Chris Odoi-Atsem

Chris Odoi-Atsem (born May 28, 1995) is an American soccer player for D.C. United in Major League Soccer.

Chris Odoi-Atsem
Personal information
Full name Chris Odoi-Atsem
Date of birth (1995-05-28) May 28, 1995
Place of birth Mitchellville, Maryland, United States
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 D.C. United
Number 3
Youth career
2008–2013 AC Bethesda
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2016 Maryland Terrapins 86 (3)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017– D.C. United 28 (1)
2017 → Richmond Kickers (loan) 1 (0)
2019 → Loudoun United (loan) 6 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Early life

Chris Odoi-Atsem was born and raised in Mitchellville, Maryland and attended Holy Trinity Episcopal Day School and DeMatha Catholic High School.[1] where he played youth soccer for AC Bethesda in the National Capital Soccer League and eventually in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy league. Odi-Atsem was a regular on the team from 2008 until 2013. Odoi-Atsem also played high school soccer for DeMatha Catholic High School, where he helped them win a state championship in 2011.

College

During the 2013 NCAA Division I men's soccer season, Odoi-Atsem made his college soccer debut, coming on as a sub in 3–3 draw against Stanford in Palo Alto, California on August 30, 2013.[2] On September 8, 2013, Odoi-Atsem scored his first collegiate goal in a 2–3 loss to VCU. He finished his freshman season making 25 appearances, and starting in 20 matches.

Odoi-Atsem earned his first conference honors during his sophomore year at Maryland. Following the end of the regular season, Odoi-Atsem earned First Team All-Big Ten Conference honors. Odoi-Atsem played in and started in all 21 games the Terrapins played during the 2014 season. During his junior year, Odoi-Atsem achieved Second Team All-Big Ten Conference honors and made 20 appearances for the Terrapins. As a senior, Odoi-Atsem was part of a Maryland squad that spent most of the 2016 NCAA Division I men's soccer season ranked first in the country. Odoi-Atsem earned First Team All-Big Ten honors, as well as NSCAA First Team All-Midwest Region.[3][4]

Professional

Odoi-Atsem was considered one of the top prospects in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft[5][6] and was selected with the 12th overall pick by D.C. United.[7][8] On April 30, 2017, Odoi-Atsem made his professional and MLS debut in a 3–1 away win at Atlanta United. Odoi-Atsem came on in the 90th minute for Lloyd Sam and played the final five minutes of stoppage time.[9] On November 28, 2017 his contract option with United was declined.[10] D.C. United re-signed Odoi-Atsem on February 16, 2018.[11]

He returned to the field after his battle with cancer on 29 May 2019, playing 67 minutes in a game against Chicago Fire.[12] Odoi-Astem played with D.C. United's USL affiliate, Loudoun United in 2019.

Odoi-Atsem scored his first goal for D.C. United on October 18, 2020, in a 2–1 win over FC Cincinnati.[13] On January 27, 2021, D.C. United re-signed Odoi-Atsem to a two-year contract with a 2023 option.[14]

Personal life

Odoi-Atsem is of Ghanaian descent through his parents.[15]

In October 2018, Odoi-Atsem was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin's Lymphoma, unofficially ending his 2018 season with D.C. United as he began a chemotherapy regimen at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.[16] He completed his cancer treatment in January 2019.[17]

References
  1. Goff, Steven (January 12, 2017). "Two top hopefuls for MLS draft trace a bond back to D.C.-area elementary school". Washington Post. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  2. Juarez, Aaron (August 30, 2013). "Soccer Box Score (Final) #2 Maryland Terrapins vs Stanford (Aug 30, 2013 at Stanford, Calif.)". Maryland Terrapins. UMTerps.com. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  3. Jones, Steven. "Maryland's Chris Odoi-Atsem, Alex Crognale Now On Opposite Sides". Pressbox DC. Monumental Sports. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  4. "Chris Odoi-Atsem".
  5. Galarcep, Ives. "Top prospects turn heads on opening day of MLS combine". Goal.com. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  6. Parchman, Will. "Parchman: Which 2017 SuperDraft candidates are MLS-ready out of the box?". MLS Soccer. mlssoccer.com.
  7. Goff, Steven (January 13, 2017). "D.C. United drafts Maryland defender, waits on Ian Harkes resolution". Washington Post. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  8. "MLS Draft 2017: D.C. United selects Maryland Terrapins defender Chris Odoi-Atsem". Black and Red United. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  9. "Stats: Atlanta United FC v DC United". Major League Soccer. mlssoccer.com. April 30, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  10. "D.C. United exercise contract options on six players". dcunited.com. November 28, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  11. https://www.dcunited.com/post/2018/02/16/united-sign-defender-chris-odoi-atsem
  12. Rodriguez, Alicia (May 29, 2019). "Chris Odoi-Atsem gets first DC United start since cancer battle". Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  13. Liljenwall, Ari (October 18, 2020). "FC Cincinnati 1, D.C. United 2 | 2020 MLS Match Recap". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  14. Sigal, Jonathan (January 27, 2021). "Chris Odoi-Atsem re-signs with DC United through 2022 season". mlssoccer.com. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  15. "MLS side DC United land Ghanaian youngster Odoi-Atsem". www.kickgh.com.
  16. Goff, Steven (October 16, 2018). "D.C. United's Chris Odoi-Atsem has Hodgkin's lymphoma, plans to come back next season". Washington Post. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  17. "Chris Odoi-Atsem Completes Final Cancer Treatment". January 31, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
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