Siriki Dembélé

Ben Siriki Dembélé (born 7 September 1996) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a left winger or striker for EFL Championship club Birmingham City.

Siriki Dembélé
Dembélé with AFC Bournemouth in 2022
Personal information
Full name Ben Siriki Dembélé[1]
Date of birth (1996-09-07) 7 September 1996
Place of birth Ouragahio, Ivory Coast
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Position(s) Winger, striker
Team information
Current team
 Birmingham City
Number 17
Youth career
2009–2013 Dundee United
2015–2016 Ayr United
2016–2017 Nike Football Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2018 Grimsby Town 36 (4)
2018–2022 Peterborough United 129 (26)
2022–2023 AFC Bournemouth 19 (2)
2023 → Auxerre (loan) 12 (0)
2023– Birmingham City 8 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:09, 21 October 2023 (UTC)

Dembélé is known for his speed, taking on players with his dribbling ability, and holding the ball bringing others into play. At the age of 12, Dembélé started his career with Dundee United's youth system. He then moved to playing in their academy. Dembélé returned south of the border joining the Nike Football Academy in May 2016; he had trials with Championship clubs Barnsley and Huddersfield Town in September 2016. In May 2017, Dembélé moved to Grimsby Town signing his first professional contract. On 22 June 2018, he joined Peterborough United on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee. He joined AFC Bournemouth in January 2022 on a three-and-a-half-year deal and spent the second half of the 2022–23 season on loan to French Ligue 1 club Auxerre before returning to the Championship with Birmingham City in July 2023.

Dembélé was born in Ivory Coast, and is also eligible to represent England and Scotland at international level.

Club career

Early career

Dembélé was born in Ivory Coast. He relocated with his family to London in search of better footballing opportunities, before moving to Govan, Scotland in 2004.[3][4] He attended Lourdes Secondary School in Glasgow, and started his career with Dundee United where he spent three years in their youth system.[3][5] He then moved to Ayr United in their U20s academy team in 2015.[6][7]

Several amateur players including Dembélé attended the 'Nike Most Wanted' 2016 trials, where he won a place at the Nike Football Academy, he was the only Scottish player selected for the St George's Park outfit, developing his skills in front of elite coaches and mentors.[3][8][9] While at the academy, he had trials with EFL Championship clubs Barnsley in August and Huddersfield Town in September 2016 and was due to sign for them, however, due to suffering an injury he was out for four months and went back to the Nike Academy in January 2017.[5]

Grimsby Town

After training and featuring in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Barnsley at Blundell Park, Dembélé joined EFL League Two side Grimsby Town on 25 May 2017 on a one-year contract, the club having the option to retain him for a second year.[10][11] He did have the opportunity to trial with fellow League Two club Stevenage, Dembélé said: "I still had a few clubs to go before making my decision, but once I found out I was joining this club to sign my very first professional contract it felt amazing."[12]

He made his full professional debut with Grimsby on 5 August 2017, in their 3–1 victory at Chesterfield, where he ran at pace through the midfield beating three men and placed a through ball to Sam Jones, which put Grimsby into a 2–0 lead.[13] Dembélé scored his first goal for Grimsby in the 2–1 win at Port Vale on 7 October 2017, a through ball from Luke Summerfield, which Dembélé latched onto and rounded the keeper to win the game.[14] Ten days later, he scored a brace in a 3–2 victory at Cheltenham Town.[15]

Dembélé was awarded EFL Young Player of the Month for October 2017.[16]

In June 2018, Dembélé submitted a transfer request.[17]

Dembélé with AFC Bournemouth in 2022

Peterborough United

Dembélé joined Peterborough United on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee on 22 June 2018.[18]

AFC Bournemouth

On 31 January 2022, Dembélé joined EFL Championship side AFC Bournemouth on a three-and-a-half-year contract, for an undisclosed fee.[19] Commenting on the move amidst interest from other clubs, Dembélé stated that Bournemouth was his top choice because of the higher chance of promotion and the club's style of play.[20] He scored his first goal for the club in his second appearance; a last minute winner against Blackpool on 12 February 2022.[21]

Loan to Auxerre

On 31 January 2023, Dembélé moved to Ligue 1 club Auxerre on loan until the end of the season.[22]

Birmingham City

Dembélé signed for Championship club Birmingham City on 14 July 2023; the fee was undisclosed.[23]

Style of play

Dembélé is ambipedal although mainly right footed, he primarily plays on the left-wing in 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 formations. He prefers to play as a striker in a 4-4-2 formation. Dembélé is known for his speed, taking on players with his dribbling skills and holding the ball bringing others into play.[5]

Personal life

Siriki has a younger brother, Karamoko, who plays for French club Brest. Both are eligible to play for England, Scotland or Ivory Coast.[24]

Career statistics
As of match played 21 October 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Grimsby Town 2017–18[25] League Two 36410101[lower-alpha 1]0394
Peterborough United 2018–19[26] League One 38541104[lower-alpha 1]1477
2019–20[27] League One 25510004[lower-alpha 1]1306
2020–21[28] League One 421121101[lower-alpha 1]14613
2021–22[29] Championship 2451000—255
Total 1292682209314831
AFC Bournemouth 2021–22[29] Championship 132———132
2022–23[30] Premier League 601020—90
Total 1921020—222
Auxerre 2022–23[31] Ligue 1 12000——120
Birmingham City 2023–24[32] Championship 830010—93
Career total 204351026010323040
  1. Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

AFC Bournemouth

Individual

References
  1. "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2019" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  2. "Siriki Dembele: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  3. "EFL Exclusive: Africa, England, Scotland, England - Siriki Dembele's route to professional football". EFL. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  4. Pattullo, Alan (5 October 2016). "Scotland call for Celtic 'wonderkid' Karamoko Dembele". The Scotsman. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  5. Dean, Matt (26 May 2017). "Siriki Dembélé: "I think I was born ready."". BBC Radio Humberside. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  6. "Academy 20s edge out Dumbarton". Ayr United Football Academy. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  7. "Ayr United 3–2 Airdrieonians". Airdrieonians F.C. 20 December 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  8. "Nike News - Nike Most Wanted 2016 Forecasts Tomorrow's Football Stars". Nike. 2 May 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  9. "Nike Academy 2016-17". The Nike Academy on Facebook. 2 May 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  10. Findlater, James (26 May 2017). "Grimsby Town sign former triliast Siriki Dembélé on one-year contract". Grimsby Telegraph. Archived from the original on 26 May 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  11. Findlater, James (21 June 2017). "Sam Kelly and Siriki Dembélé can take Grimsby Town to next level, says Paul Wilkinson". Grimsby Telegraph. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  12. "Dembele Signs For The Mariners". BBC Sport. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  13. "Chesterfield 1–3 Grimsby". BBC Sport. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  14. "Port Vale 1–2 Grimsby". BBC Sport. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  15. "Cheltenham 2–3 Grimsby". BBC Sport. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  16. Woodcock, Ian (22 November 2017). "Siriki Dembele: Grimsby Town striker wins EFL Young Player of the Month award". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  17. "Grimsby Town forward submits transfer request". Peterborough United. 5 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  18. "Dembele Makes Posh Move". Peterborough United. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  19. "AFC Bournemouth secure signing of Siriki Dembélé". AFC Bournemouth. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  20. "Ronaldinho fan Dembele looking to 'get fans off their seats' at Cherries". Daily Echo. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  21. "Blackpool 1-2 Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 12 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  22. "Siriki Makes Temporary Move To France". AFC Bournemouth. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  23. "Siriki Dembele: Birmingham City sign winger from Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  24. "Scotland Under-16s call up 13-year-old Celtic youngster Karamoko Dembele". BBC Sport. 19 October 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  25. "Games played by Siriki Dembélé in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  26. "Games played by Siriki Dembélé in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  27. "Games played by Siriki Dembélé in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  28. "Games played by Siriki Dembélé in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  29. "Games played by Siriki Dembélé in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  30. "Games played by Siriki Dembélé in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  31. "S. Dembélé". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  32. "Games played by Siriki Dembélé in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  33. "AFC Bournemouth 1-0 Nottingham Forest". BBC Sport. 3 May 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
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