway|victor-udoh/916234|access-date=4 February 2025}}</ref> !rowspan=2|Club !rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National cup !colspan=2|League cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="3"|Young Red Antwerp |2023–24 |Belgian National Division 1 |21||12||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||21||12 |- |2024–25 |Belgian National Division 1 |6||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||6||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !27||12||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||27||12 |- |rowspan="3"|Royal Antwerp |2023–24 |Belgian Pro League |12||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||14||0 |- |2024–25 |Belgian Pro League |12||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||14||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !24||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||28||0 |- |Southampton |2024–25<ref name=sb2425>{{soccerbase season|180515|2024|access-date=4 February 2025}}</ref> |Premier League |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- |Dynamo České Budějovice |2025–26 |Czech National Football League |0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- |Dynamo České Budějovice B |2025–26 |Bohemian Football League |3||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||3||2 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !54||14||4||0||0||0||0||0||58||14 |}
==Honours== '''Royal Antwerp''' * Belgian Super Cup: 2023<ref name=super/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Soccerway|victor-udoh/916234}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Udoh, Victor}} Category:2004 births Category:2026 deaths Category:21st-century Nigerian sportsmen Category:Belgian Pro League players Category:Belgian Third Division players Category:Bohemian Football League players Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Czech Republic Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Nigerian expatriate men's footballers Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Belgium Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in England Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in the Czech Republic Category:Nigerian men's footballers Category:People from the Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria) Category:Royal Antwerp FC players Category:SK Dynamo České Budějovice players Category:Southampton F.C. players