Sheyi Ojo

Oluwaseyi Babajide "Sheyi" Ojo (born 19 June 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for Belgian Pro League club KV Kortrijk, on loan from EFL Championship club Cardiff City.

Sheyi Ojo
Ojo with Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2015
Personal information
Full name Oluwaseyi Babajide Ojo[1]
Date of birth (1997-06-19) 19 June 1997[2]
Place of birth Watford, England
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 KV Kortrijk
(On loan from Cardiff City)
Number 54
Youth career
2007–2011 Milton Keynes Dons
2011–2015 Liverpool
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2022 Liverpool 8 (0)
2015 → Wigan Athletic (loan) 11 (0)
2015–2016 → Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) 16 (2)
2017–2018 → Fulham (loan) 24 (4)
2018–2019 → Reims (loan) 15 (1)
2019–2020 → Rangers (loan) 19 (1)
2020–2021 → Cardiff City (loan) 41 (5)
2021–2022 → Millwall (loan) 17 (0)
2022– Cardiff City 34 (1)
2023– → KV Kortrijk (loan) 7 (0)
International career
2011 England U16 3 (0)
2012–2014 England U17 11 (1)
2014–2015 England U18 9 (4)
2015–2016 England U19 14 (1)
2017 England U20 5 (0)
2017 England U21 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 October 2023 (UTC)

Ojo joined Liverpool as a 14-year-old and came through their academy. He spent time on loan with Championship clubs Wigan Athletic and Wolverhampton Wanderers before making his competitive debut for Liverpool in January 2016.

Ojo has represented England at under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels.

Club career

Early career

Ojo joined MK Dons' academy when he was 10 years old. By the age of 13, he had played for the Dons' U18 side and was training with the first team squad.[3] During his time at the club, Ojo became the first MK Dons trainee to receive an international cap at youth level.[4]

Liverpool

On 11 November 2011, Liverpool beat off competition from a host of Europe's top clubs[5] including a multimillion-pound offer from Chelsea to sign Ojo, then 14, for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £2 million.[3] In April 2014, Ojo was joint top scorer alongside fellow Liverpool player Harry Wilson in the U17 Future Cup.

Loan to Wigan

Having made a number of appearances on Liverpool's bench over the festive period, Ojo joined Wigan Athletic on loan on 2 February 2015.[6] Five days later, he made his professional debut coming on as a 59th-minute substitute for Wigan in a Championship match against AFC Bournemouth, with Wigan naming Ojo as their Man of the Match after he had a positive impact on the game.[7][8]

Loan to Wolverhampton

On 2 August 2015, Ojo scored the winning goal for Liverpool in a friendly against Swindon Town.[9] In 4 August 2015, Liverpool announced that Ojo had signed a new long-term contract with the club and confirmed that he would join Wolverhampton Wanderers on a season-long loan.[10] He made his Wolves debut on the opening day of the 2015–16 Championship season as a substitute, coming on in the 84th minute and picking up a yellow card as his side went on to beat Blackburn Rovers. Three days later, he made his first start for Wolves in a 2–1 League Cup win over Newport County, assisting Nouha Dicko for Wolves' opening goal.[11]

Return to Liverpool

He was recalled by Liverpool on 7 January 2016.[12] The next day, Ojo made his competitive first-team debut for Liverpool, as a substitute in the FA Cup Third round tie against Exeter City that ended in a 2–2 draw.[13] He scored his first competitive goal for Liverpool in the replay against Exeter on 20 January; his goal was the second in a 3–0 victory.[14]

Ojo made his Premier League debut on 20 March 2016, replacing Joe Allen in the 87th minute in a 3–2 loss away to Southampton at St Mary's Stadium.[15] Three weeks later, he made his first start for Liverpool in the Premier League against Stoke City at Anfield, where he assisted Daniel Sturridge for Liverpool's second goal in a 4–1 win, before being replaced by Divock Origi.[16]

Ahead of the 2016–17 season, Ojo sustained a fracture in his back and did not return to first team training until mid-November.[17]

Loan to Fulham

On 16 August 2017, Ojo joined Fulham on season-long loan.[18] He scored a double in a 5–4 win over Sheffield United, on 21 November.[19] He scored the winning goal in a 1–0 win over Birmingham City, on 9 December.[20] On 23 December, Ojo received a yellow card and scored in a 2–1 win over Barnsley.[21]

Loan to Stade de Reims

On 30 August 2018, Ojo signed a new contract with Liverpool and joined Stade de Reims on a season-long loan.[22] He also played for Reims II.[23]

Loan to Rangers

On 18 June 2019, Rangers of the Scottish Premiership announced they signed Ojo on a season-long loan, a day before his 22nd birthday.[24] He made his competitive debut for the club on 9 July 2019 in a 4–0 win over St Joseph's of Gibraltar in the 2019–20 UEFA Europa League, and scored the second goal.[25] He scored 4 goals for Rangers in Europe.

Loan to Cardiff City

Ojo joined Championship club Cardiff City on 7 September 2020 for the 2020–21 season.[26] He scored his first goal for Cardiff in a 1–0 win over Preston North End on 18 October.[27]

Loan to Millwall

On 31 August 2021 he went out on his seventh loan move, this time joining Millwall until 30 June 2022.[28]

In June 2022 it was announced by Liverpool that he would leave the club at the end of the month when his contract expired.[29]

Cardiff City

On 13 July 2022, Ojo returned to Cardiff City on a permanent basis, signing a two-year contract.[30]

On 16 August 2023, Ojo joined Belgian Pro League club K.V. Kortrijk on a season-long loan.[31][32]

International career

As Ojo was born in England, he is eligible to represent England and through his Nigerian heritage is also eligible to play for Nigeria in international football. Ojo has represented England at under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels. In his early teens, Ojo often played at a higher age group at international level, representing England U17s at the St George's Park Tournament in 2012 aged 15.[33] Ojo represented England U17s in the 2014 Algarve Tournament, with England coming second to Germany after a 1–0 loss in the final game.[34]

In September 2014, Ojo received his first England U18 call-up for a double header against the Netherlands. Ojo appeared in both games with England winning by an aggregate score of 7–2.[35] On 27 August 2015, Ojo received his first call-up to the England U19 team and played 90 minutes in a 3–2 away win over Germany.[36][37] Later in the same tournament, he started against France and helped The Young Lions secure a 2–1 win by providing 2 assists.[38]

Ojo was selected for the England under-20 team in the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Ojo made his start in tournament in the match against Guinea,[39] and was a substitute in a few other games, including the semi-final match against Italy in which he assisted in two of the goals.[40] In the final, Ojo came on as a substitute for Kieran Dowell in the 62nd minute. England beat Venezuela 1–0, which is England's first win in a global tournament since their World Cup victory of 1966.[41]

In September 2018, he stated he could represent Nigeria in future.[42]

Personal life

Born in Hemel Hempstead, England, his name "Babajide" is a variant form of the Yoruba name: Babatunde, meaning "Father has Returned" or "Father Comes Back to Life".[43] During his time with the Liverpool Football Academy, Ojo was a student at Rainhill Media Arts College, in Rainhill, England.[44]

Career statistics
As of match played 7 January 2022
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Liverpool 2014–15[45] Premier League 0000000000
2015–16[46] Premier League 80310000111
2016–17[47] Premier League 002000—20
Total 80510000131
Wigan Athletic (loan) 2014–15[45] Championship 1100000—110
Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) 2015–16[46] Championship 1720021—193
Fulham (loan) 2017–18[48] Championship 224101000244
Reims (loan) 2018–19[49] Ligue 1 1502110—181
Rangers (loan) 2019–20[50] Scottish Premiership 191202013[lower-alpha 1]4365
Cardiff City (loan) 2020–21[51] Championship 4151000–425
Millwall (loan) 2021–22[51] Championship 1500000–150
Career total 151131126113418120
  1. Appearances in the UEFA Europa League

Honours

England U20

References
  1. "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/07/2014 and 31/07/2014". The Football Association. p. 23. Archived from the original on 24 October 2019.
  2. "Sheyi Ojo: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  3. "Liverpool sign up MK Dons schoolboy Seyi Ojo". BBC Sport. 17 November 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  4. "Liverpool sign MK Dons teenage midfielder Seyi Ojo". The Guardian. 17 November 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  5. Shennan, Paddy (18 December 2014). "Exclusive – meet a teenage dream team: rising Liverpool FC star Sheyi Ojo and aspiring beauty queen and actress Amaani Noor". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  6. "Transfer news: Wigan sign Liverpool winger Sheyi Ojo on loan". Sky Sports. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  7. "Loan Watch: LFC youngster earns man of match on professional debut – despite only playing 30 minutes!". This Is Anfield. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  8. "Wigan Athletic 1–3 Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  9. "Christian Benteke scores first Liverpool goal on debut".
  10. "New Reds deal and loan switch for Ojo". Liverpool F.C. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  11. "Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Newport County". BBC Sport. 11 August 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  12. Patterson, Mike (7 January 2016). "Liverpool recall Sheyi Ojo from Wolves loan spell". Sky Sports. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  13. Rose, Gary (8 January 2016). "Exeter City 2–2 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  14. Lewis, Aimee (20 January 2016). "Liverpool 3–0 Exeter City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  15. Henson, Mike (20 March 2016). "Southampton 3–2 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  16. Rimmer, Joe (10 April 2016). "Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp on Kevin Stewart and Sheyi Ojo". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  17. Walsh, Kristian (14 November 2016). "Sheyi Ojo hands Liverpool boss Klopp another injury boost". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  18. "Sheyi Ojo: Liverpool forward joins Fulham on loan for 2017–18 season". BBC Sport. 16 August 2017.
  19. "Sheffield United 4–5 Fulham". BBC Sport. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  20. "Fulham 1–0 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 9 December 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  21. "Fulham 2–1 Barnsley". BBC Sport. 23 December 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  22. "Sheyi Ojo signs new deal and makes loan move". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  23. Sheyi Ojo at Soccerway. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  24. "Sheyi Ojo: Rangers sign Liverpool winger on season-long loan". BBC Sport. BBC. 18 June 2019.
  25. St Joseph's 0–4 Rangers: Steven Gerrard's team win Europa League qualifier, BBC Sport, 9 July 2019
  26. "Loan | Sheyi Ojo joins from Liverpool | Cardiff".
  27. "Preston 0–1 Cardiff". BBC. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  28. Williams, Sam. "Sheyi Ojo completes loan move to Millwalll". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  29. "Liverpool: Divock Origi and Loris Karius among seven to leave Reds". BBC Sport. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  30. "Done Deal: Sheyi Ojo signs". www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk. 13 July 2022.
  31. "Cardiff's Ojo moves to Belgium on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  32. https://www.facebook.com/dailystandng (16 August 2023). "Sheyi Ojo Joins Belgian Pro League Club, KV Kortrijk on Loan". Daily Stand. Retrieved 16 August 2023. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help); External link in |last= (help)
  33. Bennett, Tom (7 August 2012). "England Under 17s Squad Named For Early Season Tournament". The Youth Radar. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  34. Stonehouse, Gary (2 March 2014). "England Under-17 suffer late heartbreak in the Algarve". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 13 October 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  35. "Neil Dewsnip names U18 squad". The Football Association. 26 August 2014. Archived from the original on 29 August 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  36. Lynch, David (27 August 2015). "Rossiter and Ojo in England U19 squad". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  37. Stonehouse, Gary (4 September 2015). "England U19s pick up thrilling victory in Germany". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  38. Sanders, Emma (12 July 2016). "Sheyi Ojo provides two assists as England U19s defeat France". This Is Anfield. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  39. Jones, Neil (26 May 2017). "Liverpool pair Ovie Ejaria and Sheyi Ojo help England continue their World Cup dream". Liverpool Echo.
  40. Chris Bascombe; Alistair Tweedale (8 June 2017). "England U20s 3 Italy U20s 1: Dominic Solanke fires Three Lions to first World Cup final since 1966". The Daily Telegraph.
  41. "Under-20 World Cup: England beat Venezuela in final". BBC Sport. 11 June 2017.
  42. "Sheyi Ojo: England U20 World Cup winner open to representing Nigeria". BBC Sport. 23 September 2018.
  43. "Babatunde". Behind the Name. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  44. "LFC Academy Education Centre". Rainhill High School Media Arts College. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  45. "Games played by Sheyi Ojo in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  46. "Games played by Sheyi Ojo in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  47. "Games played by Sheyi Ojo in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  48. "Games played by Sheyi Ojo in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  49. "Games played by Sheyi Ojo in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  50. "Games played by Sheyi Ojo in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  51. "Games played by Sheyi Ojo in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
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