Kehinde Fatai
{{Short description|Nigerian footballer (born 1990)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Kehinde Fatai
| image = Kehinde Fatai 2016.jpg
| caption = Fatai with Ufa in 2016
| fullname = Kehinde Abdul Feyi Fatai
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1990|02|19}}
| birth_place = Jos, Nigeria[http://africanfootball.com/news/637394/Kehinde-Fatai-signs-3-year-deal-with-Russian-club-Ufa Kehinde Fatai signs 3-year deal with Russian club Ufa], africanfootball.com
| position = Striker
| currentclub = AEL
| clubnumber = 7
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2007
| youthclubs1 = JUTH
| youthyears2 = 2007–2008
| youthclubs2 = Farul Constanța
| years1 = 2007–2008
| clubs1 = Farul II Constanța
| caps1 = 20
| goals1 = 11
| years2 = 2008–2010
| clubs2 = Farul Constanța
| caps2 = 46
| goals2 = 7
| years3 = 2010–2015
| clubs3 = Astra Giurgiu
| caps3 = 114
| goals3 = 41
| years4 = 2013–2014
| clubs4 = → Club Brugge (loan)
| caps4 = 8
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2015–2016
| clubs5 = Sparta Prague
| caps5 = 24
| goals5 = 8
| years6 = 2016–2018
| clubs6 = Ufa
| caps6 = 41
| goals6 = 6
| years7 = 2018–2019
| clubs7 = Dinamo Minsk
| caps7 = 32
| goals7 = 8
| years8 = 2020–2021
| clubs8 = Astra Giurgiu
| caps8 = 14
| goals8 = 2
| years9 = 2021–2022
| clubs9 = Argeș Pitești
| caps9 = 21
| goals9 = 2
| years10 = 2022
| clubs10 = Turan
| caps10 = 5
| goals10 = 0
| years11 = 2023–2024
| clubs11 = Oțelul Galați
| caps11 = 30
| goals11 = 4
| years12 = 2024–
| clubs12 = AEL
| caps12 = 15
| goals12 = 6
| nationalyears1 = 2009
| nationalteam1 = Nigeria U20
| nationalcaps1 = 3
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 2011–2012
| nationalteam2 = Nigeria U23
| nationalcaps2 = 7
| nationalgoals2 = 4
| pcupdate = 17:00, 14 December 2024 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update =
}}
Kehinde Abdul Feyi Fatai (born 19 February 1990)[http://www.imscouting.com/player.aspx?id=HUcBIokDKQpGv1lW3Le9sw||&name=Kehinde+Fatai Player Card :: Kehinde Fatai - IMScouting] is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Greek Super League 2 club AEL.
Club career
= Early career & Romanian Liga I =
Fatai was in Nigeria with the Anwar-ul-Islam College[http://acaosa.com/List%20Of%20Awardees.html Welcome to Anwar-ul-islam College Old Students Association] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707080202/http://acaosa.com/List%20Of%20Awardees.html |date=2011-07-07 }} and played for JUTH F.C.[http://clubbrugge.be/nl/nieuws/16748/ik-wil-via-sterke-prestaties-lang-bij-club-blijven "Ik wil via sterke prestaties lang bij Club blijven"] He left for Europe in July 2007,[http://www.gsp.ro/gsp-special/diverse/copiii-lui-mos-marin-50498.html LA 52 DE ANI, ION MARIN A DEVENIT "TĂTICUL" A 4 NIGERIENI - Copiii lui Moş Marin] joining FC Farul Constanța of Romania. Initially, he played in the third league of Romania for the reserve team and scored 11 goals in 20 games. In the following 2008–09 season Fatai was promoted to Farul Constanța's senior team.[http://www.cugetliber.ro/1245877200/articol/42886/faristul-kehinde-fatai-a-prins-lotul-nigeriei-pentru-mondialele-under20/ Faristul Kehinde Fatai a prins lotul Nigeriei pentru Mondialele Under-20] On 16 June 2010, he signed with Liga I club Astra Giurgiu on a free transfer, after his contract with Farul Constanța had ended.[http://www.liga2.ro/seria-1/bursa-transferurilor/denis-serban-ia-jucatori-de-la-farul-6425913 Dennis Şerban ia jucători de la Farul]
= Club Brugge =
On 1 September 2013, Belgian club Club Brugge confirmed Fatai’s signing on a season long loan from Astra, with an option to buy.{{cite web|url=http://clubbrugge.be/nl/nieuws/16664/kehinde-fatai-voor-1-seizoen-naar-club|title=Kehinde Fatai voor 1 seizoen naar Club|publisher=clubbrugge.be|date=1 September 2013|language=nl}} On 22 September 2013, he came on for his debut as an 80th-minute substitute and needed only seven minutes to break the deadlock with a shot in Club Brugge's 4-0 win over fierce rivals Anderlecht.{{cite web|url=http://www.dhnet.be/sports/football/division1/anderlecht/anderlecht-se-prend-une-claque-a-bruges-4-0-523e64f23570bed7db9bd2b3|title=Anderlecht se prend une claque à Bruges (4-0)|publisher=La Dernière Heure|date=22 September 2013|language=fr}}
= AC Sparta Prague =
In May 2015, Fatai signed for Czech club AC Sparta Prague on a three-year contract.{{cite news|url=http://africanfootball.com/news/539898/Kehinde-Fatai-joins-Czech-club-Sparta-Prague|title=KEHINDE FATAI JOINS CZECH CLUB SPARTA PRAGUE|publisher=African Football|date=20 June 2015}}
As a striker, he scored only one goal in eight league matches for Sparta Prague. This bad form in front of goal led to his playing as a wide midfielder instead. After this position change, he went on to score five goals in three matches.{{cite web|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/kehinde-fatai-pred-zapasem-schalke-sparta-rozhovor-f8t-/fot_pohary.aspx?c=A151022_111837_fot_pohary_dc|title=I'm used to huge stadiums full of people, says marksman Fatai|publisher=iDNES|date=22 October 2015|language=cs}}
= FC Ufa =
On 12 August 2016, he signed a 3-year contract with the Russian Premier League side FC Ufa.{{cite web|publisher=FC Ufa|url=http://www.fcufa.pro/allarticle/lenta/61-klub/3385-kekhinde-fatai-pereshel-v-ufu|script-title=ru:Кехинде Фатаи перешел в «Уфу»|date=12 August 2016|language=ru|access-date=16 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021083002/http://www.fcufa.pro/allarticle/lenta/61-klub/3385-kekhinde-fatai-pereshel-v-ufu|archive-date=21 October 2016|url-status=dead}} He was released from his Ufa contract by mutual consent on 14 August 2018.{{cite web|publisher=FC Ufa|url=http://www.fcufa.pro/allarticle/lenta/61-klub/5307-kekhinde-fatai-pokidaet-fk-ufa|title=Кехинде Фатаи покидает ФК "Уфа" (Kehinde Fatai leaves FC Ufa)|date=14 August 2018|language=ru|access-date=14 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814170107/http://www.fcufa.pro/allarticle/lenta/61-klub/5307-kekhinde-fatai-pokidaet-fk-ufa|archive-date=14 August 2018|url-status=dead}}
=Return to Romania=
On 23 February 2023, Fatai returned to Romania and signed a contract with Oțelul Galați in Liga II until the end of the 2022–23 season, with an option to extend for one more year.{{cite web|publisher=Oțelul Galați|url=https://ascotelul.ro/bun-venit-la-otelul-kehinde-fatai/|title=Bun venit la Oțelul, Kehinde Fatai!|trans-title=Welcome to Oțelul, Kehinde Fatai!|date=23 February 2023|access-date=8 March 2023|language=ro}}
International career
Fatai was called up to the Nigeria U-23 team in 2011 for a friendly against Costa Rica. On 4 June he was selected for a qualifying match for the 2012 Summer Olympics against Tanzania.{{cite news|url=http://www.fcastraploiesti.ro/component/content/article/3-alerte/820-fatai-mai-face-un-pas.html |work=fcastraploiesti.ro |title=Fatai mai face un pas (Romanian) |date=19 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008095259/http://www.fcastraploiesti.ro/component/content/article/3-alerte/820-fatai-mai-face-un-pas.html |archive-date=8 October 2011 }}
On 24 October 2015, Fatai said he had promised the Romania national team officials that he would represent Romania on the senior level upon gaining citizenship.{{cite news| url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/fotbalista-kehinde-fatai-bude-reprezentovat-rumunsko-pp0-/fot_reprez.aspx?c=A151024_162234_fot_reprez_pes | work=iDNES.cz | title=Sparta player Fatai will represent Romania, he said to the club magazine| date=24 October 2015| language=cs}}
Personal life
Kehinde Fatai's twin brother, Taiye is also a footballer who spent most of his career in the lower leagues of Romania playing for teams like FCM Alexandria or ACS Berceni.{{cite web|url=http://www.teresport.ro/fratele-lui-kehinde-fatai-este-in-probe-la-fcm-alexandria/|title=Fratele lui Kehinde Fatai este in probe la FCM Alexandria|publisher=teresport.ro|language=ro |trans-title=Kehinde Fatai's brother is on trial at FCM Alexandria|access-date= 7 October 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ilfovsport.ro/fratele-lui-kehinde-fatai-a-ajuns-la-tunari-echipa-lui-bratu-s-a-impus-in-amicalul-cu-sportul-studentesc/|title=Fratele lui Kehinde Fatai a ajuns la Tunari! Echipa lui Bratu s-a impus în amicalul cu Sportul Studențesc|publisher=ilfovsport.ro|language=ro|trans-title=Kehinde Fatai's brother arrived at Tunari! Bratu's team won with Sportul Studenţesc|access-date=7 October 2017|archive-date=7 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007021358/http://www.ilfovsport.ro/fratele-lui-kehinde-fatai-a-ajuns-la-tunari-echipa-lui-bratu-s-a-impus-in-amicalul-cu-sportul-studentesc/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.replicaonline.ro/fratele-geaman-al-lui-fatai-da-probe-in-zavoi-193450/|title=Fratele geamăn al lui Fatai dă probe în Zăvoi|publisher=replicaonline.ro|language=ro |trans-title=Fatai's twin brother is on trial in Zăvoi|access-date= 7 October 2017}} Another one of his brothers, Yunus is a footballer who played in the lower leagues of Romania at Astra II and Dacia Unirea Brăila.{{cite web | url=http://obiectivbr.ro/content/patru-stranieri-au-semnat-deja-cu-dacia-unirea | title= Patru stranieri au semnat deja cu Dacia Unirea| publisher=Obiectivbr.ro| language=ro |trans-title=Four foreigners have already signed the Dacia Unirea| date=29 August 2019 | access-date= 8 September 2019}} He has a total of four brothers and a sister.{{cite web | url=https://www.libertatea.ro/sport/fatai-poveste-uluitoare-de-viata-tradeaza-nigeria-desi-are-o-situatie-materiala-senzationala-acasa-1419840 | title= Fatai "trădează" Nigeria, deşi are o situaţie senzaţională acasă!| publisher=Libertatea.ro| language=ro |trans-title=Fatai "betrays" Nigeria, although she has a sensational situation at home!| date=3 August 2014 | access-date= 8 September 2019}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|30 January 2024}}{{Soccerway}}{{RomanianSoccer|1008/kehinde-abdul-fatai-feyi}}{{cite web |title=Fatai's 2008–09 Romanian Cup appearance|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/romanian_cup/reports/2008_09_farul_brasov.shtml |website=Romaniansoccer.ro |access-date=23 June 2019}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | |||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="2"|League !colspan="2"|National cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Farul II Constanța
|20 | 11 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 20 | 11 | ||
| rowspan="4"|Farul Constanța
|5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2008–09
|23 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 24 | 0 | ||
| 2009–10
|18 | 7 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 18 | 7 | ||
| Total
!46 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 7 |
| rowspan="8"|Astra Giurgiu
|27 | 7 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 28 | 7 | ||
| 2011–12
|30 | 10 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 32 | 11 | ||
| 2012–13
|33 | 14 | 4 | 2 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 37 | 16 | ||
| 2013–14 | 3 | 3 | colspan="2"|– | 6 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 9 | 4 | |
| 2014–15
|21 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 5{{efn|One appearance in Supercupa României, four appearances in Cupa Ligii and three goals}} | 3 | 32 | 14 |
| 2019–20
|10 | 2 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 10 | 2 | |||
| 2020–21
|4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 4 | 0 | ||
| Total
!128 | 43 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 152 | 54 |
| Club Brugge (loan)
|8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 10 | 1 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Sparta Prague
|24 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 16 | 5 | colspan="2"|– | 46 | 14 | |
| 2016–17
|0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 1 | 0 | ||
| Total
!24 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 14 |
| rowspan="4"|Ufa
|22 | 6 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2" | |||||
| |colspan="2"|– | 24 | 6 | |||||||
| 2017–18
|17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 17 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19
|2 | 0 | colspan="2"|–"|– | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 5 | 0 | ||
| Total
!41 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 6 |
| rowspan="3"|Dinamo Minsk
|2018 |9 | 5 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 12 | 5 | ||
| 2019
|23 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 26 | 4 | |
| Total
!32 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 9 |
| Argeș Pitești
|21 | 2 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|–"|– | 23 | 2 | ||
| Turan
|2022 |5 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 5 | 0 | |||
| rowspan="3"|Oțelul Galați
|12 | 3 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 12 | 3 | |||
| 2023–24
|18 | 1 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 21 | 1 | ||
| Total
!30 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 4 |
| colspan="2"|Career total
!355 | 90 | 27 | 5 | 34 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 421 | 108 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Astra Giurgiu
- Cupa României runner-up: 2020–21
- Supercupa României: 2014
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{RomanianSoccer|1008/kehinde-abdul-fatai-feyi}}
- {{Soccerway|kehinde-fatai/52868}}
- {{WorldFootball.net|kehinde-fatai}}
{{Athlitiki Enosi Larissa F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fatai, Kehinde}}
Category:Romanian people of Nigerian descent
Category:Naturalised citizens of Romania
Category:Nigerian men's footballers
Category:Nigeria men's under-20 international footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:FCV Farul Constanța players
Category:FC Astra Giurgiu players
Category:Club Brugge KV players
Category:AC Sparta Prague players
Category:FC Dinamo Minsk players
Category:FC Argeș Pitești players
Category:ASC Oțelul Galați players
Category:Belgian Pro League players
Category:Czech First League players
Category:Russian Premier League players
Category:Belarusian Premier League players
Category:Kazakhstan Premier League players
Category:Nigerian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Romania
Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Romania
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium
Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Belgium
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Czech Republic
Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in the Czech Republic
Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in the Czech Republic
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Russia
Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Russia
Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Russia
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belarus
Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Belarus
Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Belarus
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Kazakhstan
Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Kazakhstan