Odeluga Offiah

Odeluga Joshua "Odel" Offiah (born 26 October 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian, on loan from Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion.

Odel Offiah
Personal information
Full name Odeluga Joshua Offiah[1]
Date of birth (2002-10-26) 26 October 2002[2]
Place of birth Camden, England
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Heart of Midlothian (on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion)
Number 29
Youth career
0000–2017 Bromley[3]
2017–2023 Brighton & Hove Albion
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021– Brighton & Hove Albion 2 (0)
2023– → Heart of Midlothian (loan) 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 October 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Brighton & Hove Albion

In his youth, Offiah was a member of the Bromley academy,[3] and in 2016 won the Kent Youth Cup with their U13 side before joining Brighton & Hove Albion's academy in 2017.[4][3]

Offiah made his professional footballing debut on 24 August 2021, coming on as a 68th minute substitute for Taylor Richards in the 2–0 EFL Cup second round victory over Championship side Cardiff City.[5] He made his first start for the Seagulls on 8 January 2022, playing 55 minutes of the 2–1 – after extra-time – away win over West Bromwich Albion of the Championship in the FA Cup third round.[6] On 31 January, Offiah committed his future with Brighton by signing a new contract that runs until June 2024.[7]

Offiah was among the substitutes in Brighton's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United at Wembley on 23 April, where he remained on the bench in the eventual penalty shootout defeat.[8] He made his Premier League debut and first professional league match of his career three days later, coming on as 88th minute substitute for Albion goalscorer Facundo Buonanotte in the 3–1 away loss at Nottingham Forest.[9]

Heart of Midlothian (loan)

On 18 August 2023, Offiah signed a new contract with Brighton running until June 2025, whilst signing a season-long loan with Heart of Midlothian of the Scottish Premiership.[10] He made a goalscoring debut two days after signing, with a powerful header crashing in off the underside of the crossbar, scoring Hearts' second in the eventual 4–0 home win over Scottish Championship side Partick Thistle in the Scottish League Cup second round.[11]

Personal life

Offiah was born in Camden to Nigerian parents.[12] He is the nephew of former rugby league and rugby union player Martin Offiah.[13]

Career statistics
As of 7 October 2023[14]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Domestic Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Brighton & Hove Albion 2021–22 Premier League 001010—20
2022–23 Premier League 200010—30
Total 2010200050
Brighton & Hove Albion U21 2021–22 ———2[lower-alpha 1]020
2022–23 ———1[lower-alpha 1]010
Total ———3030
Heart of Midlothian (loan) 2023–24 Scottish Premiership 4000112[lower-alpha 2] 071
Career total 60103150151
  1. Appearances in EFL Trophy
  2. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

References
  1. "Premier League 2020/21 Retained List of Players" (PDF). Premier League. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  2. "Odel Offiah". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  3. "DONE DEAL: Brighton secure Odell Offiah to two-year contract". Tribal Football. 14 April 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  4. "Bromley U13's Win Kent Youth Cup". Bromley F.C. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  5. "Cardiff 0–2 Brighton & Hove Albion: Seagulls into Carabao Cup third round - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  6. "West Bromwich Albion 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion: Neal Maupay hits extra-time winner - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 8 January 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  7. "Offiah commits future to Albion". Brighton & Hove Albion. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  8. "It's Wembley heartbreak as Albion are beaten on penalties". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  9. "Albion felled by Forest". Brighton & Hove Albion. 26 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  10. "Offiah signs new deal and joins Hearts on loan". Brighton & Hove Albion. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  11. "Match Report: Hearts 4-0 Partick Thistle". Hearts. 20 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  12. "English Premier League side Brighton promote Ghanaian teen defender Odel Offiah to second team". Sports World Ghana. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  13. "Brighton transfer EXCLUSIVE: Seagulls seal deal for rising star Odell Offiah". Express. 14 April 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  14. Odeluga Offiah at Soccerbase
  • Profile at the Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. website
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