PLAYER PROFILE

John Utaka

Position: Forward

Height: 5'10

Weight: 12st 12lbs

Date of Birth: 1982-01-08 Lugugnu, Nigeria

John Utaka

Nigerian striker John Utaka began his career playing for several clubs across Africa, including spending five years at Enugu Rangers before a season each at Ismaily SC and Al-Sadd. However, he first starting to attract attention when he moved to France with RC Lens.

In 2005 he moved to Rennes, where he initially struggled before gradually becoming one of their key players, having already broken into the Nigerian national team three years earlier and establishing himself in the squad on a regular basis.

He left Rennes in July 2007 to join Portsmouth for an undisclosed fee, and he proved a useful utility man in his first season at Fratton Park.