Stephen Payne (soccer)

Stephen Oyebolaji Payne (born June 16, 1997) is an American soccer player who currently plays as a defender for USL League One side Forward Madison FC.

For other uses, see Stephen Payne.
Stephen Payne
Personal information
Full name Stephen Oyebolaji Payne
Date of birth (1997-06-16) June 16, 1997
Place of birth Birmingham, Alabama, United States[1]
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Forward Madison FC
Number 22
Youth career
2012–2015 Chicago Magic
2016–2017 Estoril
2017–2018 Varzim
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015 UCLA Bruins 13 (1)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2018 Varzim B 27 (7)
2018–2019 Varzim 14 (1)
2019 Portimonense 0 (0)
2020 Mafra
2020–2021 Länk FCV 20 (0)
2022 Richmond Kickers 28 (1)
2023– Forward Madison 32 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 15, 2023

Career

Born in the Birmingham, Alabama, United States, Payne is of Nigerian descent.[2] His father had a scholarship for college soccer at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, while his mother ran track at Alabama A&M University; he is the middle of three children with two sisters also playing soccer, Nigeria women's national team players Toni and Nicole Payne.[3]

Payne played for four years at Lake Forest Academy and one year at UCLA Bruins in 2015 before traveling to Europe for trials. Passed over by several professional clubs in France and Italy, he was taken on by a fourth-division Portuguese club and eventually earned his way into the under-23 team of G.D. Estoril Praia.[3]

After a season with their reserve team, Payne made his first team debut for Varzim S.C. during the 2018–19 LigaPro season. He played 19 total games, and scored the only goal of the match in the 88th minute at FC Porto B on 23 April 2019.[4]

Payne signed for Portimonense S.C. prior to the 2019–20 Primeira Liga season, alongside teammate Jeferson.[5]

On January 20, 2022, Payne returned to the United States by signing with USL League One club Richmond Kickers.[6]

Payne signed with rival USL League One club Forward Madison FC prior to the 2023 season.[7]

Career statistics
As of 9 January 2019.[8][9]
Club Season League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Varzim B 2017–18 Elite Série 1 AF Porto 2770000277
Varzim 2018–19 LigaPro 1415[lower-alpha 1]00070
Portimonense 2019–20 Primeira Liga 00000000
Career total 4185000347
Notes
  1. Appearances in the Taça da Liga

References
  1. "Profile". UCLA. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  2. admin. "Stephen Payne continues to impress at Portuguese club Estoril - SCORE NIGERIA". Archived from the original on 2019-02-20. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  3. McIntosh, Loyd (10 January 2017). "Stephen Payne ready to kick off career in Portugal". Upper 90. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  4. "Varzim vence FC Porto B, apesar da inferioridade numérica" [Varzim beat Porto B, despite numerical disadvantage]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 23 April 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  5. "Varzim vende Payne e Jeferson ao Portimonense" [Varzim sell Payne and Jeferson to Portimonense]. Mais Seminário (in Portuguese). 26 June 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  6. "Stephen Payne Brings European Experience to Richmond's Backline". USLLeagueOne.com. 20 January 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  7. Warwick, Evan (December 7, 2022). "FMFC Signs Defender Stephen Payne". ForwardMadisonFC.com. Forward Madison FC. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  8. Stephen Payne at Soccerway. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  9. Stephen Payne at ForaDeJogo (archived)
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