Josh Oluwayemi
{{Short description|English footballer (born 2001)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Josh Oluwayemi
|image = Josh Oluwayemi.jpg
|upright = 0.9
|caption = Oluwayemi playing for the Wellington Phoenix in 2024.
|full_name = Oluwaferanmi Joshua Chibuzo Oluwayemi{{Cite web |title=SQUAD LIST 2022/23 & U21 REGISTERED CONTRACT PLAYERS|url=https://www.efl.com/contentassets/507aa6a7a8754b37a8b949396ec5d00e/squad-list-publication-report-2022-23---07.09.2022.pdf |access-date=14 September 2022|publisher=English Football League}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|3|13|df=y}}
|birth_place = Waltham Forest, England
|position = Goalkeeper
|currentclub = Wellington Phoenix
|clubnumber = 1
|youthyears1 = 2011–2020
|youthclubs1 = Tottenham Hotspur
|years1 = 2020–2022
|clubs1 = Tottenham Hotspur
|caps1 = 0
|goals1 = 0
|years2 = 2020
|clubs2 = → Maidenhead United (loan)
|caps2 = 1
|goals2 = 0
|years3 = 2022–2024
|clubs3 = Portsmouth
|caps3 = 4
|goals3 = 0
|years4 = 2023
|clubs4 = → Chelmsford City (loan)
|caps4 = 19
|goals4 = 0
|years5 = 2024
|clubs5 = Lahti
|caps5 = 13
|goals5 = 0
|years6 = 2024–
|clubs6 = Wellington Phoenix
|caps6 = 18
|goals6 = 0
|nationalyears1 =
|nationalteam1 = England U15
|nationalcaps1 =
|nationalgoals1 =
|nationalyears2 =
|nationalteam2 = England U16
|nationalcaps2 =
|nationalgoals2 =
|club-update = 9 May 2025
}}
Oluwaferanmi Joshua Chibuzo Oluwayemi (born 13 March 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for A-League Men club Wellington Phoenix.
Club career
Born in Waltham Forest,{{Cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/josh-oluwayemi/476099/|title=Nigeria – J. Oluwayemi – Profile with news, career statistics and history|website=Soccerway}} Oluwayemi joined Tottenham Hotspur's academy at the age of 10, subsequently coming through the club's youth ranks.{{Cite web |date=20 March 2019 |title=Playing at new stadium 'an honour' – U18s keeper Josh |url=https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2019/march/playing-at-new-stadium-an-honour-u18s-keeper-josh/ |access-date=14 January 2023 |website=Tottenham Hotspur |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=28 July 2017 |title=Meet our first year scholars... |url=https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news-archive-1/meet-our-first-year-scholars/ |access-date=14 January 2023 |website=Tottenham Hotspur |language=en}}
In October 2020, he started his senior career by moving on loan to National League club Maidenhead United until January 2021.{{Cite web |date=16 October 2020 |title=Maidenhead loan for Oluwayemi |url=https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2020/october/maidenhead-loan-for-oluwayemi/ |access-date=14 January 2023 |website=Tottenham Hotspur |language=en-GB}} In the summer of 2022, he was released by Tottenham, without having made any appearances for Spurs.{{Cite web |date=2 June 2022 |title=Player update |url=https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2022/june/player-update/ |access-date=14 January 2023 |website=Tottenham Hotspur |language=en}}
Following a successful trial at Portsmouth, on 19 July 2022 Oluwayemi joined the EFL League One club on a permanent deal, signing a one-year contract, with an option for another season.{{Cite web |date=19 July 2022 |title=Portsmouth sign ex-Spurs goalkeeper Oluwayemi |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62221694 |access-date=14 January 2023 |website=BBC Sport}}{{Cite web |date=19 July 2022 |title=Oluwayemi Signs For Pompey |url=https://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/news/2022/july/oluwayemi-signs-for-pompey/ |access-date=14 January 2023 |website=portsmouthfc.co.uk |language=en-gb}} He made his league debut for Pompey on 14 January 2023, starting in a 3–0 away loss against Bolton Wanderers.{{Cite news |date=14 January 2023 |title=Bolton Wanderers 3–0 Portsmouth |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64194988 |access-date=14 January 2023}}
On 31 July 2023, Oluwayemi signed for National League South club Chelmsford City on loan.{{Cite web |date=31 July 2023 |title=Oluwayemi joins on loan |url=https://chelmsfordcityfc.com/oluwayemi-joins-on-loan/ |access-date=31 July 2023 |publisher=Chelmsford City F.C.}} In November 2023, following an injury, Oluwayemi returned to Portsmouth early.{{Cite web |date=29 July 2023 |title=Breaking: Another Portsmouth injury blow as unlucky ex-Spurs man joins list of squad absentees |url=https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/portsmouth-fc/breaking-another-portsmouth-injury-blow-as-ex-spurs-man-joins-list-of-squad-absentees-4427625 |access-date=10 December 2023 |publisher=Portsmouth News}}
On 11 January 2024, after 9 appearances for Portsmouth, Oluwayemi joined Finnish Veikkausliiga club Lahti on a one-year contract.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67947125|title=Former loan goalkeeper Macey joins Portsmouth|work=BBC Sport }}{{cite web|url=https://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/news/2024/january/oluwayemi-signs-for-finnish-club/|title=Oluwayemi Signs For Finnish Club|website=portsmouthfc.co.uk|date=11 January 2024|accessdate=11 January 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://fclahti.fi/uutiset/joshua-oluwayemi-fc-lahden-maalille/|trans-title=Joshua Oluwayemi for FC Lahti's Goal|title=Joshua Oluwayemi FC Lahden maalille|language=Finnish|website=fclahti.fi|date=11 January 2024|accessdate=11 January 2024}} He left Lahti in mid-August, after having recorded 14 appearances for the club.[https://fclahti.fi/uutiset/joshua-oluwayemi-siirtyy-uuteen-seelantiin/ Joshua Oluwayemi siirtyy Uuteen-Seelantiin], fclahti.fi, 14 August 2024
On 15 August 2024, Oluwayemi joined Wellington Phoenix, a New Zealand club playing in the Australian top-tier A-League Men, on a one-year deal for an undisclosed fee.{{cite web|url=https://wellingtonphoenix.com/news/former-tottenham-keeper-joins-the-nix/|title=Former Tottenham 'keeper joins the Nix|website=Wellington Phoenix|date=15 August 2024}} On 30 October 2024, Oluwayemi's contract was renewed with the Phoenix for another year, until the end of the 2025–26 season.{{cite news|url=https://wellingtonphoenix.com/news/new-nix-no-1-extends-his-contract/|title=New Nix No. 1 extends his contract|date=30 October 2024|access-date=29 December 2024|website=Wellington Phoenix}}
International career
Thanks to his dual citizenship, Oluwayemi can choose to represent either England or Nigeria internationally.
Oluwayemi has represented England at under-15 and under-16 level.
In July 2021, Oluwayemi was called up to the senior Nigeria side for a friendly against Mexico.{{Cite web |date=20 July 2022 |title=Joshua Oluwayemi: Portsmouth sign Nigeria prospect keeper from Tottenham |url=https://www.goal.com/en-ug/news/joshua-oluwayemi-portsmouth-sign-nigeria-prospect-keeper/blt67ed8148323d0660 |website=Goal.com}}{{Cite web |date=1 July 2021 |title=Maiden Nigeria call-up for Oluwayemi |url=https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2021/july/maiden-nigeria-call-up-for-oluwayemi/ |access-date=14 January 2023 |website=Tottenham Hotspur |language=en}}
Personal life
Oluwayemi has a younger brother, Tobi (b. 2003), who also plays as a goalkeeper: he similarly played for Tottenham's youth academy, before joining Celtic in the summer of 2019, and represented England at various youth international levels.{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Graeme |date=27 July 2019 |title=Tobi Oluwayemi joins Celtic as Tottenham academy keeper pens three-year deal |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-transfer-news/tobi-oluwayemi-joins-celtic-tottenham-18337174 |access-date=14 January 2023 |website=Daily Record |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Devlin |first=Kieran |date=19 November 2021 |title=Oluwayemi: A fit for Postecoglou's passing plans, the Barkas dilemma, and potential future Celtic No 1 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2959322/2021/11/18/oluwayemi-a-fit-for-postecoglous-passing-plans-the-barkas-dilemma-and-potential-future-celtic-no-1/ |access-date=14 January 2023 |website=The Athletic |language=en}}
Career statistics
{{updated|11 January 2025}}{{Soccerway|josh-oluwayemi/476099|accessdate=17 December 2022}}
| 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"|National cup{{efn|Includes FA Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes Finnish League Cup}} !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Tottenham Hotspur
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Maidenhead United (loan)
|1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|name=FAT|Appearance in FA Trophy}} | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Tottenham Hotspur U21
|colspan="3"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearances in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Portsmouth
|4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| Chelmsford City (loan)
|19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|name=FAT|Appearance in FA Trophy}} | 0 | 22 | 0 | ||
| Lahti
|2024 |13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 14 | 0 | ||
| Wellington Phoenix
|11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 11 | 0 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!48 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 59 | 0 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Wellington Phoenix FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oluwayemi, Josh}}
Category:English people of Nigerian descent
Category:21st-century Black British people
Category:21st-century English sportsmen
Category:Sportspeople of Nigerian descent
Category:Black British sportsmen
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Footballers from the London Borough of Waltham Forest
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:English Football League players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:Veikkausliiga players
Category:Tottenham Hotspur F.C. players
Category:Maidenhead United F.C. players
Category:Chelmsford City F.C. players
Category:Portsmouth F.C. players
Category:Wellington Phoenix FC players
Category:English expatriate men's footballers
Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Finland
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Finland
Category:English expatriate sportspeople in New Zealand
Category:Expatriate men's association footballers in New Zealand