Ben Folami
{{short description|Australian professional soccer player|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ben Folami
| image = Ben Folami training for Melbourne Victory February 2023 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Folami in 2023
| fullname = Gbenga Tai Folami{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/efl-documents/efl-released-and-retained-list---2016-17.pdf |title=EFL Released and Retained List 2016-17 |publisher=English Football League |accessdate=22 August 2017}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|06|08|df=y}}
| birth_place = Sydney, Australia
| position = Winger
| currentclub = Adelaide United
| clubnumber = 17
| youthclubs1 = Football NSW Institute
| youthyears1 = 2012–2014
| youthclubs2 = Sutherland Sharks
| youthyears2 = 2014–2015
| youthclubs3 = Ipswich Town
| youthyears3 = 2015–2017
| clubs1 = Ipswich Town
| years1 = 2017–2021
| caps1 = 4
| goals1 = 0
| clubs2 = → Stevenage (loan)
| years2 = 2020
| caps2 = 2
| goals2 = 0
| clubs3 = → Melbourne Victory (loan)
| years3 = 2020–2021
| caps3 = 17
| goals3 = 3
| clubs4 = Melbourne Victory
| years4 = 2021–2024
| caps4 = 82
| goals4 = 6
| clubs5 = Adelaide United
| years5 = 2024–
| caps5 = 12
| goals5 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2018–2019
| nationalteam1 = Australia U19
| nationalcaps1 = 4
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 2019–
| nationalteam2 = Australia U23
| nationalcaps2 = 5
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 2022
| nationalteam3 = Australia
| nationalcaps3 = 1
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| club-update = 11 January 2025
| ntupdate = 25 March 2022 (UTC)
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|AUS}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|AFC U-23 Asian Cup}}
{{Medal|3rd|2020 Thailand|U-23 Team}}
}}
Gbenga Tai "Ben" Folami (born 8 June 1999) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Adelaide United and the Australia national team.{{Cite web | url =https://www.itfc.co.uk/teams/u23-team/forward/ben-folami// | publisher = Ipswich Town F.C. | accessdate = 8 August 2017 | title = Ben Folami}}
Club career
=Ipswich Town=
File:BenFolamiBntIps1.jpg in 2018]]
Born in Sydney, Folami joined Ipswich Town's academy in 2015, having previously played for the Football NSW Institute and the Sutherland Sharks at youth level.{{cite web | url = https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/meet-the-aussie-striker-cracking-into-the-championship | work = East Anglian Daily Times | title = Meet the Aussie striker cracking into the Championship | accessdate = 13 June 2019 | date = 11 May 2018 }} After working his way through the youth system at Portman Road, he went on to make his full senior debut in a 2–1 defeat against Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup second round on 22 August 2017.{{Cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40932013 | title = Crystal Palace v Ipswich Town | publisher = BBC Sport| date = 22 August 2017|accessdate = 22 August 2017}} He made his league debut for the club on 2 April 2018 in a 2–2 draw against Millwall.{{cite news | url = http://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/mccarthy-hints-at-early-exit-after-millwall-draw-1-5460286 | work = East Anglian Daily Times | title = 'I'm not enjoying it' – McCarthy hints he may not see out his contract | first = Stuart | last = Watson | accessdate = 2 April 2018 | date = 2 April 2018 }} In May 2018, Folami signed a new three-year contract at Ipswich until 2021.{{cite web | url = https://www.itfc.co.uk/news/2018/may/folami-signs-pro-contract/ | work = TWTD | title = Three Year Deal for Ben | accessdate = 25 November 2020 | date = 8 May 2018 }} On 14 January 2019, Folami tore his achilles tendon during an under-23 match against Cardiff City, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.{{cite web | url = https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/35283/chambers-to-wear-strapping-at-blackburn-as-folami-ruled-out-for-season | work = TWTD | title = Chambers to Wear Strapping at Blackburn as Folami Ruled Out for Season | accessdate = 15 November 2019 | date = 17 January 2019 }}
Following his recovery from injury Folami appeared for Ipswich's under-23 side before returning to first-team action on 12 November 2019, starting in a 0–1 away loss to Colchester United in an EFL Trophy group stage match.{{cite web | url = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2019/11/12/england/football-league-trophy/colchester-united-fc/ipswich-town-fc/3106543/ | work = Soccerway | title = EFL Trophy Match Report - Colchester United 1-0 Ipswich Town | accessdate = 15 November 2019 | date = 12 November 2019 }}
==Stevenage (loan)==
On 31 January 2020, Folami signed for Stevenage on loan until the end of the 2019–20 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/2020/january/new-signing-ben-folami-ipswich-town-sky-bet-league-two-efl-english-football-league-deadline-day-january-transfer-window-friday-31st-january-2020/|title = Ben Folami joins Boro}} He made his debut on 8 February, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2–1 loss to Exeter City.{{cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51268277 | work = BBC Sport | title = Exeter City 2-1 Stevenage | accessdate = 8 February 2020 | date = 8 February 2020}} He made two substitute appearances for Stevenage before the 2019–20 season was suspended due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
=Return to Ipswich Town=
He scored his first goal for Ipswich in an EFL Trophy tie against Gillingham on 6 October 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/ipswich-town-2-gillingham-0-match-report-235032/|title=Ipswich Town 2 Gillingham 0: Goals from Armando Dobra and Ben Folami settle EFL Trophy match |date=6 October 2020 |publisher=kentonline.co.uk |accessdate=7 October 2020}}
In April 2021, Ipswich announced that Folami would be released at the end of the 2020–21 season following the end of his contract.{{cite web|url= https://www.itfc.co.uk/news/2021/april/folami-and-wright-released-at-ipswich/|title=No New Deal for Folami and 'Keepers |date=8 April 2021 |publisher=Ipswich Town F.C. |accessdate=12 April 2021}}
=Melbourne Victory=
On 28 October 2020, Folami joined Australian A-League side Melbourne Victory on loan until the end of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.itfc.co.uk/news/2020/october/ben-folami-joins-melbourne-victory-on-loan/|title=Folami Makes Loan Move |date=28 October 2020 |publisher=Ipswich Town F.C. |accessdate=29 October 2020}} He scored his first goal for Melbourne Victory in a 2–2 draw with Thai side Chiangrai United in the AFC Champions League on 30 November.{{cite web|url=https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/39245/folami-nets-first-goal-for-melbourne-victory|title=Folami Nets First Goal For Melbourne Victory |date=30 November 2020 |publisher=TWTD |accessdate=30 November 2020}}
In July 2021, after being released by Ipswich Town, Folami signed a permanent two-year contract with Melbourne Victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournevictory.com.au/news/melbourne-victory-signs-ben-folami|title=Melbourne Victory signs Ben Folami|publisher=Melbourne Victory|date=12 July 2021}}
International career
Folami is of Nigerian descent.{{Cite web|url=http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=27273|title=Nigerian-Australian Striker Ben Folami Making Inroads At The Blues:: All Nigeria Soccer - The Complete Nigerian Football Portal|website=www.allnigeriasoccer.com|access-date=2018-07-07}} In October 2018, he was called up to the Australia U19 squad to compete in the 2018 AFC U-19 Championship held in Indonesia.{{cite news|url=https://www.myfootball.com.au/news/update-young-socceroos-squad-afc-u19-championship|title=Update to Young Socceroos squad for AFC U19 Championship|publisher=Football Federation Australia|date=19 October 2018|accessdate=22 October 2018}} He made 4 appearances during the tournament, scoring one goal, as the Young Socceroos exited the U-19 championships at the quarter-final stage. Folami impressed with his performances during the tournament, with Fox Sports describing him as "an absolute revelation" and stating that he had been "Australia's best player".{{cite news|url=https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/34774/folami-wins-cap-but-australia-exit-afc-u19-championship|title=Folami Wins Cap But Australia Exit AFC U19 Championship|publisher=TWTD|date=29 October 2018|accessdate=9 June 2019}}
Folami made his debut for the Australia U23 team in a 2–1 loss to Iran on 14 October 2019.{{cite news|url=https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/36980/folami-in-action-for-australian-u23s|title=Folami in Action for Australian U23s|publisher=TWTD|date=15 October 2019|accessdate=15 October 2019}} He scored his first goal for the under-23s while winning his second cap, appearing as a second-half substitute and scoring in a 5–1 victory over China on 15 November 2019.{{cite news|url=https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/37211/folami-nets-as-australias-u23s-hammer-china|title=Folami Nets as Australia's U23s Hammer China|publisher=TWTD|date=15 November 2019|accessdate=15 November 2019}}
He debuted with the senior Australia national team in a 2–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification loss to Japan on 24 March 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/match-review-socceroos-v-japan|title=WATCH: Socceroos fall short after Japan strike late|date=24 March 2022|website=Socceroos}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 11 November 2022}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | |||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !rowspan="2"|Division !colspan="2"|League !colspan="2"|National Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="5"|Ipswich Town
|2017–18{{soccerbase season|107308|2017|accessdate=8 June 2019}} |4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 5 | 0 | |
| 2018–19{{soccerbase season|107308|2018|accessdate=8 June 2019}}
|Championship |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |
| 2019–20{{soccerbase season|107308|2019|accessdate=8 June 2019}}
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1Appearance in EFL Trophy | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020–21{{soccerbase season|107308|2020|accessdate=8 June 2019}}
|League One |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| colspan=2|Total
!4||0||0||0||1||0||2||1||7||1 | |||||||||
| Stevenage (loan)
|2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| rowspan=2|Melbourne Victory (loan)
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 5Appearances in AFC Champions League | 1 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2020–21
|A-League |17 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 17 | 3 | |||
| rowspan=3|Melbourne Victory
|A-League |24 | 3 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 3One appearance and one goal in AFC Champions League, Two appearances in A-League Finals series | 1 | 28 | 4 | |
| 2022–23
|A-League |26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 6 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!47||6||1||0||0||0||8||2||56||8 | |||||||||
| colspan=3|Career total
!53 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 65 | 9 |
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 24 March 2022}}{{NFT player|86843}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| colspan="2"|Total | 1 | 0 |
Honours
=Club=
Melbourne Victory
=International=
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{soccerbase|id=107308|name=Ben Folami}}
{{Adelaide United FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Folami, Ben}}
Category:Soccer players from Sydney
Category:Australian men's soccer players
Category:Australia men's international soccer players
Category:Australia men's youth international soccer players
Category:Australia men's under-20 international soccer players
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Ipswich Town F.C. players
Category:Stevenage F.C. players
Category:Melbourne Victory FC players
Category:Adelaide United FC players
Category:Australian people of Nigerian descent
Category:Australian expatriate men's soccer players
Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England