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Oludare Olufunwa

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Oludare Olufunwa
Personal information
Full name Oludare Samuel Araba Olufunwa
Date of birth (2001-07-29) 29 July 2001 (age 23)
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Gnistan
Youth career
–2022 Southampton
2022–2023 Liverpool
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023–2025 St Johnstone 11 (0)
2024 → Hamilton Academical (loan) 3 (0)
2025– Gnistan 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 December 2024 17:15 (UTC)

Oludare Samuel Araba Olufunwa (born 29 July 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays for Veikkausliiga club Gnistan.

Career

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Olufunwa was in the academy of Southampton and signed a two-year professional contract in 2020.[2] He was at the club for eleven years in total prior to his release in 2022.[3] He spent the 2022–23 season with Liverpool and made 30 appearances in Premier League 2.[4] In August 2023 he signed a contract with Scottish club St Johnstone, agreeing to a two-year contract.[5][6] He made his Scottish Premiership debut on 5 August 2023 against Heart of Midlothian.[7] In September 2024, he joined Scottish Championship side Hamilton Academical on loan until January 2025.[8]

On 1 April 2025, Finnish Veikkausliiga club IF Gnistan announced the signing of Olufunwa for the 2025 season.[9]

Style of play

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It has been reported that Olufunwa is capable of playing at centre-back or right-back.[10]

Personal life

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Born in England, raised in Elephant and Castle, South East London, Olufunwa attended The Wellington Academy Boarding School located in Tidworth, Wiltshire. He has Nigerian heritage from his father and English inheritance from his mother.[11]

Career statistics

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As of 11 April 2025[12]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Southampton U21 2021–22 – 2[a] 0 2 0
Liverpool U21 2022–23 – 2[a] 0 2 0
St Johnstone 2023–24 Scottish Premiership 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 0
2024–25 Scottish Premiership 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 0
Hamilton Academical (loan) 2024–25 Scottish Championship 3 0 0 0 0 0 1[b] 0 4 0
Gnistan 2025 Veikkausliiga 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 0
Career total 14 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 19 0
  1. ^ a b Includes EFL Trophy
  2. ^ Includes Scottish Challenge Cup

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Oludare Olufunwa at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ Warlow, Rob (8 July 2020). "Ralph Hasenhuttl cites example for Oludare Olufunwa to follow after signing new Southampton deal". Hampshirelive.news. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Promising defender Olufunwa agrees move to Scottish club after release by Liverpool". All Nigeria Soccer. August 3, 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Defender Olufunwa joins Saints after Liverpool exit". BBC Sport. 1 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  5. ^ Nicolson, Eric (1 August 2023). "Oludare Olufunwa: St Johnstone sign former Liverpool and Southampton defender on two-year deal". The Courier. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  6. ^ Smith, Aidan (1 August 2023). "St Johnstone set to sign ex-Liverpool defender Oludare Olufunwa". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  7. ^ "St. Johnstone vs Hearts". Soccerway. 5 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  8. ^ "OLUDARE OLUFUNWA JOINS ACCIES". Hamilton Accies FC. 13 September 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  9. ^ IF GNISTAN VAHVISTUU ENGLANTILAISELLA PUOLUSTAJALLA OLUDARE OLUFUNWALLA, gnistan.fi, 1 April 2025
  10. ^ Durkan, Joanna (August 4, 2023). "22-year-old centre-back thankful to Liverpool family after 1 season stay". This is Anfield. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  11. ^ "Olufunwa sends parting message to Liverpool after sealing transfer to St Johnstone". Allnigeriasoccer. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  12. ^ Oludare Olufunwa at Soccerway
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