Sam Adekugbe
Samuel Ayomide Adekugbe (born January 16, 1995) is a professional football player who plays as a left-back for Süper Lig club Hatayspor and the Canada national team. Born in England, he obtained Canadian citizenship in 2016.[3]
| Adekugbe playing for Canada at the 2022 FIFA World Cup | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Samuel Ayomide Adekugbe[1] | ||
| Date of birth | January 16, 1995 | ||
| Place of birth | London, England | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Left-back | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Hatayspor | ||
| Number | 23 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1998–2000 | Manchester United Grassroots Program | ||
| 2000–2004 | AFC Clayton | ||
| 2004–2011 | Calgary Foothills | ||
| 2011–2013 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 | 3 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | Whitecaps FC 2 | 6 | (0) |
| 2013–2017 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 16 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2017 | → IFK Göteborg (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 2018 | Vålerenga 2 | 1 | (0) |
| 2018–2021 | Vålerenga | 89 | (0) |
| 2021– | Hatayspor | 50 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2013 | Canada U18 | 1 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | Canada U20 | 6 | (0) |
| 2015– | Canada | 37 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of January 13, 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of December 1, 2022 | |||
Club career
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
On August 28, 2013, Adekugbe signed a Generation Adidas homegrown contract with MLS club Vancouver Whitecaps FC, making him the seventh homegrown signing in club history.[4] He made his professional debut on October 27 in the final game of the 2013 season which ended in a 3–0 victory over Colorado Rapids.[5]
Loan to Brighton & Hove Albion
During Winter 2015, Adekugbe was invited to train at English Football League Championship club Brighton & Hove Albion.[6] On July 15, 2016, Adekugbe transferred to Brighton on a season-long loan deal agreement, initially linking up with the club's development squad.[7] On August 9, 2016, Adekugbe started in the 4–0 victory over Colchester United in the 2016–17 EFL Cup.[8] On August 23, 2016, Adekugbe scored his first professional goal in a 4–2 victory over Oxford United in the second round of the 2016–17 EFL Cup.[9]
On January 14, 2017, Adekugbe started his first Championship game in a 2–0 defeat against Preston North End.[10]
Loan to IFK Göteborg
Adekugbe joined Allsvenskan club IFK Göteborg on loan on July 25, 2017, for the remainder of the season, with an option to buy for the club.[11] He made his debut against IFK Norrköping in a 4–1 win on July 30.
Vålerenga
On January 8, 2018, Eliteserien club Vålerenga announced they had signed Adekugbe to a four-year deal.[12] He made his debut against Kristiansund on March 12, 2018[13] In 3.5 seasons with the Oslo club, Adekugbe would play 94 games.[14]
Hatayspor
On June 18, 2021, it was announced Adekugbe had signed a three-year deal with Turkish Süper Lig side Hatayspor, effective August 1, 2021.[15] He made his debut on August 14 against Kasımpaşa.[16]
International career
Adekugbe was eligible to represent England, Nigeria or Canada internationally. In 2012, he was quoted saying he dreamed of playing for England at Wembley.[17] However, he has represented Canada at youth and senior level.
Youth
Adekugbe was part of Canada's U-18 squad for the 2013 COTIF U-20 tournament from August 11 to 21.[4] After a successful 2014 campaign with Vancouver, Adekugbe was called up to the U20 squad by coach Rob Gale on November 7, 2014.[18] He made his debut for the side against England on November 12 in a 1–1 draw. In January 2015 he would participate with Canada in the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.[19]
Senior
Adekugbe received his first call up to the Canada senior team for two friendlies against Mauritania in September 2013, though he did not feature in either match. [20] He made his debut two years later in a against Belize on September 8, 2015.[21] In June 2017 Adekugbe was named to Canada's squad for that year's CONCACAF Gold Cup.[22]
On November 16, 2021, during Canada's 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Mexico at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium, Adekugbe celebrated Cyle Larin's 52nd-minute goal by diving backward into a pitchside snow bank. The celebration subsequently went viral.[23] He scored his first goal for Canada in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the United States on January 30, 2022.[24] In November 2022, Adekugbe was named to the 2022 FIFA World Cup team for Canada.[25]
Personal life
Adekugbe was born in London to parents with Nigerian heritage and lived in England until 10, when his family moved to Calgary, Alberta in Western Canada.[26] His younger brother Elijah is also a professional soccer player. He is a fan of Manchester City.[17]
Adekugbe received his Canadian permanent residency status on August 23, 2013, which qualifies him as a domestic player on Canadian clubs for MLS roster purposes.[27] He became a Canadian citizen in 2016.[28]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played January 13, 2023[29]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 | 2013 | PDL | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | 1[a] | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 2013 | MLS | 1 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | – | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2014 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||||
| 2015 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 4[b] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |||
| 2016 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 16 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | ||
| Whitecaps FC 2 | 2015 | USL | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 2016 | 4 | 0 | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) | 2016–17 | Championship | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | – | – | 5 | 1 | ||
| IFK Göteborg (loan) | 2017 | Allsvenskan | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | 10 | 0 | |||
| Vålerenga 2 | 2018 | Norwegian Second Division | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Vålerenga | 2018 | Eliteserien | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | 29 | 0 | |||
| 2019 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | 25 | 0 | |||||
| 2020 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 26 | 0 | |||||
| 2021 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 2[c] | 0 | – | 14 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 89 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 94 | 0 | ||
| Hatayspor | 2021–22 | Süper Lig | 34 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | 37 | 0 | |||
| 2022–23 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | 17 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 50 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 175 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 197 | 1 | ||
- ^ Appearance in PDL Play-offs
- ^ Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
International
- As of match played December 1, 2022[30]
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 2 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 |
| 2017 | 3 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 |
| 2021 | 13 | 0 |
| 2022 | 13 | 1 |
| Total | 37 | 1 |
- As of January 30, 2022. Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Adekugbe goal.[30]
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 30, 2022 | Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton, Canada | 26 | United States | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
References
- ^ "40-Player National Team Roster: 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup: Canada" (PDF). CONCACAF. p. 2. Retrieved May 20, 2019 – via Bernews.
- ^ "Samuel Adekugbe | MLSsoccer.com". mlssoccer.
- ^ "Sam Adekugbe Biography, Siblings, Age, Net Worth, Height, Latest News Updates". Naija News 247. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
- ^ a b "Whitecaps FC add Homegrown defender Sam Adekugbe to MLS roster". WhitecapsFC.com. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. August 28, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
- ^ Devji, Farhan (October 27, 2013). "Camilo hat-trick carries Vancouver Whitecaps FC to 3-0 win over Colorado Rapids in 2013 season finale". WhitecapsFC.com. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
- ^ "Whitecaps FC defender Sam Adekugbe training with Brighton". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. November 26, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
- ^ "Canadian International arrives on loan". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. July 15, 2016. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
- ^ "Match Report". Brighton & Hove Albion Official Website. August 9, 2016.
- ^ . Brighton & Hove Albion Official Website. August 23, 2016. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016.
- ^ "Mixed feelings for Adekugbe after defeat on league debut". The Argus. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
- ^ . July 25, 2017. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017.
- ^ "Kanadisk landslagsspiller klar for Vålerenga". Retrieved January 11, 2018.
- ^ "JOHNSON MATCHVINNER I ELITESERIEDEBUTEN". March 12, 2018.
- ^ "Sams Siste Kamp I Kongeblatt". Vålerenga. July 29, 2021.
- ^ "Adekugbe solgt til tyrkisk fotball". Vålerenga.
- ^ Hatayspor [@Hatayspor_FK] (August 14, 2021). "Kasımpaşa karşısında ilk 11'imiz #DahaAsiDahaGüçlü #Başlıyoruz #HTYvKSM" (Tweet). Retrieved August 17, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Weber, Marc (April 12, 2012). "GOAL!: Q&A with Whitecaps residency player Sam Adekugbe". canada.com. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
- ^ "Canada M20 to face England, Russia and USA on road to 2015 CONCACAF Championship". Canada Soccer. November 7, 2014.
- ^ Rowaan, Dave (January 5, 2014). "Canada names squad for CONCACAF U20 Championships".
- ^ "Canada names large squad for first camp under Floro". Canada Soccer. August 27, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
- ^ "Team KidSport: Sam Adekugbe". July 17, 2020.
- ^ Tierney, Mitchell (June 27, 2017). "Lucas Cavallini in, Will Johnson out as Canada names 2017 Gold Cup roster".
- ^ Psihogios, Steven. "Canadian soccer team goes viral for snow celebration in wild win over Mexico". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
- ^ Thompson, Marty (January 30, 2022). "'What Canada deserves': CanMNT take emotional World Cup qualifying win over U.S. as Qatar nears". Canadian Premier League.
- ^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (November 13, 2022). "Canada announces 26-man squad for 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar". Canadian Premier League.
- ^ Sam Adekugbe at the Canadian Soccer Association. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
- ^ "Whitecaps FC add Homegrown defender Sam Adekugbe to MLS roster". Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
- ^ Naylor, Andy (July 15, 2016). "Albion add third defender to under-21s". The Argus. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
- ^ Sam Adekugbe at Soccerway. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
- ^ a b Sam Adekugbe at National-Football-Teams.com
External links
- Sam Adekugbe at Major League Soccer
- Whitecaps FC bio
- Sam Adekugbe on Twitter
- Sam Adekugbe at the Canadian Soccer Association