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Ayo Obileye

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Ayo Obileye
Obileye playing for Eastleigh in 2017
Personal information
Full name Stephen Ayomide Obileye[1]
Date of birth (1994-09-02) 2 September 1994 (age 30)[2]
Place of birth Homerton, England
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)[3]
Position(s) Defender, defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Cangzhou Mighty Lions
Number 6
Youth career
2008–2010 Leyton Orient
2010–2011 Chelsea
2011–2013 Sheffield Wednesday
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2014 Sheffield Wednesday 0 (0)
2014–2016 Charlton Athletic 0 (0)
2014–2015 → Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) 26 (2)
2015–2016 → Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) 16 (0)
2016–2018 Eastleigh 50 (10)
2016 → Dover Athletic (loan) 3 (0)
2018–2019 Maidenhead United 37 (4)
2019–2020 Ebbsfleet United 27 (3)
2020–2021 Queen of the South 27 (9)
2021–2024 Livingston 84 (5)
2024– Cangzhou Mighty Lions 15 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 09:19, 14 November 2024 (UTC)

Stephen Ayomide "Ayo" Obileye (born 2 September 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Chinese Super League club Cangzhou Mighty Lions. He has previously played for Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton Athletic, Eastleigh, Dover Athletic, Maidenhead United, Ebbsfleet United, Queen of the South, and Livingston.

Early life

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Obileye was born in Homerton University Hospital in the London Borough of Hackney to Nigerian parents.[3][4][5] Obileye welcomed a son with Scottish Weightlifter Emma Bruce in early 2024.

Career

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Obileye started his career in the youth system at Leyton Orient, before joining Chelsea as a schoolboy. He stayed with the club until 2011, but failed to earn a scholarship with the club.[6] In 2011, he moved north to sign a two-year scholarship with the academy at Sheffield Wednesday.[3] He made his professional debut at the age of 16 in August 2011, starting in the 0–0 draw with Yorkshire rivals Bradford City at Valley Parade in the EFL Trophy, which Bradford went on to win on penalties.[7] He was made captain of the Development Squad for the 2012–13 season, and was awarded with his first professional contract for the club in May 2013, signing a one-year deal on completion of his scholarship.[8] In March 2014, he was linked with moves away from the club as he wanted to return to his London roots, and spent a short time training with Premier League side Crystal Palace.[6] In May 2014, he left Sheffield Wednesday at the end of his contract having only made one first team appearance, turning down a new deal.[6]

In October 2014, he signed for EFL Championship side Charlton Athletic after impressing on trial, and was placed in the U21 Development Squad.[9] He initially signed on a short-term deal, but in November 2014 his contract was extended until June 2015.[10] Later in the month he signed for Football League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge on a one-month youth loan deal.[10] As part of the loan agreement he was still eligible to play for Charton's U21 Development Squad.[3] He made his debut on the same day, coming on as a substitute for Damian Batt in the 1–0 away defeat to AFC Wimbledon.[11] In December 2014, his loan was extended for a further month, having made four appearances for the Daggers.[12] He continued to have a positive impact in the Daggers back-line and in January 2015 his loan was again extended for a further month.[13] He continued to remain a permanent fixture in the Daggers defence, extending his stay in February 2015 until the end of the season.[14] He returned to Charlton in May 2015, having made 26 appearances for the Daggers, scoring twice.[11]

In August 2015, he returned to Dagenham & Redbridge on loan until January 2016, after a successful loan the previous season.[15]

Obileye had a two-year spell at Eastleigh from 2016 to 2018, scoring 11 goals in 53 games in all competitions. He joined Maidenhead United for the 2018–19 season.

On 4 June 2019, Obileye joined Ebbsfleet United.[16]

On 9 September 2020, Obileye signed for Scottish Championship club Queen of the South on a one-year contract.[17] Despite playing in a defensive role, Obileye scored 9 league goals during the 2020–21 season, finishing second top goalscorer for the Doonhamers behind Connor Shields with 11 goals (8 league and 3 cup) and he was also second top goalscorer alongside three other players in the Scottish Championship, all behind Liam Boyce of Hearts with 14 goals.[18]

On 6 May 2021, Obileye signed a pre-contract agreement with Livingston, agreeing a two-year contract, with a further one-year option. Livingston won the chase from other Scottish Premiership clubs for his signature.[18]

Following his departure from Livingston, Obileye signed for Cangzhou Mighty Lions in the Chinese Super League in June 2024. He made his debut on 26 June 2024 against Beijing Guoan.[19]

Career statistics

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As of 2 November 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sheffield Wednesday 2011–12[20] League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 1 0
2012–13[21] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2013–14[21] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
Charlton Athletic 2014–15[21] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2015–16[21] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) 2014–15[11] League Two 26 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 2
2015–16[22] League Two 16 0 2 1 0 0 3[a] 0 21 1
Total 42 2 2 1 0 0 3 0 47 3
Eastleigh 2016–17[21] National League 16 3 3 1 — 0 0 19 4
2017–18[21] National League 34 7 0 0 — 0 0 34 7
Total 50 10 3 1 0 0 0 0 53 11
Dover Athletic (loan) 2016–17[21] National League 3 0 0 0 — 0 0 3 0
Maidenhead United 2018–19[21] National League 37 4 3 0 — 1[b] 0 41 4
Ebbsfleet United 2019–20[21] National League 27 3 2 0 — 3[b] 1 32 4
Queen of the South 2020–21[21] Scottish Championship 27 9 2 0 4 0 — 33 9
Livingston 2021–22[21] Scottish Premiership 34 4 2 1 6 1 — 42 6
2022–23[21] Scottish Premiership 25 1 2 0 3 1 — 30 2
2023–24[21] Scottish Premiership 30 0 2 0 6 1 — 38 1
Total 89 5 6 1 15 3 0 0 110 9
Cangzhou Mighty Lions 2024[21] Chinese Super League 15 2 — — — 15 2
Career total 290 35 19 3 19 3 8 1 335 42
  1. ^ a b Appearance in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ a b Appearance in FA Trophy

References

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  1. ^ "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2014.
  2. ^ "Ayo Obileye". 11v11. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d "Obileye signs up". 10 May 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  4. ^ "Chase hots up for Obileye". 12 March 2013. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  5. ^ "Charlton Defender Joins on Loan". 15 November 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  6. ^ a b c "Transfer News: Crystal Palace lead chase for Sheffield Wednesday's Ayo Obileye". 11 March 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  7. ^ "Bradford City vs. Sheffield Wednesday". 30 August 2011. Archived from the original on 4 July 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  8. ^ "Obileye signs up". swfc.co.uk. 10 May 2013.
  9. ^ "Charlton snap up former Manchester City and Sheffield Wednesday youngsters". 7 October 2014. Archived from the original on 10 October 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  10. ^ a b "Obileye joins Dagenham & Redbridge on loan". 15 November 2014. Archived from the original on 17 November 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  11. ^ a b c "Games played by Ayo Obileye in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  12. ^ "Ayo Obileye: Dagenham extend Charlton Athletic defender's loan". 15 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  13. ^ "Defender Extends Loan Stay". 5 January 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  14. ^ "Ayo Obileye: Charlton midfielder extends Dagenham loan spell". 9 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  15. ^ "Defender Returns on Loan to the Daggers". 18 August 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  16. ^ "Fleet boss gets down to business as Ayo signs". 4 June 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  17. ^ "QosFC: Welcome Ayo Obileye". Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  18. ^ a b "Livingston FC sign Ayo Obileye on pre-contract agreement". 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  19. ^ "Beijing vs. Cangzhou". ESPN. 26 June 2024.
  20. ^ "Games played by Ayo Obileye in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "A. Obileye – Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  22. ^ "Games played by Ayo Obileye in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
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