African footballers. Victor Moses Biography. Victor Moses, born on December 12, 1990, is a Nigerian footballer who currently plays as a winger for Spartak Moscow in Russia. He has showcased his versatility by occasionally filling in as a wing-back throughout his career.
Moses kicked off his professional journey in the Championship with Crystal Palace. His standout performances there attracted the attention of Wigan Athletic, where he made his Premier League debut in 2010.
Early life
Moses was born in Lagos, Nigeria, to a Christian pastor. Tragedy struck when he was 11 years old, as his parents were killed during religious riots in Kaduna. At that time, Moses was playing football in the streets. A week later, with the help of friends who hid him, his relatives arranged for him to travel to the UK to seek asylum. Upon arrival, he was placed with a foster family in South London.
Read also: Meet the Nigerian football legends who made their mark in Serie A
He attended Stanley Technical High School, which is now known as the Harris Academy, in South Norwood. While playing football in the local Tandridge League for Cosmos 90 FC, Moses caught the attention of Crystal Palace, whose stadium, Selhurst Park, was just streets away from his school.
Given an opportunity in Palace’s academy, Moses was recommended to attend Whitgift School in Croydon, a fee-paying institution where Colin Pates, a former player for Arsenal and Chelsea, coached the football team. Moses gained recognition at the age of 14 after scoring an impressive 50 goals for Palace’s under-14s team. Over the course of three years, while playing for both Whitgift and Palace, he scored more than 100 goals. Additionally, he played a significant role in Whitgift’s triumphs in various School Cups, notably securing victory in a National Cup final by scoring all five goals against Healing School of Grimsby at the Walkers Stadium in Leicester.
Career
Crystal Palace
Victor Moses started playing for Palace when he was only 16, back in November 2007, against Cardiff City. He continued playing for them regularly and got his first goal in March 2008 against West Bromwich Albion. He played quite a few matches for Palace in the 2007-2008 season as they reached the Championship play-offs but lost to Bristol City. At the end of that season, he signed a new contract with Palace, which made manager Neil Warnock very happy.
Moses played in 32 games for Palace in the 2008-2009 season but the team didn’t do so well, finishing in 15th place. In the next season, he scored six goals in eight matches, but Palace faced financial troubles and went into administration in January 2010.
Read also: Who is Simy Nwankwo: Biography, career, life
Wigan Athletic
In January 2010, Moses moved to Wigan Athletic for £2.5 million after Palace went into administration. He made his debut in February 2010 against Sunderland and got his first assist for the club in March 2010 against Burnley. His first goal for Wigan came in May 2010 against Hull City.
Moses faced some injuries at the start of the 2010-2011 season and struggled to get back into the first-team lineup due to tough competition. He scored his first league goal of the season in November 2010 against West Bromwich Albion.
After the departure of another player, Moses became a regular starter for Wigan in the 2011-2012 season. He scored his first goal of the season in December 2011 against West Brom.
Chelsea
In August 2012, Chelsea finally secured Moses after several failed attempts. He made his debut for Chelsea in September 2012 against Queens Park Rangers. His first goal for Chelsea came in a League Cup game against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Read also: Nigerian midfielder Ebenezer Akinsanmiro makes dream debut for Inter Milan
Moses had a successful season with Chelsea, scoring goals in various competitions including the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup. He continued his good form into the following season, contributing to Chelsea’s success in the Europa League.
Loan spells
Moses went on loan to Liverpool for the 2013-2014 season and Stoke City for the 2014-2015 season, where he performed well and scored goals. He then joined West Ham United on loan for the 2015-2016 season.
Read also: From Chelsea to Bayern Munich: The Rise of Jamal Musiala
Return to Chelsea
Moses returned to Chelsea for the 2016-2017 season and impressed new manager Antonio Conte during preseason. He became a regular starter for Chelsea and played a key role in their Premier League title win that season.
Subsequent Loans and Transfer
After loan spells at various clubs, including Fenerbahçe and Inter Milan, Moses joined Spartak Moscow permanently in July 2021. He has continued to perform well for Spartak Moscow, winning the Russian Cup in the 2021-2022 season and making significant contributions to the team in subsequent seasons.
Family
Victor Moses, is married to Josephine. They celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary in June 2023. Before tying the knot, they were in a committed relationship for a long time. They exchanged vows in May 2017 in the presence of a small gathering of family members, close friends, and colleagues. Josephine, an English woman of Nigerian descent, shares a loving bond with Victor. Together, they have been blessed with three children. Their eldest son, Brentley, was born in 2012, followed by their daughter, Nyah, in 2015. Their youngest child, another son named Smith, joined the family in 2021.