Kunle Dada-Luke

Olakunle Olumide Dada-Luke (born January 12, 2000) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a full-back for Pacific FC in the Canadian Premier League.

Kunle Dada-Luke
Personal information
Full name Olakunle Olumide Dada-Luke
Date of birth (2000-01-12) January 12, 2000
Place of birth Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s) Full-back,Winger
Team information
Current team
 Pacific FC
Number 13
Youth career
2003–2013 West Toronto SC
2013–2018 Toronto FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2018 Toronto FC III 25 (6)
2018 Toronto FC II 5 (0)
2019 Helsingør 0 (0)
2020 Atlético Ottawa 0 (0)
2021– Pacific FC 69 (1)
International career
2017 Canada U17 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 7, 2023

Early life

Dada-Luke began playing youth soccer with West Toronto SC at age of three.[1] After ten years with West Toronto, he joined the Toronto FC Academy in 2013.[2][3] On March 15, 2017, he scored in a 1-1 draw at the Viareggio Cup against the Juventus academy team.[4]

Club career

From 2016 to 2018, he played with Toronto FC III in League1 Ontario. In 2018, he was named co-Young Player of the Year and was named to the league 2nd all-star team.[5]

In 2018, he began playing for Toronto FC II in the USL, making five total appearances.[6]

In July 2019, Dada-Luke joined Danish club FC Helsingør on a three-year contract after a successful trial.[7] While at Helsingør, he converted from playing winger to becoming a defender at right-back.[8] On January 14, 2020, they announced he had left the club, after not making any appearances.[9][10]

In March 2020, he joined Atlético Ottawa in the Canadian Premier League .[11][12] However, he was unable to travel to Prince Edward Island for the shortened 2020 season due to an ankle injury, and never appeared for the club as a result.[13][14]

In March 2021, Dada-Luke signed with Pacific FC.[15] He recorded two assists in his debut season and also caused the winning goal in the semi-final against Cavalry FC (which was ultimately ruled an own goal), en route to winning the CPL title that season.[16] On September 3, 2022, he scored his first professional goal against York United FC, which helped him earn CPL Team of the Week honours for the second time that season.[17] In January 2023, he re-signed with the club for another season, with an option for 2024.[18][19]

International career

In October 2014, he made his debut in the Canadian youth program at an identification camp for the Canada U15 team.[1] He was named to the roster for the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship, where he made two appearances.[20]

Career statistics
As of October 14, 2023[21]
Club Season League Playoffs Domestic Cup League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Toronto FC III 2016[22] League1 Ontario 10——00—10
2017[23] 110——10—120
2018[24] 136——43—179
Total 25600005300309
Toronto FC II 2018 USL 50————50
FC Helsingør 2019–20 Danish 2nd Division 00—00——00
Atlético Ottawa 2020 Canadian Premier League 00————00
Pacific FC 2021 Canadian Premier League 1902020——230
2022 2312010—40301
2023 2702030——320
Total 69160600040851
Career total 9976060534012010

    Honours

    Pacific FC

    References
    1. Kunle Dada-Luke at the Canadian Soccer Association
    2. "Atlético Ottawa's Welcomes Canadian Kunle Dada-Luke". Canadian Premier League. March 11, 2020.
    3. Longo, Jack (February 18, 2022). "Black History Month : Kunle Dada-Luke". Pacific FC.
    4. "TFC academy side ties defending champ Juventus at Viareggio Cup". Sportsnet. March 15, 2017.
    5. Krueger, Adam (November 27, 2018). "Academy players honoured with League1 Ontario Awards". Toronto FC.
    6. Jacques, John (February 2, 2022). "Pacific FC Keeps Kunle Dada-Luke". Northern Tribune.
    7. "FC Helsingør Føjer to Canadiske Talenter til Truppen" [FC Helsingør adds Two Canadian Talents to the Squad]. FC Helsingør (in Danish). July 18, 2019.
    8. O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (March 12, 2020). "Atlético Ottawa's Dada-Luke hopes to show 'full potential' after standout trial". Canadian Premier League.
    9. "FC Helsingør trimmer truppen til Foråret" [FC Helsingør is trimming the squad for the Spring]. FC Helsingør (in Danish). January 14, 2020.
    10. Jacques, John (March 11, 2020). "Atletico Ottawa Signs Canadian Full-Back Kunle Dada-Luke". Northern Tribune.
    11. "Atlético Ottawa adds Canadian fullback Kunle Dada-Luke". Atlético Ottawa. March 11, 2020.
    12. "Atletico Ottawa adds fullback Kunle Dade-Luke". Ottawa Sun. March 11, 2020.
    13. "Atlético Ottawa completes roster with 6 signings, including Kourouma, McKendry". Canadian Premier League. August 10, 2020.
    14. Jacques, John (March 13, 2021). "Dada-Luke Ready For Reset At Pacific FC". Northern Tribune.
    15. "Pacific FC signs former Atlético Ottawa fullback Kunle Dada-Luke". Canadian Premier League. March 11, 2021.
    16. Longo, Jack (February 2, 2022). "Kunle Dada-Luke returning to Pacific FC". Pacific FC.
    17. Longo, Jack (September 6, 2022). "Dada-Luke named to Team of the Week – Week 22". Pacific FC.
    18. Longo, Jack (January 10, 2023). "Dada-Luke Returning for 2023!". Pacific FC.
    19. Jacques, John (January 10, 2023). "Pacific FC Re-Signs Kunle Dada-Luke". Northern Tribune.
    20. Jacques, John (March 11, 2021). "Pacific FC Brings In Full-Back Kunle Dada-Luke". Northern Tribune.
    21. Kunle Dada-Luke at Soccerway
    22. "Olakunle Dada-Luke 2016 Stats". League1 Ontario.
    23. "Olakunle Dada-Luke 2017 Stats". League1 Ontario.
    24. "Kunle Dada-Luke 2018 Stats". League1 Ontario.
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