Michael Olise is a young talent who has taken the Premier League by storm with his creativity, flair, and versatility.
The 22-year-old midfielder, who can play on either wing or behind the striker, joined Crystal Palace in 2021 from Reading, where he won the EFL Young Player of the Season award.
Born in England to a Nigerian father and a French-Algerian mother, Olise has represented France at the youth level. Still, he is also eligible to play for Algeria, England, or Nigeria at the senior level.
Profile Data
- Full name: Michael Akpovie Olise
- Date of birth: December 12, 2001
- Age: 22-years old
- Gender: Male
- Place of birth: Hammersmith, London, England
- Nationality: French
- Profession: Footballer
- Height: 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
- Parents: Vincent (father), Franco-Algerian (mother)
- Siblings: Richard (brother)
- Spouse: N/A
- Children: N/A
- Relationship status: Single
- Net worth: $5 million
Early Life & Education
Michael Olise is 23 and was born on December 12, 2001, in Hammersmith, London, England.
He is the eldest of two sons born to Vincent, a Nigerian father, and a French-Algerian mother, whose name is unknown.
Olise grew up in a multicultural household, where he learned to speak English, French, and some Nigerian languages.
Olise joined Arsenal’s youth academy in 2009 when he was only eight. However, he soon moved to Chelsea, where he spent seven years and progressed through the ranks.
He also had a brief spell at Manchester City before joining Reading in 2017 when he was 16.
Olise completed his education at the John Madejski Academy, a school affiliated with Reading FC, where he studied sports and business.
He also earned his GCSEs and A-levels and was praised for his academic achievements and football skills.
Personal Life
Michael Olise is very private and prefers to keep his personal life away from the media.
As far as we know, he has not revealed much about his romantic relationship history, and he is currently single. He does not have any children either.
Olise is focused on his football career and spends most of his time training, playing, or enjoying his hobbies, such as music, fashion, and gaming.
He is also close to his family, especially his brother Richard, a footballer who plays for Chelsea’s under-21 team.
Olise is proud of his mixed heritage and has expressed his admiration for his parents, who have supported him throughout his journey.
Career
Michael Olise began his professional career at Reading, where he made his senior debut on March 12 2019, in a 3–0 home defeat to Leeds United.
He signed a three-year contract with the club in July 2019, and he became a key player for them in the 2020-21 season, scoring seven goals and providing 12 assists in 46 games.
He was named the EFL Young Player of the Season, and he attracted the interest of several Premier League clubs.
On July 8 2021, Olise signed a five-year deal with Crystal Palace after they activated his £8.37 million release clause.
He made his Premier League debut on September 11 2021, in a 3–0 home win against Tottenham, and he scored his first goal on October 3 2021, in a 2–2 home draw against Leicester City.
He became the youngest player to assist three goals from open play in a single Premier League match on April 9 2023, in a 5–1 victory against Leeds United, and he also became the first Palace player to register ten assists in a single Premier League season on May 13 2023, in a 2–0 win against AFC Bournemouth.
On August 17 2023, he signed a new four-year deal with Crystal Palace, despite rumours of a return to Chelsea.
Olise has also represented France at youth level, and he has seven caps and one goal for the France under-21 team.
He made his debut on March 24 2022, in a 2–1 win against Denmark, and he scored his first goal on March 31 2022, in a 3–0 win against Russia.
He was part of the squad that reached the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship semi-finals, where they lost to Spain on penalties.
Awards
Michael Olise has won several awards and accolades in his career, individually and collectively.
Some of the most notable ones are:
- EFL Young Player of the Season: 2020-21.
- EFL Championship Team of the Season: 2020-21.
- Premier League Goal of the Month: December 2023.
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship: Semi-finalist 2023.
Controversy
Michael Olise has been involved in some controversy in his career, mainly related to his transfer moves and international allegiance.
Some of the most notable ones are:
In January 2024, it was reported that Manchester United were interested in signing Olise.
Still, there was disagreement among the club’s scouts over his potential, as some were wary of his background, having come from the same club as Wilfried Zaha and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who had failed to impress at Old Trafford.
In August 2023, Olise turned down a move to Chelsea, his former club, and signed a new contract with Crystal Palace, which angered the Blues’ fans and officials.
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish was also unhappy with how Chelsea had approached Olise, and he was considering making a formal complaint to the Premier League over their conduct.
In November 2022, Olise scored a stunning free-kick in the last minute to earn a 2–2 draw for Crystal Palace against Manchester United, but he did not celebrate his goal, which puzzled and annoyed many fans and pundits.
His decision was later revealed to be his respect for his idol, Robert Pires, who had played for Arsenal, United’s rivals.
In June 2022, Olise chose to play for France at the under-21 level despite being eligible to play for Algeria, England, or Nigeria at the senior level.
His decision sparked a debate among fans and experts, who questioned his loyalty and commitment. Olise said he felt more French than anything else and hoped to play for the senior team in the future.
Social Media
- Instagram: @michaelolise
- Twitter: @michaelolise10
Net Worth
According to some sources, Michael Olise has a net worth of $5 million.
He earns a base salary of $3 million annually from his contract with Crystal Palace until 2027.
