Chuks Okoli
A versatile midfielder who has been at the club since the age of seven and won the 2025/26 U18 Player of the Season award.
6ChuksOkoli
Mid
Date of Birth
22.02.0822 February 2008
Country
GBEnglandJoined Team
01.05.2601 May 2026
All time
Palace career
2
Appearances
0
Goals
Awards & Honours
U18 Player of the Season
Crystal Palace, 2025/26
After joining at a young age, Okoli has progressed steadily through the ranks, developing both as a player and as a person within the Academy.
He was part of the Under-15 side that won the U15 National Floodlit Cup in 2022/23, memorably scoring a sensational effort from inside his own half against Stoke City.
The combative midfielder earned a scholarship ahead of the 2024/25 season and made his Under-18 debut as a substitute against Arsenal in November 2024.
He made his first start the following month, helping the side to a 4-2 comeback win over Chelsea, before scoring his first goals for the club against West Ham United in January 2025 – including a remarkable 40-yard first-time strike that was nominated for the club’s Goal of the Season.
He finished the 2024/25 campaign with 13 appearances, two goals and one assist.
The 2025/26 season marked a major step forward, with Okoli named Under-18 Player of the Season after a standout campaign at the heart of Javier Alonso’s midfield. A near ever-present, he featured in 33 of 38 matches and played a central role in a historic year for the group, contributing five goals and nine assists in all competitions.
His influence included a 92nd-minute winner against Aston Villa to send Palace into their first FA Youth Cup semi-final in nearly 30 years, as well as a superb long-range strike against West Bromwich Albion.
A natural leader, Okoli captained the side on several key occasions, including the FA Youth Cup semi-final at Old Trafford and the Club’s first-ever Under-18 Premier League Cup triumph at Selhurst Park against Manchester United.
His performances were also recognised at Under-21 level, where he was included in the matchday squad for the Premier League 2 quarter-final against Manchester United.
Upon receiving his Player of the Season award, Alonso described him as “the heartbeat of the side”, highlighting his consistency, leadership and daily standards.
An injury disrupted Okoli’s start to the 2026/27 campaign, but he returned shortly before the international break to make his fourth appearance of his first full season with the Under-21s.
Another milestone followed during the September-October international break, when new manager Pierre Sage called for the 18-year-old midway through the second half of the mid-season friendly against Bristol City, handing him his first non-competitive senior appearance.
Player Statistics2026/27
0
2
Player StatisticsCareer
0
2
Season by season
Season
Games
Goals
Crystal Palace U21
26/27
2
0
