Idris Kanu

Aldershot Town On 7 October 2016, National League side Aldershot Town completed the signing of Kanu on an amateur contract after he had impressed during training sessions with the club. Upon signing, he was reunited with James Rowe, the club's assistant manager who he had previously worked with at West Ham. He made his debut the following day, coming on as a late substitute for Bernard Mensah in a 2–0 win over Solihull Moors at the Recreation Ground. He scored his first professional goal in the following match, netting in a 2–1 FA Cup defeat at home to Eastbourne Borough. Kanu's first league goal came on 12 November when he scored the opening goal in a 3–3 draw at Lincoln City. He received his first ever red card the following year, when he was dismissed for two bookable offences in a 1–0 win over Dover Athletic on 17 April. Kanu ultimately scored five goals in 33 appearances across all competitions as Gary Waddock's side fell just short of promotion at the end of the 2016–17 season, losing out to Tranmere Rovers in the play-off semi-finals.

Peterborough United On 1 August 2017, Kanu signed a three-year deal with League One side Peterborough United for an undisclosed fee. He made his English Football League debut for the club on 5 August, coming on as a second-half substitute for Junior Morias in a 2–1 win over Plymouth Argyle at London Road. Speaking at the end of the month, Peterborough manager Grant McCann said that he was very pleased with Kanu's progress. However, McCann was sacked and replaced by Steve Evans in February 2018 and Kanu had to wait until the last day of the 2017–18 season to make his first start, featuring in a 2–0 defeat at Portsmouth. Kanu made a total of 28 appearances during the campaign and Evans later announced that he would be made available to leave the club on loan the following season. Kanu scored his first goal for Peterborough in a 2–0 win over Northampton Town in an EFL Trophy tie on 3 September 2019.

On 28 June 2018, Kanu joined League Two side Port Vale on a season-long loan deal. However, he started just three games. He made a further four substitute appearances thereafter and was recalled to Peterborough on 3 January 2019.

On 4 January 2019, Kanu joined National League side Boreham Wood on a "long-term" loan deal; "Wood" manager Luke Garrard said that he was "very excited" to bring Kanu to Meadow Park. He made his debut the following day, opening the scoring in a 4–4 draw at Dagenham & Redbridge. He ended the 2018–19 season with four goals in 19 appearances for Boreham Wood.

He signed a new deal with Peterborough on 7 February 2020, which would keep him at the club until summer 2023; manager Darren Ferguson said, "I think he's got potential, so it's important we tied him down." He scored one goal in ten games during the 2019–20 season, which was ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England, and was one of ten players to be taken off furlough in order to take part in one-on-one training with Ferguson. He scored his first goal for Peterborough on 27 March 2021, in a 7–0 thrashing of Accrington Stanley. He scored two goals in 25 games in the 2020–21 season as Peterborough secured promotion into the Championship with automatic promotion out of League One.

On 26 January 2022, Kanu joined League Two side Northampton Town on loan until the end of the 2021–22 season, having just returned from the Africa Cup of Nations. He started just one league game under Jon Brady, but did make five substitute appearances and started in the play-off semi-final first leg 2–1 defeat at Mansfield Town. He was an unused substitute in the return fixture at Sixfields Stadium, as the "Cobblers" lost the tie 3–1 on aggregate. Upon returning to Peterborough, he was transfer-listed by new manager Grant McCann.

Barnet

On 1 September 2022, Kanu signed a two-year contract with National League club Barnet for an undisclosed fee. He earned praise from Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony for taking a paycut from his £1,700 per week salary in order to play regular football with Barnet. Kanu put Barnet into the second round of the FA Cup with a headed goal in the first round replay at Chelmsford City on 14 November. Kanu was named the BFC Supporters' Association Player of the Month for November. He scored eight goals in 37 league games in the 2022–23 season, helping the club to qualify for the play-offs with a fifth-place finish.

In January 2025, Barnet rejected bids for Kanu from League Two clubs Carlisle United and Bromley as manager Andy Woodman wanted to keep Barnet in the title race. He remained to play 38 league games in the 2024–25 season as Barnet won promotion back to the EFL as champions of the National League. He was named as BFC Supporters' Association Player of the Month for August 2025. He made five key passes, one assist, and four tackles in a 3–0 win over Grimsby Town on 20 September, securing himself a place in the EFL Team of the Week. He was again in the Team of the Week for a dominant attacking display, which included a goal and an assist, in a 3–1 win at Walsall on 7 February. He featured 47 times in the 2025–26 campaign, scoring two goals. He received his first call up to the Sierra Leone national team for an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying game against Benin in June 2021. On 13 November 2021, Kanu made his debut for Sierra Leone, playing in a 2–0 loss against the Comoros. In December 2021, Kanu was named in the Sierra Leone squad for the delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. Sierra Leone did not advance past the group stages after finishing third in Group E and Kanu was not named in any matchday squads.

Personal life Kanu is a practising Muslim and fasts during Ramadan.

Career statistics Club

International

Honours Peterborough United EFL League One second-place promotion: 2020–21