William Paul Troost-Ekong, MON1, is a Nigerian professional footballer and captain of Nigeria’s national football team – the Super Eagles. He plays center-back for the Greek Super League club, PAOK.
Ekong, born in Haarlem, Netherlands on September 1, 1993, is of a mixed race heritage, with a Dutch mom, Eleanor Troost, and a Nigerian father from Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Paul Ekong. His multicultural heritage shines through in his compound surname, Troost-Ekong.
In 2021, William married his longtime love, Molly, and together, they are raising three wonderful children: Zara, Oscar, and the newest addition to their family. He also shares a close bond with his two siblings, Emilly and Everest.
Standing tall at 6ft 3in, William had the opportunity to represent both the Netherlands and Nigeria internationally. He opted for Nigeria and made his debut for the Super Eagles in 2015.
Since then, he has proudly earned over 70 caps for his country.
William’s football journey actually began at Hockerill Anglo-European College in Bishop’s Stortford, England. He honed his skills at Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur’s youth teams before launching his senior career in the Netherlands with FC Groningen and FC Dordrecht. His talent took him to Belgian club KAA Gent, where he was loaned to Norwegian club FK Haugesund. By 2017, he was playing in Turkey for Bursaspor, and the following year, he joined the Italian Serie A club Udinese.
In 2020, William signed a five-year contract with Watford in the EFL Championship. After a brief stint on loan to Salernitana in Italy, he moved to PAOK in Greece in 2023.
On the international stage, Mr William made his senior debut for Nigeria on June 13, 2015, in an AFCON qualifying match against Chad. He played a crucial role in Nigeria’s under-23 team during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics. He captained the Super Eagles in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, earning a spot in the tournament’s Best XI of the Group Stage.
Off the pitch, William is known for his generosity, particularly in supporting football development in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria. He even launched the William Troost-Ekong Foundation in Uyo, which friends, comedians, and celebrities attended.
The Greek soccer legend William Troost-Ekong earns around £1 million annually at PAOK, averaging £16,000 per week. The least estimates we have of his net worth has been put at £5 million – mostly from his football career.
As a dedicated footballer with a heart for giving back, William Troost-Ekong continues to inspire the next generation both on and off the field.
And so, we are proud and honoured to present William Troost-Ekong as JolibaLive Person-Of-The-Day.
1 Member Order of the Nigeria – Nigeria’s 3rd highest award for outstanding achievement and patriotism.
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