Gbenga Arokoyo

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Gbenga Arokoyo

| image = GbengaArokoyo.jpg

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|11|01|df=y}}

| birth_place = Kabba, Nigeria

| height = {{Height|m=1.89}}

| position = Defender

| currentclub = Umeå FC

| clubnumber = 5

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Davish Athletic FC

| youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = Kwara Football Academy

| years1 = 2010–2012 | clubs1 = Kwara United | caps1 = | goals1 =

| years2 = 2012–2014 | clubs2 = Mjällby AIF | caps2 = 48 | goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2014–2016 | clubs3 = Gaziantepspor | caps3 = 35 | goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2016–2017 | clubs4 = Portland Timbers | caps4 = 1 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2016 | clubs5 = → Portland Timbers 2 (loan) | caps5 = 1 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2018–2020 | clubs6 = Kalmar FF | caps6 = 11 | goals6 = 1

| years7 = 2021– | clubs7 = Umeå FC | caps7 = 21 | goals7 = 1

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalteam1 = Nigeria U20

| nationalyears2 = 2016–

| nationalteam2 = Nigeria| nationalcaps2 = 2 | nationalgoals2 = 0

| club-update = 3 April 2022

}}

Gbenga Arokoyo (born 1 November 1992) is a Nigerian footballer who played for Swedish club Umeå FC as a defender.

Career

Arokoyo was signed by Kwara United from Kwara Football Academy in 2010. During his time at the club he was selected for the Nigeria national under-20 football team.{{cite web|title=Gbenga Arokoyo Sports Innovated |url=http://www.sportsinnovated.com/gbenga-arokoyo-fc-mjalby-mjalby-zweden/|publisher=Sports Innovated| accessdate=25 March 2013}} In early 2012 a delegation from Swedish club Mjällby AIF travelled to see him on location in Nigeria and in February they officially signed him.{{cite web|title=Kogi-born Gbenga Arokoyo Set to Join Swedish Club|url=http://www.kogireports.com/kogi-born-gbenga-arokoyo-set-to-join-swedish-club|publisher=Kogi Reports|accessdate=25 March 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411052940/http://www.kogireports.com/kogi-born-gbenga-arokoyo-set-to-join-swedish-club|archive-date=2013-04-11|url-status=dead}} In April 2013 an Allsvenskan game against Djurgårdens IF was suspended after Arokoyo got hit by a pear thrown by a Djurgården supporter.{{cite web|title=Bröt matchen efter skandalscener |date=8 April 2013 |url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/sverige/allsvenskan/djurgarden/article16564256.ab|publisher=Aftonbladet| accessdate=11 April 2013}}

On 2 August 2016, Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer announced that they had signed Arokoyo.{{Cite news|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/index.ssf/2016/08/portland_timbers_sign_nigerian_1.html|title=Portland Timbers sign Nigerian defender Gbenga Arokoyo|last=Goldberg|first=Jamie|date=2016-08-02|work=Portland Oregonian (OregonLive.com)|access-date=2017-05-11|language=en-US}} He played in one game for the Timbers and one game for their second team, Portland Timbers 2, in 2016. During training before the 2017 season, he suffered an Achilles tendon tear, missing the subsequent season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/01/31/portland-timbers-defender-gbenga-arokoyo-miss-2017-due-achilles-tear|title=Portland Timbers defender Gbenga Arokoyo to miss 2017 due to Achilles tear|last=Stejskal|first=Sam|date=2017-01-31|work=MLS Soccer|access-date=2017-05-11}}

On 13 December 2017, Arokoyo was traded along with Darlington Nagbe to Atlanta United FC.{{cite web | url=https://www.timbers.com/news/timbers-acquire-165-million-allocation-money-2018-international-spot-atlanta-uni | title=Timbers acquire up to $1.65 million in Allocation Money, 2018 international spot from Atlanta United FC in exchange for midfielder Darlington Nagbe, defender Gbenga Arokoyo | date=13 December 2017 | publisher=Timbers | access-date=24 August 2019 }}

On 15 February 2021, Arokoyo signed with Umeå FC in the Swedish third-tier Ettan.{{cite press release|publisher=Umeå FC|url=https://www.ufc.se/2021/02/15/gbenga-arokoya-klar-for-umea-fc/|title=Gbenga Arokoya klar för Umeå FC|date=15 February 2021|access-date=6 April 2022|language=sv}}

On March 8, 2024 Arokoyo announced his retirement via Instagram.

Personal life

In his youth Arokoyo wanted to become a doctor but since his family could not afford to pay for the education he instead chose to become a professional footballer.{{cite web|title=Här är Afrika – där är Europa |url=http://www.dn.se/sport/fotboll/har-ar-afrika--dar-ar-europa |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130706110127/http://www.dn.se/sport/fotboll/har-ar-afrika--dar-ar-europa |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 July 2013 |publisher=Dagens Nyheter |accessdate=11 April 2013 }}