Armstrong Oko-Flex Explained

Armstrong Oko-Flex
Fullname:Armstrong Inya Echezolachuku Oko-Flex[1]
Birth Date:2 March 2002
Birth Place:Dublin, Ireland
Height:1.80 m
Position:Winger
Currentclub:Levski Sofia
Clubnumber:11
Youthclubs1:Tolka Rovers
Youthyears1:2007–2009
Youthclubs2:St Kevin's Boys
Youthyears2:2009–2013
Youthclubs3:Arsenal
Youthyears3:2013–2018
Youthclubs4:Celtic
Youthyears4:2018–2021
Years1:2021
Clubs1:Celtic
Caps1:2
Goals1:0
Years2:2021–2023
Clubs2:West Ham United
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2022–2023
Clubs3:→ Swansea City (loan)
Caps3:13
Goals3:0
Years4:2023–2025
Clubs4:Zürich
Caps4:29
Goals4:2
Years5:2025–2026
Clubs5:Botev Plovdiv
Caps5:14
Goals5:6
Years6:2026–
Clubs6:Levski Sofia
Caps6:4
Goals6:2
Nationalyears1:2017
Nationalteam1:Republic of Ireland U15
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2017
Nationalteam2:England U15
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2017
Nationalteam3:Republic of Ireland U16
Nationalcaps3:5
Nationalgoals3:2
Nationalyears4:2017–2018
Nationalteam4:England U16
Nationalcaps4:7
Nationalgoals4:3
Nationalyears5:2018
Nationalteam5:England U17
Nationalcaps5:4
Nationalgoals5:0
Nationalyears6:2019
Nationalteam6:Republic of Ireland U19
Nationalcaps6:5
Nationalgoals6:0
Nationalyears7:2023–2024
Nationalteam7:Republic of Ireland U21
Nationalcaps7:6
Nationalgoals7:4
Club-Update:16:37, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
Ntupdate:11:15, 15 January 2026 (UTC)

Armstrong Inya Echezolachuku Oko-Flex (born 2 March 2002) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Bulgarian First League club Levski Sofia.[2]

Club career

Youth career

Oko-Flex was born in Dublin and started out playing with a local academy, Tolka Rovers, then St Kevin's Boys before being spotted by Arsenal scout Liam Brady, who had also come through St Kevin's Boys, with Oko-Flex then signing for the London club in 2013. He played in the same youth team as future first-team player Bukayo Saka and in 2018 the pair were among 10 of their squad that signed a first-year scholarship with the club.[3]

Celtic

He joined Celtic on a three-year deal from Arsenal in September 2018.[4] He made his first team debut for the club as a substitute against Hibernian in January 2021.[5] He made just two senior appearances during his time with the club, later stating that he and other young players found it first team opportunities difficult to come by having come through the academy.[6]

West Ham United

On 25 June 2021, Oko-Flex joined West Ham United on a two-year contract with an option for a third year.[7] On 16 August 2021, Oko-Flex scored a hat-trick in his Premier League 2 debut against his boyhood club Arsenal in a 6–1 home win.[8] On 15 December 2021, Oko-Flex was an unused substitute for West Ham's Premier League fixture at the Emirates Stadium, a match won 2–0 by Arsenal.[9] This was the first time he had made a first-team squad for the club. Oko-Flex made his debut for West Ham United on 25 August 2022 coming on as an 82nd minute substitute for Manuel Lanzini in a 3–0 away win against Viborg in the second leg of a play-off round game in the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League.[10] [11] He departed the club at the end of the 2022–23 season having made one first team appearance and featured on 35 occasions for the U21 side scoring 14 goals.[12]

Swansea City (loan)

On 30 August 2022, Oko-Flex joined Swansea City on loan for the remainder of the 2022–23 season.[13] He made 13 EFL Championship appearances before being recalled from his loan in January 2023.[14]

FC Zürich

On 14 August 2023, he signed a two-year contract with Swiss Super League club FC Zürich.[15] [16] On 17 September 2023, he scored on his debut for the club, in a 3–0 win away to FC Tuggen in the Swiss Cup.[17]

Botev Plovdiv

On 25 August 2025, Oko-Flex joined Bulgarian First League club Botev Plovdiv.[18] He impressed with Botev Plovdiv, scoring 7 goals in 15 appearances in all competitions, earning a move away from the club in January 2026.[19]

Levski Sofia

On 14 January 2026, Oko-Flex joined fellow Bulgarian First League club Levski Sofia on a three-year contract, after the club triggered his €300,000-worth release clause.[20]

International career

Oko-Flex was called up to the Republic of Ireland U21 squad for the first time in November 2021, for their 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers against Italy & Sweden.[21] [22] Oko-Flex made his Republic of Ireland U21 debut on 16 June 2023, in a 2–2 draw with Ukraine U21 in a friendly played in Bad Blumau, Austria.[23] On 13 October 2023, he scored both of his side's goals in a 2–1 win away to Latvia U21.[24]

Personal life

Oko-Flex is the son of the Nigerian-Irish community organiser Reginald Oko-Flex Inya.[25]

Career statistics

[26]

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueNational cupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Celtic U212019–20———2121
Celtic2020–21Scottish Premiership200000—20
West Ham United U212021–22———2121
West Ham United2022–23Premier League000010—10
Swansea City (loan)2022–23Championship130———130
FC Zürich2023–24Swiss Super League17231——203
2024–25Swiss Super League1201040—170
2025–26Swiss Super League0000——00
Total2924140—373
Botev Plovdiv2025–26Bulgarian First League14611——157
Levski Sofia2025–26Bulgarian First League00———00
Career total5885250427212

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2021/22 Premier League squads confirmed . Premier League . 10 September 2021 . 12 September 2021.
  2. News: Levski signed with Armstrong Oko-Flex. levski.bg . January 14, 2026. bg.
  3. Web site: Arsenal offer 10 first-year scholarships and release six others. 18 January 2018. dailycannon.com.
  4. Web site: Official Celtic Football Club Website | celticfc.com. Celtic. FC. Celtic FC.
  5. News: Celtic 1-0 Hibernian - Turnbull crashes in stunning free-kick for late lead. BBC Sport . January 11, 2021.
  6. Web site: Celtic fans thought I was the next big thing but here's why it didn't work out. Anthony. Evans. 12 December 2025. Daily Record.
  7. Web site: West Ham United sign promising forward Armstrong Oko-Flex | West Ham United. www.whufc.com.
  8. Web site: New signing Oko-Flex nets treble as West Ham U23s thrash Arsenal 6-1. George. Flood. August 16, 2021. www.standard.co.uk.
  9. Web site: Arsenal 2-0 West Ham. December 15, 2021. www.bbc.co.uk.
  10. Web site: Press Association . Irish underage international makes first-team debut as West Ham cruise past Danish side . The42 . 25 August 2022 . 26 August 2022.
  11. Web site: West Ham beat Viborg to cruise into group stage . BBC Sport . 24 August 2022 . 26 August 2022.
  12. Web site: West Ham United issue Retain List . West Ham United F.C. . 16 June 2023.
  13. Web site: Armstrong Okoflex joins Swansea City on loan . West Ham United F.C. . 30 August 2022.
  14. Web site: Armstong Oko-Flex recalled from Swansea City loan spell. www.swanseacity.com. 6 January 2023. 6 January 2023.
  15. Web site: News. FC Zürich.
  16. Web site: Irish striker Armstrong Oko-Flex signs deal with Swiss side FC Zurich. 14 August 2023. Independent.ie.
  17. Web site: Irish duo score amid encouraging starts at new clubs abroad. Paul. Fennessy. 17 September 2023. The 42.
  18. Web site: News . 2025-08-25 . FC Zürich . de.
  19. Web site: 'I was taught how to win but never how to fight' – Irish striker Armstrong Oko-Flex on his transformative move to Bulgaria. 12 December 2025. www.independent.ie.
  20. Web site: ПФК "Левски" подписа с Армстронг Око-Флекс. 14 January 2026.
  21. Web site: U-21 call-up for West Ham's Armstrong Oko-Flex. November 3, 2021. www.rte.ie.
  22. Web site: Crawford names squad for Italy/Sweden qualifiers | Football Association of Ireland. www.fai.ie.
  23. Web site: REPORT | U21 | Ireland 2-2 Ukraine | Football Association of Ireland. www.fai.ie.
  24. Web site: REPORT | U21 | Oko-Flex at the double for Ireland | Football Association of Ireland .
  25. Web site: Nigeria and England Battling Republic of Ireland For Arsenal Prodigy Okoflex. Ifeanyi. Emmanuel. 10 April 2017. All Nigeria Soccer. 12 June 2018.
  26. Web site: Republic of Ireland - A. Oko-Flex - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway . 2022-08-31 . uk.soccerway.com.