Mipo Odubeko

Ademipo Ibrahim Odubeko (born 21 October 2002) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Liga Portugal 2 club Marítimo.

Mipo Odubeko
Personal information
Full name Ademipo Ibrahim Odubeko[1]
Date of birth (2002-10-21) 21 October 2002[2]
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland[3]
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[4]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Marítimo
Number 9
Youth career
Crumlin United
0000–2015 St Joseph's Boys
2015–2016 Manchester City
2016–2019 Manchester United
2019–2020 West Ham United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2023 West Ham United 0 (0)
2021–2022 → Huddersfield Town (loan) 6 (0)
2022 → Doncaster Rovers (loan) 16 (2)
2022–2023 → Port Vale (loan) 22 (3)
2023– Marítimo 0 (0)
2023 Marítimo B 2 (0)
International career‡
Republic of Ireland U16
2019 Republic of Ireland U17 2 (0)
2022– Republic of Ireland U21 4 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 09:36, 9 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:30, 24 September 2022 (UTC)

He made his professional debut for West Ham United in 2021 and has represented the Republic of Ireland on the international stage at various youth levels, although he remains eligible to play for both England and Nigeria. He spent the 2021–22 season on loan at Huddersfield Town and Doncaster Rovers, and joined Port Vale on loan for the 2022–23 campaign. He joined Portuguese club Marítimo in July 2023.

Club career

Early life and career

Odubeko was born in Dublin, Republic of Ireland to Nigerian parents and grew up in Tallaght, and he spent his formative years playing football for St Joseph's Boys.[5] When he was fourteen years old, Odubeko and his family relocated to Manchester in England where, despite initially encountering registration concerns due to FIFA's prohibition on the international transfer of minors, he later represented both Manchester City and Manchester United at youth level.[3][5] He spent the majority of his remaining schoolboy years with the latter, where he scored on his U18 Premier League debut and netted 35 times in total, before joining the academy side of fellow Premier League club West Ham United in 2019.[6]

West Ham United

"Mipo signing for West Ham is another really positive story for the Academy. He is a promising player we are looking forward to working with and this move is a great opportunity for him to join us and continue his journey..."

—West Ham United academy manager Ricky Martin, October 2019.[6]

In October 2019, shortly after his seventeenth birthday, Odubeko turned down a contract extension with Manchester United in order to sign a three-year-deal with West Ham.[3][6] Over the course of the next two seasons, he excelled with the club's development side and scored eleven goals in ten appearances in the Premier League 2, winning the competition's Player of the Month award in April 2021 in the process.[7] Odubeko's form at youth level caught the attention of first team manager David Moyes during the 2020–21 season and he made two senior appearances for the campaign, making his debut as a substitute for Michail Antonio in the club's 1–0 FA Cup third round victory over Stockport County, before featuring again in the following round of the competition against his former side Manchester United.[8][9][10] Throughout the season, he also trained regularly with the senior team and was named in the club's matchday squad on eighteen occasions throughout the Premier League campaign.[4] He was released by West Ham at the end of the 2022–23 season, having made two appearances for the club.[11] He trained with Dutch Eerste Divisie side VVV-Venlo in July 2023.[12]

Huddersfield Town loan

On 30 August 2021, Odubeko moved on a season-long loan to EFL Championship side Huddersfield Town, where he was given the number 7 shirt.[13] Leigh Bromby, Huddersfield's Head of Football Operations, said that he would compete with Danny Ward, Fraizer Campbell and Josh Koroma for a first-team place in the absence of star striker Jordan Rhodes; head coach Carlos Corberán said Odubeko "offers us something different in the attacking areas".[13] He made his debut for the club in the English Football League on 11 September, coming on as a 78th-minute substitute for Fraizer Campbell in a 2–1 defeat at Stoke City.[14] However he found his first-team opportunities limited at the Kirklees Stadium as Huddersfield played with only one striker on the pitch and one striker on the bench.[15] After only making six substitute appearances in the first half of the 2021–22 season, amounting to 107 minutes of playing time, West Ham activated his recall clause, and his loan was ended on 4 January 2022.[16]

Doncaster Rovers loan

On 27 January 2022, Odubeko joined EFL League One side Doncaster Rovers on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season.[17] He scored his debut goal for the club, a powerful shot from 15 yards (14 m), in a 2–1 defeat to Bolton Wanderers at the Keepmoat Stadium on 15 April.[18] He scored another goal three days later in a 3–3 draw at Shrewsbury Town.[19] He scored two goals in eight starts and eight substitute appearances for Gary McSheffrey's side, who were relegated in 22nd-place.[20] He admitted the loan spell had been "testing" and that relegation had hurt, leaving him "sad it had to end like this".[21]

Port Vale loan

On 26 August 2022, Odubeko signed for League One side Port Vale on a season-long loan.[22] Manager Darrell Clarke compared him to Kian Harratt, who had impressed on loan at the club the previous season, saying "they love to stretch the game [and] run in behind a defence".[23] Odubeko made his debut at Vale Park four days later, and impressed coach Andy Crosby as he played the full ninety minutes against Stockport County in the EFL Trophy whilst Ellis Harrison – the club's only other available specialist striker – was rested.[24] Odubeko scored "with a powerful downward header" on his league debut for the club in a 2–2 draw with Cheltenham Town on 3 September.[25] He ended the 2022–23 campaign with four goals in 27 games, having not featured after 11 February.[26]

Marítimo

On 17 July 2023, Odubeko signed a two-year contract with Liga Portugal 2 club Marítimo.[27]

International career

Odubeko was born in the Republic of Ireland and is of Nigerian descent through his parents, who were both born in the African country.[5] He represented the Republic of Ireland’s under-16 side in their successful 2017 Victory Shield campaign and was selected to play for the under-17 team in two matches against Finland in March 2019.[3] However, he was overlooked for Ireland's squad for the 2019 UEFA European Under-17 Championship despite his strong form at club level and, having not represented the nation in the intervening period, rejected subsequent call-ups to the under-21 squad in 2021, sparking speculation that he could switch allegiances to Nigeria.[28][29] He also remains eligible to represent England.[30] Odubeko made his debut for the Republic of Ireland under-21 team on 29 March 2022 in a 2–0 win away to Sweden in the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers.[31] On 3 June 2022, he scored his first goal for the under-21s in a 3–0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina at Tallaght Stadium.[32]

Style of play

Odubeko is a striker who boasts a prolific goalscoring record at youth level. He is predominantly right-footed but has been described as being "strong, powerful and fast" and as a player who is capable of playing on "his right and left side and who is good in the air" by former coach Bernard Byrne.[33] This has been echoed by Republic of Ireland under-21 manager Jim Crawford who, in 2021, reflected on Odubeko as being a player who possesses "unbelievable pace, can score goals and would be an asset to any squad."[34]

Career statistics
As of match played 1 October 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[lower-alpha 1] League Cup[lower-alpha 2] Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
West Ham United U21 2020–21[35] —1[lower-alpha 3]212
West Ham United 2020–21[35] Premier League 002000—20
2021–22[20] Premier League 0000000000
2022–23[26] Premier League 0000000000
Total 0020000020
Huddersfield Town (loan) 2021–22[20] Championship 6000——60
Doncaster Rovers (loan) 2021–22[20] League One 16200——162
Port Vale (loan) 2022–23[26] League One 22310004[lower-alpha 3]1274
Marítimo 2023–24[4] Liga Portugal 2 000000—00
Marítimo B 2023–24[4] Campeonato de Portugal 20———20
Career total 475300053548
  1. Includes FA Cup & Taça de Portugal
  2. Includes EFL Cup & Taça da Liga
  3. Appearances in the EFL Trophy

References
  1. "2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  2. Mipo Odubeko at Soccerbase
  3. Thomas, Roshane (22 January 2021). "Mipo Odubeko – the 18-year-old back-up to Michail Antonio who is 'a proper striker'". The Athletic. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  4. Mipo Odubeko at Soccerway. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  5. Rowan, Paul (13 June 2021). "West Ham's Ademipo Odubeko 'will play for Ireland again' insists agent amid Nigeria speculation". The Times. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  6. "West Ham United sign prolific striker Mipo Odubeko". West Ham United F.C. 25 October 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  7. "Mipo Odubeko named Premier League 2 Player of the Month for April". West Ham United F.C. 17 May 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  8. Emons, Michael (11 January 2021). "Stockport County 0-1 West Ham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  9. Murray, Scott (11 January 2021). "Stockport County 0-1 West Ham: FA Cup third round - as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  10. "Mipo Odubeko shortlisted for Premier League 2 Player of the Month". West Ham United F.C. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  11. "West Ham United issue Retain List". West Ham United F.C. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  12. Emmanuel, Ifeanyi (5 July 2023). "Man Utd academy product Odubeko training at VVV Venlo after West Ham exit". All Nigeria Soccer - The Complete Nigerian Football Portal. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  13. Threlfall-Sykes, David (30 August 2021). "Signing: Striker Mipo Odubeko Joins On Loan!". www.htafc.com. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  14. "Stoke come from behind to beat Terriers". BBC Sport. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  15. Chicken, Steven (15 October 2021). "Mipo Odubeko's Huddersfield Town prospects detailed after squad omissions". YorkshireLive. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  16. Chicken, Steven (4 January 2022). "Odubeko returns to West Ham as Huddersfield Town loan recall clause triggered". YorkshireLive.
  17. "West Ham forward Mipo Odubeko joins Rovers on loan". Doncaster Rovers FC. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  18. "REPORT | Rovers 1 Bolton Wanderers 2". www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  19. "Shrewsbury Town 3-3 Doncaster Rovers". BBC Sport. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  20. "Games played by Mipo Odubeko in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  21. Goodwin, Paul (20 April 2022). "On-loan West Ham United striker Mipo Odubeko hits out at accusation aimed at Doncaster Rovers loan players". Doncaster Free Press. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  22. "West Ham loan young striker Odubeko to Port Vale". BBC Sport. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  23. Mounteney, Luke (26 August 2022). "Mipo Odubeko to join the Vale on loan". www.port-vale.co.uk. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  24. Baggaley, Michael (31 August 2022). "Port Vale encouraged by West Ham striker Odubeko's debut". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  25. Baggaley, Michael (5 September 2022). "Odubeko provides consolation as Port Vale reflect on tough afternoon". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  26. "Games played by Mipo Odubeko in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  27. Sousa, Vitor (17 July 2023). "Mipo Odubeko é o novo ponta-de-lança às ordens de Tulipa – CSM". cs maritimo (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  28. Cummiskey, Gavin (29 May 2021). "Jim Crawford hoping Mipo Odubeko will stick with Ireland over Nigeria". Irish Times. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  29. Fallon, John (29 May 2021). "Ireland U21 boss: We must sort out Mipo Odubeko situation once and for all". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  30. Fennessy, Paul (26 May 2021). "Highly-rated West Ham teenager's Ireland international future uncertain". The 42. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  31. "REPORT | Sweden U21 0-2 Ireland U21 | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  32. O'Connor, Seán (3 June 2022). "Smallbone and Odubeko inspire Ireland U21s to victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina". independent. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  33. Cooney, Gavin (23 January 2021). "'It's only a matter of time' - The latest Irish teenager on the verge of a Premier League breakthrough". The 42. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  34. Fitzmaurice, Aidan (26 May 2021). "Uncertainty over Mipo Odubeko's long-term commitment to Ireland is a worry for the FAI". Independent Ireland. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  35. "Games played by Mipo Odubeko in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
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