Tammy Abraham
Tammy Abraham | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kevin Oghenetega Tamaraebi Bakumo-Abraham October 2, 1997 |
| Occupation | Professional footballer |
| Years active | 2016–present |
| Known for | Striker for Beşiktaş (on loan from Roma) and England national team |
Kevin Oghenetega Tamaraebi Bakumo-Abraham (born 2 October 1997), commonly known as Tammy Abraham, is a professional English football player who operates as a striker for Süper Lig side Beşiktaş, where he is on loan from Serie A club Roma. He also represents the England national team.
Abraham emerged from the Chelsea academy, making his senior debut for Chelsea in 2016. He subsequently enjoyed a prolific loan spell at Championship outfit Bristol City, where he uniquely secured the Player of the Season, Young Player of the Season, and top scorer accolades all within one campaign. Another loan stint at Swansea City concluded with the club’s relegation from the Premier League. In 2018, Abraham signed for Aston Villa, becoming the first Villa player since 1977 to reach 25 league goals in a single season.
Returning to Chelsea in 2019, he netted 18 goals throughout the 2019–20 season and was part of the squad that won the UEFA Champions League in his final year at the club. In 2021, Abraham transferred to Roma for €40 million, scoring 17 goals in his inaugural Serie A season—a record tally for an English player—and helped secure the first-ever UEFA Europa Conference League championship.
On the international stage, Abraham progressed through England’s youth ranks starting at under-18 level, featured in the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, and earned his senior England debut in November 2017.
2004–2016: Youth development
Abraham joined Chelsea’s academy at under-eight level and steadily climbed through its ranks. He played a key role in Chelsea youth teams winning back-to-back titles in both the UEFA Youth League and the FA Youth Cup during 2015 and 2016. During the 2015–16 UEFA Youth League campaign, he scored eight goals across nine matches, finishing as the competition’s second highest scorer. Additionally, he netted the decisive goal in the FA Youth Cup final victory over Manchester City in April. Across two seasons (2014–15 and 2015–16), Abraham amassed 74 goals in 98 appearances for Chelsea’s youth sides.
His performances earned him an invitation to train with Chelsea’s senior squad under interim manager Guus Hiddink towards the end of the 2015–16 season. Abraham made his first-team debut on 11 May 2016, coming off the bench during a 1–1 Premier League draw against Liverpool. The following week, he made his home debut at Stamford Bridge as a substitute in another 1–1 draw versus reigning champions Leicester City.
2016–17 season: Loan spell at Bristol City
On 5 August 2016, Abraham secured a season-long loan move to Championship side Bristol City from Chelsea. He marked his debut on the following day by scoring in a 2–1 comeback win over Wigan Athletic, although this goal was later credited to teammate Hörður Magnússon. He then scored the solitary goal in a 1–0 victory against Wycombe Wanderers, which helped Bristol City progress in the EFL Cup. On 13 August, Abraham recorded his first professional brace by netting a last-minute winner in a 2–1 triumph over Burton Albion. In September, despite Bristol City's narrow 3–2 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, he scored two goals and added two more that month, earning him both Championship Player of the Month and EFL Young Player of the Month honors.
By January 31, 2017, Abraham had reached his 16th goal in Championship play during a 2–2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday, setting a new record for most goals by a teenager since the Championship's inception. He concluded the season with a total of 23 goals—second only to Chris Wood of Leeds United—as Bristol City finished comfortably in 17th place, avoiding relegation. His exceptional contributions were recognized as he received Bristol City's Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, and Top Goalscorer awards—the first individual to achieve all three distinctions within one season.
2017–18 season: Loan spell at Swansea City
On 4 July 2017, Chelsea revealed that Abraham had committed to a new five-year deal and was immediately loaned out to Premier League side Swansea City for the duration of the season. He made his first appearance on 12 August during a goalless draw against Southampton. Just ten days afterward, Abraham opened his scoring account by netting in a 4–1 victory over Milton Keynes Dons in the League Cup, followed by his inaugural Premier League goal in the subsequent fixture, a 2–0 triumph versus Crystal Palace. On 14 October, he recorded a brace in a 2–0 win against Huddersfield Town, securing Swansea's first home success of that campaign. Despite this promising start, both Abraham and the team faced difficulties maintaining form, with no additional goals scored before the end of the calendar year.
After enduring an 825-minute scoring drought, Abraham broke his dry spell on 6 February 2018 by contributing two goals and two assists during an emphatic 8–1 victory over Notts County in the Fourth Round replay of the FA Cup, marking Swansea's largest ever win in the competition. On 7 April, he netted a late equalizer against West Brom, helping Swansea inch closer to safety; however, relegation was confirmed following a defeat on the final day to Stoke City. Abraham concluded his loan tenure with eight goals across 39 matches in all competitions.
2018–19 season: Loan move to Aston Villa
Upon returning from Swansea, Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri initially intended to retain Abraham, including him in the squad for the Community Shield match which ended in defeat to Manchester City. Nevertheless, on 31 August, Abraham was loaned out for the season to Championship club Aston Villa. He made his debut on 15 September in a 1–1 draw against Blackburn Rovers and found the net during his home debut four days later in a 2–0 victory over Rotherham United. On 28 November, Abraham scored four times in a remarkable 5–5 draw with Nottingham Forest, becoming Aston Villa's first player this century to score four goals in one game and earning Championship Player of the Month honors for November after tallying six goals in four outings.
By year-end, Abraham had amassed 16 goals from 20 appearances, topping the league’s scoring charts and sparking speculation about a potential recall to Chelsea amid their attacking difficulties. Interest also came from Wolverhampton Wanderers; however, FIFA rules restricted transfers due to his appearances for multiple clubs that season. Reportedly, Abraham declined a loan move to Wolves, choosing instead to remain at Villa until season’s end.
On 26 January, he scored twice against Ipswich Town, extending his streak to seven consecutive home matches with goals—a feat unmatched by any Villa player since 1933. In February, he became the first player since 1981 to reach 20 goals for Villa within a single season. By March, Abraham had achieved his 50th career league goal and played a key role as Villa secured nine straight victories, equaling a club record dating back to 1910. In April, upon netting his 25th goal of that campaign, he became Aston Villa’s first player since Andy Gray in 1977 to hit that milestone. Abraham earned selection in the PFA Team of the Year and was instrumental in Villa’s promotion back to the Premier League, scoring during the play-off semi-final against West Bromwich Albion. He wrapped up the season with an impressive total of 26 goals from 40 appearances, finishing second only to Norwich City's Teemu Pukki among Championship top scorers.
2019–20 season
Upon the conclusion of his loan spell, Abraham rejoined Chelsea and was given the No. 9 jersey. During the 2019 UEFA Super Cup clash with Liverpool on 14 August, he earned a penalty in extra time, which Jorginho successfully converted to equalize at 2–2 and push the game to a shootout. Abraham stepped up to take the decisive penalty but was denied by goalkeeper Adrián, resulting in a 5–4 defeat for Chelsea. After the match, Abraham was subjected to racial abuse on Twitter. Ten days later, he opened his Chelsea goal account by scoring twice in a 3–2 away victory against Norwich City. The following month, he achieved his first hat trick for Chelsea during a 5–2 triumph over Wolves, becoming the club’s youngest player (aged 21 years and 347 days) to net three goals in a Premier League fixture. On 2 October, he scored his inaugural Champions League goal in a 2–1 away win at Lille.
2020–21 season
Abraham made his first start of the 2020–21 Chelsea F.C. season on 23 September 2020 and opened his scoring for the campaign against Barnsley in the third round of the EFL Cup, helping secure a comprehensive 6–0 victory. He continued his scoring streak with goals in consecutive matches, including a late equalizer against West Brom on 26 September in a thrilling 3–3 draw at The Hawthorns. In November, Abraham found the net in three consecutive wins versus Sheffield United, Rennes, and Newcastle United, also registering his first UEFA Champions League goal during a 3–0 success over Rennes.
On 24 January 2021, Abraham delivered a hat-trick in the fourth round of the FA Cup, guiding Chelsea to a 3–1 victory against Championship side Luton Town. This made him the first English player to score an FA Cup hat-trick for Chelsea since Frank Lampard in 2007 and marked him as the first Chelsea academy graduate to achieve double-digit goal tallies across two consecutive seasons since Mike Fillery in the 1982–83 campaign.
Roma
On 17 August 2021, Abraham signed a five-year deal with Serie A outfit Roma, reportedly valued at £34 million. Chelsea secured a £68 million buy-back option that can only be activated after Abraham completes two full seasons with Roma.
2021–22 season
Abraham made his Serie A debut on 22 August, providing two assists as Roma triumphed 3–1 over Fiorentina. Four days later, he appeared for the first time in the UEFA Europa Conference League during a 3–0 win against Trabzonspor. His maiden goal for Roma came on 29 August in a commanding 4–0 victory over Salernitana. On 16 September, he netted his first Conference League goal in an emphatic 5–1 win versus CSKA Sofia. Abraham debuted in the Coppa Italia on 20 January 2022, contributing both a goal and an assist as Roma defeated Lecce 3–1. Three days afterward, he scored twice against Empoli, becoming the first Englishman in three decades to surpass ten Serie A goals within a single season. On 25 May, he featured in the Conference League final where Roma secured a 1–0 win over Feyenoord.
2022–23 season
On 8 January 2023, Abraham netted a last-minute equaliser versus Serie A titleholders Milan. Seven days later, he provided two assists to Paulo Dybala in a 2–0 victory against Fiorentina. On 31 May, he participated in the Europa League final, where Roma were defeated by Sevilla in a penalty shootout following a 1–1 draw, missing the opportunity to secure a complete set of UEFA trophies. Abraham faced scrutiny for scoring only eight goals in Serie A, a notable drop from the 17 he achieved the previous season. He sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury during the final league game against Spezia.
2023–24 season
Following his recovery from the ACL injury, Abraham made his comeback on 6 April 2024 in a 1–0 win over local rivals Lazio. He managed to score a late equaliser against Napoli on 28 April, which stood as his sole goal of the campaign across just 12 appearances.
2024–25 season: Loan to AC Milan
On 30 August 2024, Abraham secured a season-long loan move to AC Milan. He opened his scoring account for Milan with a penalty in a commanding 4–0 triumph over Venezia on 14 September. However, on 6 October, he missed a penalty after controversially taking it from the designated taker Christian Pulisic and was subsequently disciplined by manager Paulo Fonseca. Abraham scored a stoppage-time winner in the Supercoppa Italiana final against Inter Milan on 6 January 2025. Later, on 5 February, he netted twice against his parent club Roma to eliminate them from the Coppa Italia.
2025–26 season: Loan to Beşiktaş
Beşiktaş confirmed Abraham’s loan transfer on 2 July 2025 following his medical examinations. He recorded a hat-trick on 7 August during a 4–1 victory over St Patrick's Athletic in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers.
International career
Prior to making his competitive debut for England’s senior team in October 2019, Abraham was also eligible to represent Nigeria through his father and had been approached by the Nigerian Football Association. Despite speculation about switching national allegiance, he reaffirmed his dedication to England upon receiving his first call-up in November 2017.
Youth
Abraham featured for England at under-18 and under-19 levels, registering his first youth international goals with a brace against Switzerland U18s in March 2015. During the 2016 U19 European Championship, he appeared in three matches before England were knocked out by Italy in the semi-finals. His England U21 debut came in October 2016 during European Championship qualifiers, where he scored twice against Bosnia and Herzegovina U21s. At the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, Abraham scored once before England were eliminated by Germany on penalties in the semi-finals.
In May 2018, after missing out on the World Cup squad, he joined England U20s for the Toulon Tournament and contributed crucial goals as England clinched their third consecutive title. He was also included in England’s squad for the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
Senior
Abraham earned his first senior call-up for England in November 2017 and made his debut as a substitute during a goalless friendly against Germany at Wembley Stadium. Despite eligibility for Nigeria, he committed fully to England after making his competitive debut versus the Czech Republic in October 2019. His maiden senior international goal came on 14 November 2019 during Euro 2020 qualifying against Montenegro.
Personal life
Abraham was born in Camberwell, Greater London, to parents of Nigerian descent and grew up supporting Arsenal. His younger sibling, Timmy, is also a professional footballer currently playing for Tonbridge Angels. In January 2017, Abraham experienced a car accident and was initially charged with driving without a licence or insurance; however, he successfully obtained his driving licence two months afterward.
Club
| Club | Season | League | Apps | Goals | National cup | Apps | Goals | League cup | Apps | Goals | Europe | Apps | Goals | Total | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea | 2015–16 | Premier League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||
| Chelsea | 2018–19 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| Chelsea | 2019–20 | Premier League | 34 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 18 | ||
| Chelsea | 2020–21 | Premier League | 22 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | — | 0 | 32 | 12 | ||
| Total Chelsea | 58 | 21 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 82 | 30 | ||||
| Bristol City (loan) | 2016–17 | Championship | 41 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | — | — | 48 | 26 | ||||
| Swansea City (loan) | 2017–18 | Premier League | 31 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 39 | 8 | ||||
| Aston Villa (loan) | 2018–19 | Championship | 37 | 25 | — | — | 3 | 1 | 40 | 26 | ||||||
| Roma | Serie A |
37 ||17 ||2 ||1 ||— ||— ||14 ||9 ||— ||— ||53 ||27 | ||||||||||||||
| Roma | Serie A |
38 ||8 ||2 ||0 ||— ||— ||14 ||1 ||— ||— ||54 ||9 | ||||||||||||||
| Roma | Serie A |
8 ||1 ||0 ||0 ||— ||— ||4 ||0 ||— ||— ||12 ||1 | ||||||||||||||
| Roma | Serie A |
1 ||0 ||— ||— ||— ||— ||— ||— ||— ||— ||1 ||0 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Roma |
84 !!26 !!4 !!1 !!— !!— !!32 !!10 !!— !!— !!120 !!37 | |||||||||||||||
| AC Milan (loan) | 2024–25 | Serie A |
28 ||3 ||5 ||4 ||— ||— ||9 ||2 ||2 ||1 ||44 ||10 | |||||||||||||
| Beşiktaş (loan) | 2025–26 | Süper Lig |
12 ||5 ||0 ||0 ||— ||— ||6* !!5* !!— !!— !!18 !!10 |
- Includes UEFA Europa League and Conference League appearances/goals
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 2 |0 | ||
| England | 2 |1 | ||
| England | 2 |0 | ||
| England | 4 |2 | ||
| England | 1 |0 |
Total: 11 appearances, 3 goals
Honours
Aston Villa
- EFL Championship play-offs winner: 2019
Chelsea
- UEFA Champions League champion: 2020–21
- UEFA Super Cup winner: 2021
- FA Cup finalist: 2019–20
AS Roma
- UEFA Europa Conference League winner: 2021–22
- UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2022–23
AC Milan
- Supercoppa Italiana champion: 2024–25
- Coppa Italia finalist: 2024–25
England U21
- Toulon Tournament champion: 2018
Individual
- EFL Championship Player of the Month: November 2018
- Bristol City Player of the Season: 2016–17
- Bristol City Young Player of the Season: 2016–17
- PFA Team of the Year (Championship): 2018–19
- UEFA Europa Conference League Team of the Season: 2021–22
- Coppa Italia Top Scorer: 2024–25