Victor Moses: Overcoming adversity to become Nigerian football icon

Victor Moses is a Nigerian professional footballer who has captured the hearts of fans worldwide with his remarkable journey from a childhood marked by tragedy to becoming a celebrated player in the Premier League and for the Nigerian national team.

Despite facing immense challenges, he found solace and purpose in the sport he loved, which ultimately led him to the heights of professional football.

Table of Content hide

1 Victor Moses biography

2 Victor Moses career

2.1 Crystal Palace (2007–2010)

2.2 Wigan Athletic (2010–2012)

2.3 Chelsea (2012–2016)

2.4 2018–19 Season: Loan to Fenerbahçe

2.5 2019–20 Season: Loan to Inter Milan

2.6 2020–21 Season: Loan to Spartak Moscow

2.7 Permanent Transfer to Spartak Moscow

2.8 Movement to Luton Town

2.9 International career

3 Victor Moses stats

3.1 Career Statistics

3.2 Goals and assists breakdown by competition

3.3 Trophies Won

4 Victor Moses’ net worth

5 Victor Moses family

6 Victor Moses age

7 Victor Moses Instagram

Victor Moses biography

Victor Moses is a Nigerian professional footballer. His life has been marked by his journey from a childhood filled with tragedy to becoming a celebrated player in the Premier League and for the Nigerian national team.

Born on December 12, 1990, in Kaduna, North-West Nigeria, Moses’ early life was shaped by the devastating loss of his parents at the tender age of 11. Moses was born to a Christian pastor, Austine Moses, and his wife, Josephine Moses. Growing up in Kaduna, he developed a deep passion for football from a young age, often playing with his friends in the streets. Tragedy struck when religious riots erupted in Kaduna and rioters invaded Moses’ family home, brutally killing his parents.

Moses, who was playing football at the time, was hidden by his friends for a week before his relatives arranged for him to seek asylum in the United Kingdom.

After arriving in the UK, Moses was placed with a foster family in South London. He attended Stanley Technical High School, now known as the Harris Academy, in South Norwood. It was during this time that Moses’ football talent caught the eye of scouts while he was playing for Cosmos 90 FC in the local Tandridge League.

Crystal Palace approached Moses and offered him a place at their academy, as well as the opportunity to attend Whitgift School in Croydon.

At Whitgift, Moses flourished, helping the school’s football club win numerous cups, including a national cup. His exceptional performances at the youth level, particularly scoring 50 goals for Palace’s under-14 side, soon caught the attention of larger clubs.

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Victor Moses career

Moses’ football career is a testament to his resilience and talent, spanning multiple clubs across various leagues and culminating in significant international achievements.

Crystal Palace (2007–2010)

Moses began his professional career at Crystal Palace, making his debut on November 6, 2007, against Cardiff City at just 16 years old. He quickly made an impact, scoring his first senior goal against West Bromwich Albion in March 2008.

Over his time at the club, he made a total of 16 appearances in the 2007-08 season and extended his contract for another year. However, due to the club’s financial difficulties, he transferred to Wigan Athletic in January 2010 for a fee reported to be around £2.5 million.

Wigan Athletic (2010–2012)

At Wigan, Moses continued to develop his skills and became a regular starter. He made his debut for the club on February 6, 2010, and scored his first goal on May 3, 2010, against Hull City. His performances helped Wigan avoid relegation during his first season. In the 2011-12 season, he played a crucial role in Wigan’s FA Cup victory, showcasing his ability on the big stage.

Chelsea (2012–2016)

Moses’ career took a significant turn when he signed for Chelsea on August 24, 2012. He made his first appearance as a substitute against Queens Park Rangers and scored his first goal for the club in a League Cup match against Wolverhampton Wanderers. During his first season, he contributed 10 goals across all competitions, including important strikes in the Premier League and Champions League.

However, the following seasons saw Moses loaned out to several clubs. He joined Liverpool for the 2013-14 season, where he scored his first goal in an FA Cup match against Bournemouth. The next season, he moved to Stoke City on loan, followed by a loan to West Ham United for the 2015-16 season.

In the 2016-17 season, Moses returned to Chelsea and became a key player under manager Antonio Conte, helping the club secure the Premier League title. He played as a wing-back, a position that suited his pace and physicality. However, he struggled for game time in the subsequent season, leading to more loan moves.

2018–19 Season: Loan to Fenerbahçe

In January 2019, Moses signed an 18-month loan deal with the Turkish side, Fenerbahçe. This move allowed him to gain valuable playing time in a competitive league after struggling for regular minutes at Chelsea. He made an immediate impact, scoring his first league goal for Fenerbahçe on 1 February 2019 in a 2–0 victory against Göztepe.

Throughout the remainder of the season, Moses demonstrated his attacking prowess and adaptability, contributing significantly to the team’s performance.

2019–20 Season: Loan to Inter Milan

Following his time at Fenerbahçe, Moses joined Inter Milan on a six-month loan deal on January 23, 2020, with an option for the club to buy him at the end of the loan. This transfer reunited him with former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte.

Moses made his debut for Inter on January 29, 2020, coming on as a substitute in a Coppa Italia match against Fiorentina. His league debut followed shortly after on February 2, where he started in a 2–0 win against Udinese. During his time at Inter, he played a crucial role in the team’s tactical setup, helping them secure a strong position in Serie A.

2020–21 Season: Loan to Spartak Moscow

On October 15, 2020, Moses joined the Russian Premier League club, Spartak Moscow, on a season-long loan with an option to buy. He made his debut on October 17 in a thrilling 3–2 win against Khimki, coming off the bench. Moses quickly established himself as a key player, scoring his first goal for Spartak in a 3–1 victory over Krasnodar on 24 October.

His contributions were vital in helping Spartak secure a second-place finish in the league, which qualified them for the UEFA Champions League. On May 16, 2021, he scored a late equaliser against FC Akhmat Grozny, ensuring Spartak finished the season strongly.

Permanent Transfer to Spartak Moscow

On July 2, 2021, Chelsea confirmed that Moses had completed a permanent transfer to Spartak Moscow, effectively ending his nine-year association with the club. This move allowed him to continue playing at a high level in the Russian Premier League.

However, following the invasion of Russia by Ukraine and the ban placed on Russian football by FIFA and UEFA, respectively, Moses left Spartak Moscow.

Movement to Luton Town

On September 10, 2024, Moses signed with Luton Town, competing in the EFL Championship.

International career

Moses represented England at various youth levels, including under-16, under-17, under-19 and under-21 teams. However, he opted to play for Nigeria at the senior level and made his debut in 2012. He was part of the Nigerian squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 and represented Nigeria in the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups.