Ben Ofeimu
{{short description|American soccer player}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ben Ofeimu
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| fullname = Benjamin Ofeimu
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|9|30}}
| birth_place = West Bloomfield, Michigan, United States
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=3}}
| position = Defender
| currentclub = Indy Eleven
| clubnumber = 30
| youthyears1 = 2014–2015
| youthclubs1 = Vardar SC
| youthyears2 = 2015–2019
| youthclubs2 = Philadelphia Union
| years1 = 2018–2020
| clubs1 = Philadelphia Union II
| caps1 = 46
| goals1 = 3
| years2 = 2021
| clubs2 = Birmingham Legion
| caps2 = 15
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2022–2024
| clubs3 = Miami FC
| caps3 = 39
| goals3 = 1
| nationalyears1 =
| nationalteam1 =
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
| medaltemplates =
| club-update = 18:17, May 29, 2025 (UTC)
| ntupdate =
| years4 = 2024–
| clubs4 = Indy Eleven
| caps4 = 35
| goals4 = 2
}}
Benjamin Ofeimu (born September 30, 2000) is an American soccer player who plays as a defender for Indy Eleven in the USL Championship.
Playing career
=Youth=
Ofeimu appeared as an amateur player for United Soccer League side Bethlehem Steel FC during their 2018 season via the Philadelphia Union academy.{{cite web|url=https://www.bethlehemsteelfc.com/bofeimu|title=Ben Ofeimu {{!}} Bethlehem Steel Player Stats|accessdate=23 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140133/https://www.bethlehemsteelfc.com/bofeimu|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=dead}}
Ofeimu has committed to playing college soccer at Penn State University from 2019 onward.{{cite web |url=https://www.brotherlygame.com/2018/5/19/17371936/ben-ofeimu-philadelphia-union-college-commitments-penn-state|title=Union Academy defender Ben Ofeimu verbally commits to Penn State|publisher=Brotherly Game|author=Matthew Ralph|date=19 May 2018|accessdate=23 January 2019}}
=Club=
== Philadelphia Union II (2018–2020) ==
In January 2019, Ofeimu officially signed his first professional contract with Bethlehem Steel FC, later named Philadelphia Union II, having impressed during his academy loan spells during the 2018 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.philadelphiaunion.com/post/2019/01/23/bethlehem-steel-fc-signs-defender-ben-ofeimu|title=Bethlehem Steel FC signs defender Ben Ofeimu|publisher=Philadelphia Union|date=23 January 2019|accessdate=23 January 2019}}
==Birmingham Legion (2021)==
On May 1, 2021, Ofeimu signed with USL Championship side Birmingham Legion.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bhmlegion.com/news_article/show/1161308|title=Legion FC Signs Defender Benjamin Ofeimu|date=30 April 2021}} Following the 2021 season, Birmingham declined their contract option on Ofeimu.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bhmlegion.com/news_article/show/1196570|title=Legion FC Announces Year-End Roster Updates|date=December 2021|access-date=2021-12-10|archive-date=2021-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210131005/https://www.bhmlegion.com/news_article/show/1196570|url-status=dead}}
== Miami FC (2022–2024) ==
== Indy Eleven (2024–present) ==
Ofeimu joined USL Championship club Indy Eleven on April 11, 2024, as part of a swap deal with Miami FC.{{Cite web |title=Indy Eleven Announces Acquisition of Ofeimu, Mines from Miami FC |url=https://www.indyeleven.com/news/2024/04/11/indy-eleven-announces-acquisition-of-ofeimu-mines-from-miami-fc/ |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=Indy Eleven |language=en-US}} Ofeimu made his debut for the club in the U.S. Open Cup, starting in a 1–0 away win over MLS Next Pro side Chicago Fire FC II on April 17, 2024.{{Cite web |title=Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Recap – CHI 0:1 IND |url=https://www.indyeleven.com/news/2024/04/17/lamar-hunt-u-s-open-cup-recap-chi-01-ind/ |access-date=2024-04-21 |website=Indy Eleven |language=en-US}} He made his first league appearance three days later, appearing as a substitute in the 67th minute in a 1–1 away draw with Colorado Springs Switchbacks on April 20, replacing defender Josh O'Brien.{{Cite web |title=Recap – COS 1:1 IND |url=https://www.indyeleven.com/news/2024/04/20/recap-cos-11-ind/ |access-date=2024-04-21 |website=Indy Eleven |language=en-US}}
Ofeimu scored his first goal for the Eleven on May 18, in a 4–1 home victory over Hartford Athletic.{{Cite web |title=Recap - IND 4:1 HFD |url=https://www.indyeleven.com/news/2024/05/18/recap-ind-41-hfd/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=Indy Eleven |language=en-US}} He scored the final goal of the game, and his second of the season, in a 3–0 home victory over Detroit City FC in the Round of 16 of the U.S. Open Cup.{{Cite web |title=Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Recap – IND 3:0 DET |url=https://www.indyeleven.com/news/2024/05/22/lamar-hunt-u-s-open-cup-recap-ind-30-det/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Indy Eleven |language=en-US}} Ofeimu made 34 total appearances for the Eleven in 2024, including the team's playoff loss to Rhode Island FC and their historic participation in the semifinal of the Open Cup, defeating Major League Soccer (MLS) side Atlanta United FC in the process.{{Cite web |title=Rhode Island 3-2 Indy XI (Nov 3, 2024) Final Score |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/722856/rhode-island-fc-indy-eleven |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=ESPN |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Kansas City 2-0 Indy XI (Aug 27, 2024) Final Score |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/715041/indy-eleven-sporting-kansas-city |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=ESPN |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Cinderella Semifinalists Indy Eleven Make Open Cup Lemonade in Turbulent 2024 |url=https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2024/08/cinderella-semifinalists-indy-eleven-make-open-cup-lemonade-in-turbulent-2024 |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=www.ussoccer.com |language=en}} On November 20, 2024, the club confirmed Ofeimu would remain with them for a second season.{{Cite web |title=Indy Eleven Announces Returnees for 2025 |url=https://www.indyeleven.com/news/2024/11/20/indy-eleven-announces-returnees-for-2025/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Indy Eleven |language=en-US}}
Ofeimu scored his second league goal for Indy Eleven, and first in 2025, on May 28, 2025 in a 4–4 home draw against Hartford Athletic.{{Cite web |title=Indy XI 4-4 Hartford (May 28, 2025) Final Score |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/726239/hartford-athletic-indy-eleven |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=ESPN |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{USL player|ben-ofeimu}}
{{Indy Eleven squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ofeimu, Ben}}
Category:American men's soccer players
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Birmingham Legion FC players
Category:Philadelphia Union II players
Category:Sportspeople from West Bloomfield, Michigan
Category:Soccer players from Oakland County, Michigan
Category:USL Championship players
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
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