Chukwuemeka Ademola Amachi "Chuks" Aneke (born 3 July 1993) is a former English professional footballer who played as a forward. He is currently a scout for Shewsbury Town.
Aneke began his career as a youngster with Arsenal, and spent time on loan with Football League clubs Stevenage, Preston North End and Crewe Alexandra before leaving for two seasons in Belgian football with Zulte Waregem. Returning to England in 2016, he spent three seasons with Milton Keynes Dons and two with Charlton Athletic before signing briefly for Birmingham City in 2021 before returning to Charlton Athletic in 2022. After leaving Charlton Athletic in 2025, Aneke had a brief spell at Shrewsbury Town.
He was capped for England from under-16 to under-19 levels.
Club career Arsenal Aneke joined Arsenal in 2001 at the age of seven, and progressed through the ranks. He made his reserve-team debut against Maidenhead United in a pre-season friendly on 28 July 2009. Aneke and fellow academy player Benik Afobe were offered the chance to visit FC Barcelona's training base with view to signing for them. Amid to his future, he contributed to Arsenal’s U18 win against Nottingham Forest’s U18 to help the club retain their Premier Academy League title. However, Aneke signed a professional contract with Arsenal in July 2010.
Ahead of the 2011–12 season, Aneke signed a contract extension with the club. He scored for Arsenal's reserve side in friendly victories against Woking, Hastings United, and Stevenage, and finally made his competitive first-team debut for Arsenal in the club's 3–1 League Cup victory against Shrewsbury Town on 20 September 2011, coming on as a 90th-minute substitute in the match.
After thirteen seasons, Aneke was released by Arsenal in June 2014 at the expiry of his contract.
Stevenage (loan) Aneke joined League One club Stevenage on 22 November, on loan until 22 January 2012. He made his debut four days later, playing 57 minute of a goalless draw at home to Walsall before being replaced by Darius Charles. Aneke was sent off for a high-footed challenge in a 1–0 defeat to Leyton Orient on 2 January 2012, resulting in a three-game suspension. It was later announced that Aneke would remain on loan at Stevenage until March, with a view to extending the loan until the end of the 2011–12 season. As a result, he didn’t make another appearance for the club until on 25 February 2012 against Charlton Athletic, coming on as a 75th minute substitute, in the remaining 15 minutes of the game, losing 2–0.
Aneke returned to his parent club on 5 March, and on the same day scored in a 2–0 reserve victory against Chelsea.
Preston North End (loan) Aneke joined another League One club, Preston North End, on 22 March on loan until the end of the season, linking up with Graham Westley who had managed him at Stevenage. He scored his first senior goal on his debut two days later in a 1–1 draw with Bury. He made two more starts and four substitute appearances without scoring in what remained of the season.
Crewe Alexandra (first loan spell) On 7 September 2012, Aneke joined Crewe Alexandra of League One on a month's loan.
He made his debut the next day as a second-half substitute against Tranmere Rovers and played the rest of the match, as the club drew 2–2. Aneke started the following fixture, away at Stevenage, and set up a goal for A-Jay Leitch-Smith to score his second goal of the game, just two minutes after the first one but he received a second-half red card for a "two-footed lunge" so had to serve a three-match suspension.After returning to the starting line–up against Oldham Athletic on 2 October 2012, Aneke scored his first goal for "The Alex", in a 2–1 win against Hartlepool United four days later. After adding two more goals for Crewe Alexandra, his loan extension with the club was extended for a month.
He became a first team regular before losing his place in the starting eleven and was placed on the substitute bench by December because of his poor performances. On 17 December 2012, Aneke extended his loan spell with Crewe Alexandra for another month. He later scored two more goals throughout January, including a goal against Bradford City in the EFL Trophy that saw him nominated for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy’s latest ‘Ultimate Finish’ competition. The loan was gradually extended until the end of the season.
However, he found himself pushing for a first team place in the starting eleven, which saw him place on the substitute bench. Despite this, he helped Crewe reach the Football League Trophy Final, started the match, and was involved in the build-up to the second goal as Crewe beat Southend United 2–0 at Wembley. Aneke scored on 23 April 2013 and 27 April 2013 against Sheffield United and Walsall respectively. After the match, manager Davis praised his performance, saying: "He has that quality and shown that he has that type of goal in his locker. I thought Chuks was excellent in behind the striker, where he can play those passes. He looked quick and strong for such a big guy and was a real powerhouse for us." At the end of the 2012–13 season, Aneke scored six goals from 30 league appearances, of which 21 were as a starter.
Crewe Alexandra (second loan spell) Aneke returned to Crewe on loan for the first half of the 2013–14 season
He made his second debut for the club, coming on as a 69th-minute substitute, in a 3–3 draw against Rotherham United in the opening game of the season. In a follow–up match, Aneke scored his first goal for Crewe Alexandra in his second spell, in a 3–2 loss against Bury in the first round of the EFL Cup. He then scored the only goal of the game, in a 1–0 win against Accrington Stanley in the first round of the EFL Trophy. Since re–joining the club, Aneke continued to establish himself in the first team, rotating in the midfield position, though he formed a striking partnership with Mathias Pogba, Byron Moore, Tom Hitchcock and Uche Ikpeazu. However, Aneke spent two months, struggling to score goals, with only scoring two goals all leading up to November.
Despite this, his stay was extended to the end of the campaign. Aneke ended up his goal drought when he came on as a 78th minute substitute and scored the only goal of the game, in a 1–0 win against Crawley Town. This was followed up by setting up the opening goal of the season and scoring the equalising goal, in a 2–2 draw against Coventry City. Aneke then scored four times throughout February, including a brace victory against Sheffield United. After the match, local newspaper Crewe Chronicle praised his performances. His goal scoring form led manager Davis hoping to sign the player on a permanent basis, calling him "unplayable". He then added five more goals throughout March, including two braces against Peterborough United and Gillingham.
Once again, manager Davis praised Aneke’s performance, believing that the player has improved at Crewe Alexandra on two separate interviews. However, Aneke was sent–off in the 45th minute "for leading with an alleged elbow on the stroke of half-time", in a 1–0 loss against Wolves on 12 April 2014. After serving a three match suspension, he returned to the first team, coming on as a 73rd minute substitute against Preston North End and helped the club win 2–1 to ensure the Crewe’s finish just two places and four points above the relegation zone in League One.< br>
Aneke finished as the club's top scorer, with 14 goals from 40 league matches, 16 from 44 in all competitions. For his performance, he was nominated for Crewe’s Player of the Year award but lost out to Matt Tootle.
Zulte Waregem On 21 June 2014, Belgian Pro League club Zulte Waregem announced the signing of Aneke on a three-year contract following his release by Arsenal. Upon joining the club, he said: "I am very impressed with the first training. I want to do well here and work hard for the team. 'I am a player who likes to play around, create chances and score. I have to, because I am an attacking midfielder who prefers to play in the ten position. I knew Thorgan Hazard, but I am a very different type of footballer than him. Of course I hope to score as many goals as he did. I chose Zulte Waregem because I think Belgian football suits my playing style. I didn't know Essevee, but I did know the big clubs like Anderlecht and Standard Liège."
2014–15 season Aneke made his debut for Zulte Waregem in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League Second Round against Zawisza Bydgoszcz and started the whole game, in a 2–1 win. He scored his first goal for the club in the return leg and set up the opening goal of the game, in a 3–1 win to help Zulte Waregem advance to the next round. Since joining the club, Aneke became involved in the first team, where he was rotated in and out of the starting line–up, playing in attacking and centre–midfield positions.
Aneke then scored his first goal for Zulte Waregem, scoring an equalising goal just a minute left to full time, in a 1–1 draw against Royal Excel Mouscron on 20 August 2014. After the match, he said scoring his first goal for the club gave him confidence. Aneke added two more goals in December, coming against Lierse and Royal Excel Mouscron. However, he found himself being booked that saw him suspended for the combination of three matches. Despite this, Aneke went on to make thirty–eight appearances and scoring four times in all competitions. Reflecting on his first season at Zulte Waregem, he said: "Before, I always played on ten (along with the strikers, ed). The coach decides. I'm always happy when I'm on the team. But it could be better. As a team we can do better, individually I can do better too. But it could be better. As a team we can do better, individually I can do better too."
2015–16 season Aneke made three starts in the first three league matches of the 2015–16 season. He said: "I have indeed come here to develop myself further. This is part of football and as a professional you have to deal with it and make the best of it. I already feel that it makes me a better footballer and I also think that this role suits me. I certainly don't feel like I have to do the dirty work now, quite the contrary." However, Aneke suffered a tear in his meniscus that saw him out for a month.
He made his return from injury, coming on as a late substitute, in a 4–2 win against Westerlo on 25 September 2015. Since returning from injury, Aneke made seven more starts, playing in the defensive midfield position and centre–midfield position. He scored his first goal of the season, scoring the last minute goal of the game, in a 4–0 win against Sint-Truidense on 28 October 2015. Aneke scored his second goal of the season, in a 2–2 draw against Royal Excel Mouscron on 6 November 2015. However, he suffered a knee injury and was eventually out for the rest of the 2015–16 season. While out with a knee injury, Aneke was linked with a move to English club and OH Leuven in the January transfer window but he ended up staying at the club. At the end of the 2015–16 season, Aneke went on to make twelve appearances and scoring two times in all competitions.