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Everything you need to know about the Super Eagles-eligible Crystal Palace playmaker Michael Olise, including his formative years, career achievements, parents, nationality and net worth.
Michael Olise background
Michael Olise is a French youth international professional footballer who plays as a playmaker through the middle or on the right flank.
Olise's career has been played wholly in England, representing Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City in his youth career, before transfers to Reading and Crystal Palace.
The Palace superstar’s international future has generated intense speculation, as he could represent France, Nigeria, England or Algeria.
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08:39 - 18.05.2024
What new Eagles coach said about Nigeria-eligible forward Michael Olise
Nigeria and Super Eagles hopeful Michael Olise has been described as a great human being alongside teammate Eberechi Eze.
Michael Olise
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Full name: Michael Akpovie Olise
Birth date: December 12, 2001
Nationality: French
Place of birth: Hammersmith, London, England
Age: 22 years old (as of May 2024)
Position: Attacking Midfielder (Right)
Current club: Crystal Palace
Height: 6 ft (184cm)
Marital status: Unmarried
Girlfriend: Unknown
Parents: Mr Vincent and Mrs Olise
Sibling: Richard Olise
Net worth: £9 million
Salary: £5,200,000 per year (£100,000 per week)
Instagram: m.olise
Twitter: @MichaelOlise10
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How old is Michael Olise?
Michael Olise is 22 years old at the time of writing (May 2024).
Michael Olise profile
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Having been born in Hammersmith, London, it was unsurprising that Michael Olise represented clubs in the capital early in his formative years.
According to Transfermarkt, the youngster’s youth career began at Arsenal before leaving for cross-town rivals Chelsea as a seven-year-old in 2009, spending seven years in West London before departing in 2016.
A brief spell in Man City’s setup preceded Olise’s move to Reading in 2018 when a then-16-year-old Olise was one of 12 teenagers inducted into Reading's Academy on a two-year scholarship in July.
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The tyro represented the club's U18s and U21s before making his Championship debut against Leeds on March 12, 2019, having been among the substitutes three days prior against Wigan.
Several appearances for Reading’s first team followed before Olise’s eventual promotion to the Royals’ main group in the 2019-20 season, with the 18-year-old becoming a permanent fixture from mid-February 2020.
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Football’s shutdown because of COVID-19 did not stall the talented player’s involvement, as he continued in the Royals main side post-lockdown, featuring in the final nine games of the 2019-20 campaign under Mark Bowen.
Veljko Paunovic was a beneficiary of Olise's talent in the 2020-21 season, in which the playmaker's talent was unmistakable as he made 44 appearances for the Royals.
He notched his first Championship goal in Reading's 2-0 win over Barnsley in gameweek two of his breakout season, eventually scoring seven times and assisting 12. Olise's impressive performances saw him named the EFL's Young Player of the Season for 2020-21 and included in the EFL Team of the Season.
The 20-year-old’s displays in English football’s second tier did not go unnoticed, as Crystal Palace snapped up the burgeoning talent in July 2021 after activating his £8.37 million release clause.
The Premier League has witnessed Olise's sterling talent across two years at Selhurst Park, with the playmaker flourishing despite intermittent injury issues. He was the Crystal Palace Players' Player of the Season for 2022-23 and his second-half stoppage time free-kick against Manchester United was voted Goal of the Season.
Olise has made 81 Premier League appearances as of May 2024, scoring 14 times and assisting 21.
Michael Olise Career Achievements
Individual awards
Youth
Reading Scholar of the Season: 2018−19
Championship
EFL Championship Young Player of the Season: 2020–21
EFL Championship Team of the Season: 2020–21
PFA Team of the Year: 2020–21 Championship
Premier League
Premier League Goal of the Month: January 2023
Crystal Palace Goal of the Season: 2022–23
Crystal Palace Players’ Player of the Season: 2022–23
Michael Olise nationality (Why does Michael Olise play for France?)
Michael Olise represents France, despite being eligible for Nigeria, Algeria and England. The Crystal Palace man has played for the U18s and U21 youth sides, although he has not made his Les Blues debut.
Olise’s exclusion from Didier Deschamps’ France side for this summer’s European Championship means the 22-year-old will wait a bit longer before representing the two-time world champions.
Michael Olise parents
Olise’s eligibility for four nations is an upshot of his parents. His father — Vincent Olise — is Nigerian, his mother is French-Algerian and he is English by birthright citizenship.
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Michael Olise sibling
While Michael Olise left Chelsea's academy years back, his brother Richard is still at the West London club and has represented their U18s and U21s.
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The 19-year-old right-back, who turns 20 on September 9, 2024, played for England's U18s in a friendly against Wales in September 2021, but has made no additional appearances at youth level. He is also eligible for four countries.
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Will Michael Olise play for Nigeria?
The Palace star’s exclusion by France for the upcoming Eur0 2024 tournament has opened the door for Nigeria to make another play for the coveted 22-year-old.
It remains to be seen if Olise, previously named on the Super Eagles’ standby list for Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin and Lesotho in March 2021, will be deterred by his Les Blues snub and opt for the three-time African champions.
Will Michael Olise play for England?
Olise’s non-inclusion by France means Gareth Southgate could name him in England’s provisional squad for Euro 2024, contingent on the Palace man showing interest in playing for the Three Lions.
The 22-year-old rejected the opportunity to play for England’s U21 side in 2022, as revealed by the Young Lions’ head coach Lee Carsley.
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16:45 - 18.05.2024
EURO 2024: Super Eagles and 2 other teams Michael Olise can play for after France snub
Michael Olise of Crystal Palace was recently dropped out of France's squad for the forthcoming EURO 2024 competition in Germany.
“We made Crystal Palace and the player aware that we were interested and he has chosen to go to France and that is his prerogative,” said Carsley in March 2022. “You cannot force anyone and I try to stay away from capping someone just to stop them doing something else.
“It would have been great to have him in the squad, where he could have shown Gareth (Southgate) what he can do and he could have moved up.”
Michael Olise Chelsea
Chelsea’s involvement in Olise’s development is well-known, as he spent seven years in the club’s youth team before leaving in 2016.
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However, the West London club were close to welcoming the 22-year-old back in the summer of 2023. The Blues thought an agreement would be reached for the Palace man after triggering his £35million release clause, but Olise committed to the Eagles with a new four-year contract in mid-August 2023.
Chelsea eventually acquired Cole Palmer from Manchester City, and the Englishman flourished in a storming debut season at Stamford Bridge.
Michael Olise and Eze
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Crystal Palace’s dynamic attacking midfielders Michael Olise (22) and Eberechi Eze (25) are arguably in contention for top-ranked player outside the Premier League’s so-called top six sides.
Olise and Eze have flourished since Oliver Glasner was appointed in South London, playing as No. 10s in the Austrian's 3-4-2-1.
Michael Olise girlfriend
Little is known about Michael Olise’s girlfriend or the presence of one. Olise’s Instagram posts have primarily comprised photos of him representing France’s youth sides and Palace.
Michael Olise net worth
There are several contradictory reports of Michael Olise’s net worth. However, Salary Sport claim the 22-year-old’s net worth is £9 million.
Michael Olise salary
Olise’s contract extension in August 2023 saw him earn a pay rise to £100,000 weekly, £5,200,000 yearly.
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