Leon Chiwome

Leon Chiwome (born 10 January 2006) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Early life
From Ditchling in Sussex, Chiwome played as a youngster for Hassocks F.C. in West Sussex and aged 14 years-old, Plumpton Athletic Football Club. He then played for Alfold F.C. in Surrey, and for Sussex Schools, when he was scouted by English Football League side AFC Wimbledon.

Club career
Chiwome was in the academy at AFC Wimbledon before moving to Wolverhampton Wanderers as a 16 year-old in July 2022. He made his debut for Wolves U21 in Premier League 2 against Liverpool U21 in September 2022. He signed his first professional contract with Wolves in February 2023. He missed a large chunk of 2023 with injury, but returned to playing in the autumn of 2023.

On 16 March 2024, Chiwome made his professional debut for Wolves coming on as a second-half substitute in an FA Cup quarter-final defeat against Coventry City.

On 31 March 2024, Chiwome made his first Premier League start in a 2-0 loss to Aston Villa.

International career
On 14 January 2023, four days after his 17th birthday, Chiwome scored a 48-minute hat trick for England U17 in a 6-0 win over Germany U17. He featured for England at the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Hungary.

In November 2023, Chiwome was called-up by Baltemar Brito to the senior Zimbabwe national football team for FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Nigeria. However, he did not feature in the finalised squad for the matches.

On 22 March 2024, Chiwome made his England U18 debut during a 2-1 victory over Czech Republic in the U18 Super Cup at Pinatar Arena.

Style of play
Wolves’ academy manager Jonathan Hunter-Barrett has praised Chiwome’s ability as a centre forward describing him as “big, strong and quick”. He also described him as “very keen to learn and get on the ball, and he knows where the back of the net is.” He was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best first year scholars in the Premier League in September 2022.

Personal life
Chiwome has a Zimbabwean father and a British mother. He was born in Brighton in Sussex.

Honours
England U18s
 * 2024 U18 Pinatar Super Cup