Bosun Lawal
Mohammed Bosun Lawal (born 30 May 2003) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender and midfielder for EFL League One Fleetwood Town on loan from Scottish Premiership club Celtic.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Mohammed Bosun Lawal[1] | ||
Date of birth | 30 May 2003 | ||
Place of birth | Ireland | ||
Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Defender, midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team |
Fleetwood Town (on loan from Celtic) | ||
Number | 5 | ||
Youth career | |||
St. Kevin's Boys | |||
Bohemians | |||
2019–2021 | Watford | ||
2021–2023 | Celtic B | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2023– | Celtic | 0 | (0) |
2023– | → Fleetwood Town (loan) | 9 | (1) |
International career‡ | |||
Republic of Ireland U15 | |||
2019 | Republic of Ireland U17 | 1 | (0) |
2021–2022 | Republic of Ireland U19 | 7 | (0) |
2021– | Republic of Ireland U21 | 7 | (1) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:10, 24 October 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:23, 14 October 2023 (UTC) |
Club career
Lawal started his football career with the joint youth setup of Irish sides St. Kevin's Boys and Bohemian, playing for the latter at under-19 level.[3] He joined English Premier League side Watford in 2019.[3][4]
While at Watford, he was named academy player of the year for the 2020–21 season, and earned praise from then-first team captain Troy Deeney, who compared him to Abdoulaye Doucouré.[5] He was offered a one-year contract by Watford in May 2021, but had attracted interest from Chelsea, Fulham, Norwich City and Scottish side Celtic, with the latter showing the strongest interest.[6][7][8]
Having rejected the contract offer from Watford, Lawal made the move to Scotland, joining Celtic in July 2021.[9][10][11] He was assigned to the club's B team, where he impressed with his performances,[12][13][14] and was linked with a transfer away from the club in December 2022.[15][16]
He was named on the bench for the first team for the first time as Celtic went on to beat St Johnstone 4–1.[17] He made his senior debut on 21 January 2023, coming on as a late substitute in a 5–0 Scottish Cup win against Greenock Morton.[18][19]
On 17 August 2023, Lawal signed a new long-term contract with Celtic until the summer of 2026.[20][21] On the same day, he joined EFL League One club Fleetwood Town on a season-long loan deal, where he would be managed by former Celtic captain Scott Brown.[22][23]
International career
Lawal has represented the Republic of Ireland from under-15[3] to under-21 level.[1]
On 16 June 2023, he scored his first goal for the Irish under-21 national team in a 2–2 draw against Ukraine.[24]
Personal life
Lawal was born in Ireland and is of Nigerian descent.[25] His brother, Ola, is also a professional footballer and currently plays for Falkirk.[26]
References
- Bosun Lawal at WorldFootball.net
- "Bosun Lawal". celticfc.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- "Bosun Lawal off to Watford". skbfc.yourclub.ie. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- "Bosun Lawal". watfordfc.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- Boland, Aaron (13 May 2021). "Irish teenager Bosun Lawal has a big fan in Troy Deeney". sportsnewsireland.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- Emmanuel, Ifeanyi (19 May 2021). "Confirmed : Hugely talented Nigerian midfielder offered new deal by Watford". allnigeriasoccer.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- Caw, Daniel (14 July 2021). "Who is Bosun Lawal as Celtic close in on silky Watford academy player of the year already pictured at Parkhead". dailyrecord.co.uk. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- Gray, Ryan (13 July 2021). "Watford youngster Bosun Lawal set to join Celtic". watfordobserver.co.uk. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- "Celtic sign Japan forward Furuhashi". BBC Sport.
- "Celtic confirm Bosun Lawal signing from Watford as they beat Chelsea and Norwich to youngster". HeraldScotland.
- Hendry, Mark (15 July 2021). "Celtic beat Chelsea, Norwich and Serie A side to Watford's Bosun Lawal in cut-price deal". glasgowtimes.co.uk. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- Hendry, Mark (14 April 2022). "Celtic's Bosun Lawal 'real find' as B-team defender impresses Hoops coach". footballscotland.co.uk. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- "Bosun Lawal to have his breakthrough at Celtic this year". OneFootball.
- "Ben Summers in nod to Tobi Oluwayemi and Bosun Lawal with 'immense' praise". HeraldScotland.
- Galindo, Alan (20 December 2022). "Celtic starlet Bosun Lawal 'attracting' interest from Brentford and Italian duo". GlasgowLive.
- "Brentford monitoring Celtic prospect Bosun Lawal - Tribal Football". www.tribalfootball.com.
- Bosun Lawal at Soccerway
- "Games played by Bosun Lawal in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- "Kyogo reaches 20 goals as Celtic sail past Morton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- "Bosun Lawal signs new contract extension with Celtic". Celtic FC. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- "Dubliner Bosun Lawal signs long-term deal with Celtic". Independent.ie. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- "Bosun Lawal joins Fleetwood on loan until the end of the season". www.fleetwoodtownfc.com. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- "Fleetwood sign Celtic defender Lawal on loan". BBC Sport. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- Madden, Jack (16 June 2023). "Brighton's Andrew Moran on target as Ireland U21s salvage draw with Ukraine". The Irish News. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- "Bosun Lawal". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
- Goldthorp, Craig (6 October 2022). "'I was absolutely buzzing' - midfield ace Ola Lawal reveals reaction upon hearing Falkirk wanted to sign him this summer". falkirkherald.co.uk. Retrieved 23 January 2023.