Femi Azeez
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{family name hatnote|Azeez|Beloso|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Femi Azeez
| image = Femi Azeez 12042025 (2).jpg
| caption = Femi Azeez in 2025.
| fullname = Oluwafemi Javier Azeez{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/contentassets/bbc45f8b74f946c9a6d98bbf8ecf0207/efl-professional-retain-list---2021-22.pdf |title=EFL Professional retain list 2021-22|publisher=EFL.com|access-date=16 June 2022}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|6|5|df=y}}
| birth_place = Westminster, England{{cite web |url=https://www.footballsquads.co.uk/eng/2023-2024/flone/reading.htm |title=Squads - English Football League One 2023/2024|publisher=Football Squads|access-date=13 January 2024}}
| height = 1.81m
| position = Forward
| currentclub = Millwall
| clubnumber = 11
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}
| youthclubs1 = Watford
| youthyears2 = {{0|0000}}–2018
| youthclubs2 = Northwood
| years1 = 2018
| clubs1 = Northwood
| caps1 = 12
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2018–2019
| clubs2 = Wealdstone
| caps2 = 8
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2018–2019
| clubs3 = → Hanwell Town (loan)
| caps3 = 3
| goals3 = 3
| years4 = 2019–2024
| clubs4 = Reading
| caps4 = 81
| goals4 = 10
| years5 = 2020
| clubs5 = → Bracknell Town (loan)
| caps5 = 1
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2024–
| clubs6 = Millwall
| caps6 = 32
| goals6 = 2
| club-update = 18:08, 22 April 2025 (UTC)
}}
Oluwafemi "Femi" Javier Azeez Beloso (born 5 June 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for {{English football updater|Millwall}} club Millwall.
After being released from the Watford youth system at age 14, he began his senior career with non-league side Northwood. After making 12 appearances in his debut season, he signed for fellow non-league club Wealdstone in 2018. After his time at Wealdstone, which included a loan at Hanwell Town in 2018, he joined Reading in 2019. He was loaned to Bracknell Town before making his senior debut for Reading in 2021. He became an important part of the team in the 2023–24 season, before signing for Millwall in 2024.
Career
=Early career=
{{quote box |width=30% |align=left |quote="He took his opportunity with both hands, he came off the bench and played well, so I gave him a start and he just continued to grow. He started the last six games of the season, which is virtually unheard of for a 16-year-old at that level. It doesn't happen." |source=Northwood manager Gordon Boateng on Azeez's first team breakthrough.}}
Azeez joined the youth team of Watford at age nine, but was released at age 14. He later joined the youth side of Northwood following a trial, where he played down the wing and upfront. Interim manager Gordon Boateng was impressed by Azeez while watching him play for the under-18 side, and he handed him his first-team debut aged 16. His debut came in a league match in the eighth tier of English football on 6 February 2018, coming on as a substitute for Jermaine Osei in a 2–0 defeat to Chalfont St Peter.{{cite web |url=https://www.northwoodfc.com/Archives/archives-reports/reports-201718/Chalfont-H.html |title=Northwood 0 Chalfont St Peter 2 |last=Piper |first=Robin |work=Northwood FC |date=6 February 2018 |access-date=1 June 2025 }} He made his full debut on 21 March 2018, in a 2–0 defeat to Aylesbury United.{{cite web |url=https://www.northwoodfc.com/Archives/archives-reports/reports-201718/AylesburyUtd-A.html |title=Aylesbury United 2 Northwood 0 |last=Piper |first=Robin |work=Northwood FC |date=21 March 2018 }} He ended his debut season with 12 appearances.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk/players/femi-azeez#playingcareer|title=Femi Azeez profile|publisher=Aylesbury United F.C.|website=www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk|accessdate=6 March 2021}}
Azeez joined National League South side Wealdstone in summer 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://nonleaguedaily.com/stones-send-young-striker-out-for-more-experience/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226151506/http://nonleaguedaily.com/stones-send-young-striker-out-for-more-experience/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=26 December 2018|title=Stones send young striker out for more experience|date=26 December 2018|website=Non League Daily|accessdate=6 March 2021}} Azeez was initially signed to play for Wealdstone's youth side, but once against impressed manager Bobby Wilkinson who sent him to train with the first team. He made his debut on 6 November, starting and scoring in a 5–3 win over Uxbridge in the Middlesex Senior Cup.{{cite web |url=https://www.wfchistory.com/2018/posts/report-wealdstone-5-3-uxbridge/ |title=Report – Wealdstone 5 – 3 Uxbridge |website=WFC History |author=Sam Watts |date=12 November 2018 |accessdate=2 June 2025 }} He made his league debut on 1 December in a 3–0 defeat to Eastbourne Borough after coming on as a substitute for David Pratt.{{cite web |url=https://www.wealdstone-fc.com/post/report-wealdstone-0-3-eastbourne-boro |title=Report - Wealdstone 0 - 3 Eastbourne Boro |website=Wealdstone F.C. |author=Sam Watts |date=1 December 2018 |accessdate=2 June 2025 }} Later that month, he signed for Isthmian League South Central Division side Hanwell Town on dual registration. He ended his loan with 4 goals in 4 appearances. He captained Wealdstone in a Middlesex Senior Cup match against Brentford B at age 17, which ended in a 2–0 defeat.{{cite web |url=https://www.wealdstone-fc.com/post/report-wealdstone-0-2-brentford-b |title=Report - Wealdstone 0 - 2 Brentford 'B' |website=Wealdstone F.C. |author=Sam Watts |date=9 January 2019 |accessdate=2 June 2025 }} He ended the 2018–19 season with 1 goal in 10 appearances for Wealdstone.
=Reading=
On 18 September 2019, Reading announced the signing of Azeez to their academy on a one-year professional contract.{{cite web |title=Academy recruit three promising young players |url=https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2019/september/academy-recruit-three-promising-young-players/ |website=readingfc.co.uk |publisher=Reading F.C. |access-date=6 March 2021 |date=18 September 2019}} He initially struggled for the under-23s, failing to score in eight matches in the Premier League 2. As a result, on 8 February 2020, Azeez joined Bracknell Town on an initial 28-day loan deal, reuniting with Wealdstone manager Bobby Wilkinson.{{Cite tweet |number=1226206293247037440 |user=BracknellTownFC |title=We're delighted to announce that Femi Azeez has joined the Robins on an initial 28 day loan from @ReadingFC . |author=Bracknell Town F.C.}} He made his debut for 'the Robins' on 11 February, in a 0–0 tie to Maldon & Tiptree in the Isthmian League Cup, which Bracknell won 4–1 on penalties.{{cite web |url=https://www.bracknellnews.co.uk/sport/18229762.bracknell-town-boss-bobby-wilkinson-delighted-loan-signing-reading-23s-star-femi-azeez/ |title=Bracknell Town boss Bobby Wilkinson delighted with loan signing of Reading Under 23s star Femi Azeez |website=Bracknell News |author=Richard Ashton |date=12 February 2020 |accessdate=6 February 2025 }} On 2 July 2020, Reading announced that Azeez had signed a new one-year contract with the club.{{cite web |title=Contract update - New U23s contracts offered, two professional deals expire and all loanees agree to extensions until the end of July |url=https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2020/july/contract-update--new-u23s-contracts-offered-two-professional-deals-expire-and-all-loanees-agree-to-extensions-until-the-end-of-july |website=readingfc.co.uk |publisher=Reading F.C. |access-date=2 July 2020 |date=2 July 2020}} He made his Reading first-team debut on 6 March 2021, coming on as a substitute for Josh Laurent in a 3–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday.{{cite web |title=📝 Match Report {{!}} Royals stroll to comfortable home win over Owls |url=https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2021/march/-match-report--reading-vs-sheffield-wednesday/ |website=readingfc.co.uk |publisher=Reading F.C. |access-date=6 June 2025 |date=6 March 2021}} On 2 July, Reading announced that Azeez had signed another one-year contract with the club, after scoring 10 goals to become top scorer of the under-23s.{{cite web |title=SEVEN SIGN ON WITH NEW DEALS |url=https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2021/july/Seven-sign-on-with-new-deals/ |website=readingfc.co.uk/ |publisher=Reading F.C. |access-date=2 July 2021 |date=2 July 2021}}
Azeez was handed his first league start for Reading on 7 August, in a 3–2 defeat to Stoke City.{{cite web |title=The Royals’ starting XI and subs for our opening-day game against Stoke City… |url=https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2021/august/Azeez-and-Bristow-handed-maiden-league-starts/ |website=readingfc.co.uk/ |publisher=Reading F.C. |access-date=6 June 2025 |date=7 August 2021}} He scored his first goal for Reading, and his first professional goal, in a 2–1 win against Preston North End on 14 August 2021 in what was only his second start and home debut.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58124647 |title=Reading 2-1 Preston |publisher=BBC |date=14 August 2021 |access-date=15 August 2021}}{{cite news |url=https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2021/august/Femi-I-couldn-t-ask-for-more-/ |title=Femi: "I couldn't ask for more!" |website=readingfc.co.uk/ |publisher=Reading F.C. |date=15 August 2021 |access-date=6 June 2025}} After finishing the season with 2 goals in 14 appearances, he signed a new two-year deal.{{cite news |url=https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2022/july/02/femi-azeez-commits-future-to-the-club-by-signing-up-until-2024-/ |title=Femi Azeez commits future to the club by signing up until 2024! |website=readingfc.co.uk/ |publisher=Reading F.C. |date=2 July 2022 |access-date=6 June 2025}} In the 2022–23 season, he made 23 appearances without scoring. However, Reading were relegated to EFL League One after receiving a six-point deduction in April.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65457810 |title=Reading relegated: Huddersfield win sends Royals down to League One |website=BBC |date=4 May 2023 |accessdate=6 June 2025 }}
On 25 November 2023, Azeez assisted both goals in a 1–2 away win against Wycombe Wanderers. This was Reading's first away win in the league for over a year.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67459982 |title=Wycombe Wanderers 1-2 Reading |website=BBC |date=25 November 2023 |accessdate=6 June 2025 }} Three days later, he once again assisted as well as scoring a goal in a 5–1 victory over Carlisle United.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67482099 |title=Reading 5-1 Carlisle United |website=BBC |date=28 November 2023 |accessdate=6 June 2025 }} He became a vital part of the Reading team in the 2023–24 season, making 52 appearances and scoring 8 goals to help Reading survive in League One.{{cite web |url=https://wokingham.today/femi-azeez-sends-farewell-message-to-reading-fc-after-completing-transfer/ |title=Femi Azeez sends farewell message to Reading FC after completing transfer |website=Wokingham Today |author=Andy Preston |date=23 August 2024 |accessdate=6 June 2025 }}
On 8 May 2024, Reading activated a one-year extension to Azeez's contract, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2025.{{cite web |title=Reading FC Retained List Confirmed |url=https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2024/may/08/retained-list-2024-07may24/ |website=readingfc.co.uk |publisher=Reading F.C. |access-date=8 May 2024 |date=8 May 2024}} He missed the first two league matches of the season due to a back injury, making his first appearance of the 2024–25 season in a 2–0 win over Wigan Athletic on 17 August.{{cite web |url=https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/sport/24531866.reading-fc-set-lose-forward-star-millwall-make-move/ |title=Reading FC set to lose forward star as Millwall make move |website=Reading Chronicle |date=21 August 2024 |accessdate=6 June 2025 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2024/august/17/report-wigan/ |title=Report {{!}} Reading 2-0 Wigan Athletic |website=readingfc.co.uk/ |publisher=Reading F.C. |date=17 August 2024 |access-date=6 June 2025}}
=Millwall=
On 21 August 2024, Reading confirmed that Azeez had completed a permanent move to Millwall for a substantial undisclosed fee, after scoring 11 times in 89 appearances for the club.{{Cite web |last=FC |first=Reading |date=2024-08-21 |title=Femi Azeez joins Millwall |url=https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2024/august/21/azeez-joins-millwall/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Reading FC}} He made his Millwall debut on 24 August, in a 0–0 draw to Hull City.{{cite web |url=https://southwarknews.co.uk/sport/football/millwall/report-hull-city-0-0-millwall-lions-pick-up-first-point-on-the-road/ |title=REPORT: Hull City 0-0 Millwall – Lions pick up first point on the road |website=Southwark News |date=24 August 2024 |access-date=6 June 2025}} On 23 November, Azeez scored his first Millwall goal, coming off the bench to grab an injury-time equaliser in a 1–1 draw against Sunderland.{{Cite web |title=Millwall 1-1 Sunderland: Substitute Femi Azeez scores added-time equaliser for Lions |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c2e72w8k484t |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}
Personal life
Azeez was born in England and grew up in Northwood to a Nigerian father and Spanish mother.{{cite web |url=https://northwoodfc.com/prog/2122/Binfield.pdf |format=PDF |title=Binfield |work=Northwood FC |date=28 August 2021 |access-date=1 June 2025 }} Azeez's younger brother, Miguel, is also a professional footballer.
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 21 April 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Northwood
|Southern League East Division |12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | ||
| Wealdstone
|8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{Efn|name=MSC|Appearance(s) in Middlesex Senior Cup}} | 1 | 10 | 1 | ||
| Hanwell Town (loan)
|Isthmian League South Central Division |3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{Efn|name=MSCC|Appearance(s) in Middlesex Senior Charity Cup}} | 1 | 4 | 4 | ||
| rowspan="8"|Reading
|2018–19{{soccerbase season|117678|2018|accessdate=6 March 2021}} |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20{{soccerbase season|117678|2019|accessdate=6 March 2021}}
|Championship |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21{{soccerbase season|117678|2020|accessdate=6 March 2021}}
|Championship |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22{{soccerbase season|117678|2021|accessdate=6 March 2021}}
|Championship |13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 14 | 2 | ||
| 2022–23{{soccerbase season|117678|2022|accessdate=8 May 2023}}
|Championship |20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 21 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24{{soccerbase season|117678|2023|accessdate=1 January 2024}}
|46 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3{{Efn|name=EFLT|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 52 | 9 | |
| 2024–25{{soccerbase season|117678|2024|accessdate=21 April 2025}}
|League One |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!81 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 89 | 11 | |
| Bracknell Town (loan)
|2019–20{{Cite web|title=Bracknell Town-Appearances-Femi Azeez-2019–2020 |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/bracknell-town/appearances/2019-2020/femi-azeez/861987|access-date=28 November 2024|website=Football Web Pages}} |Isthmian League South Central Division |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{Efn|Appearance(s) in Isthmian League Cup}} | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Millwall
|Championship |32 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 36 | 4 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!137 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 153 | 20 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{soccerway|femi-azeez/586727}}
{{Millwall F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Azeez, Femi}}
Category:English men's footballers
Category:English people of Nigerian descent
Category:Sportspeople of Nigerian descent
Category:English people of Spanish descent
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Northwood F.C. players
Category:Wealdstone F.C. players
Category:Hanwell Town F.C. players
Category:Bracknell Town F.C. players
Category:Millwall F.C. players
Category:Footballers from the City of Westminster
Category:People from Westminster
Category:Black British sportsmen