Matthias Fanimo

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Matthias Fanimo

| image = Matthias Fanimo.jpg

| image_size = 180px

| caption = Fanimo warming up for West Ham United in August 2012

| fullname = Matthias Olubori Ayodluwa Fanimo{{cite web |title=Matthias Olubori Ayodluwa Fanimo – Nogometna zveza Slovenije|url=https://www.nzs.si/tekmovanja/?action=igralecStat&id_igralca=208165 |website=nzs.si |publisher=Football Association of Slovenia |access-date=14 December 2022 |language=sl}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|01|28|df=y}}

| birth_place = Lambeth, England{{cite web |title=Matthias Fanimo Stats, Goals, Records, Assists, Cups and more |url=https://fbref.com/en/players/90798816/Matthias-Fanimo |website=FBref.com |access-date=14 December 2022 |language=en}}

| height = 1.73 m{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/matthias-fanimo/160423/|title=M. Fanimo: Summary|access-date=23 October 2021|language=en|website=Soccerway|publisher=Perform Group}}

| position = Right winger

| currentclub = Folkestone Invicta

|| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 2001–2011

| youthclubs1 = West Ham United

| years1 = 2011–2015

| clubs1 = West Ham United

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2014

| clubs2 = → Tranmere Rovers (loan)

| caps2 = 1

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2015

| clubs3 = Bishop's Stortford

| caps3 = 9

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2015–2016

| clubs4 = Eastleigh

| caps4 = 8

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2016–2017

| clubs5 = Margate

| caps5 = 9

| goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2017–2018

| clubs6 = AFC Hornchurch

| caps6 = 12

| goals6 = 1

| years7 = 2018–2019

| clubs7 = Drava Ptuj

| caps7 = 29

| goals7 = 19

| years8 = 2019–2020

| clubs8 = Mladost Doboj Kakanj

| caps8 = 29

| goals8 = 6

| years9 = 2020–2022

| clubs9 = Sarajevo

| caps9 = 36

| goals9 = 10

| years10 = 2022

| clubs10 = Slaven Belupo

| caps10 = 9

| goals10 = 0

| years11 = 2022–2023

| clubs11 = Koper

| caps11 = 8

| goals11 = 0

| years12 = 2023–2024

| clubs12 = Ebbsfleet United

| caps12 = 8

| goals12 = 0

| years13 = 2024–

| clubs13 = Folkestone Invicta

| caps13 = 0

| goals13 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2008–2010

| nationalteam1 = England U16

| nationalcaps1 = 8

| nationalgoals1 = 2

| nationalyears2 = 2010

| nationalteam2 = England U17

| nationalcaps2 = 9

| nationalgoals2 = 1

| nationalyears3 = 2011

| nationalteam3 = England U18

| nationalcaps3 = 1

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| club-update = 21 April 2024

}}

Matthias Olubori Ayodluwa Fanimo (born 28 January 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Folkestone Invicta.

Club career

=West Ham United=

A youth team player, Fanimo signed his first professional contract with West Ham United in the summer of 2011.{{cite web|title=Fanimo looking forward|url=http://www.whufc.com/articles/20110701/fanimo-looking-forward_2236884_2383360|website=whufc.com|publisher=West Ham United F.C.|access-date=29 August 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212195111/http://www.whufc.com/articles/20110701/fanimo-looking-forward_2236884_2383360|archivedate=12 February 2012|df=dmy-all}} He made his first team debut for West Ham on 28 August 2012 against Crewe Alexandra in the Football League Cup coming on as a 60th-minute substitute for Matthew Taylor.{{cite news|title=West Ham 2–0 Crewe|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19352829|work=BBC|access-date=28 August 2012}} West Ham won the match 2–0.

Fanimo was released by West Ham on 2 February 2015.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31093183|title=BBC Sport – Transfer Deadline Day: Coventry City sign Blair Turgott|work=BBC Sport}}

=Tranmere Rovers=

In September 2014, Fanimo signed on loan for Tranmere Rovers.{{cite web|url=http://www.whufc.com/articles/20140911/fanimo-loaned-to-tranmere_2236884_4136574|title=Fanimo loaned to Tranmere — News — Latest News — News — West Ham United|access-date=11 September 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911213716/http://www.whufc.com/articles/20140911/fanimo-loaned-to-tranmere_2236884_4136574|archivedate=11 September 2014|df=dmy-all}} He made only one appearance for Tranmere, coming on as an 80th-minute substitute for Jake Kirby in a 1–0 away defeat by Carlisle United on 27 September 2014.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29289789|title=BBC Sport — Carlisle United 1–0 Tranmere Rovers|work=BBC Sport|access-date=7 October 2014}}

=Margate=

On 27 June 2016, Fanimo signed with Margate.{{cite web|url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/sport/gate-new-boy-quicker-than-98042/|title=Margate sign former West Ham youngster Matthias Fanimo who once came out top in speed tests against rivals including Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale|date=27 June 2016|access-date=14 January 2019|website=kentonline.co.uk|author=Mark Stokes}}

=Drava Ptuj=

On 16 January 2018, Fanimo signed with Slovenian Second League club Drava Ptuj.{{cite web |title=Iz West Hama na Ptuj |url=https://snportal.si/slovenska-tekmovanja/2-liga/iz-west-hama-na-ptuj/ |website=Slovenski nogometni portal |access-date=14 December 2022 |language=sl-SI |date=16 January 2018}}

=Mladost Doboj Kakanj=

On 16 January 2019, Fanimo left Drava and signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Bosnian Premier League club Mladost Doboj Kakanj.[https://www.klix.ba/sport/nogomet/mladost-dovela-matthiasa-fanima-bivseg-engleskog-omladinskog-reprezentativca/190116108 Mladost dovela Matthiasa Fanima, bivšeg engleskog omladinskog reprezentativca] at klix.ba, 16 January 2019

He made his official debut for Mladost on 23 February 2019 in a 1–0 win over GOŠK Gabela.[https://www.klix.ba/sport/nogomet/mladost-minimalno-porazila-gosk-eric-odbranio-penal-i-donio-bod-zvijezdi-09-kod-krupe/190223067 Mladost minimalno porazila GOŠK, Erić odbranio penal i donio bod Zvijezdi 09 kod Krupe] at klix.ba, 23 February 2019 Fanimo scored his first goal for Mladost on 20 April 2019, in a 3–1 home win against GOŠK Gabela.{{cite web|url=https://sportsport.ba/fudbal/arezina-zabio-eurogol-mladost-prekinula-crni-niz/315396|title=Arežina zabio eurogol, Mladost prekinula crni niz|date=20 April 2019|access-date=20 April 2019|language=bs|author=A. Čaušević|website=sportsport.ba}}

=Sarajevo=

On 24 July 2020, Fanimo signed a three-year contract with Sarajevo for an alleged transfer fee of €50,000.{{cite web|url=https://www.klix.ba/sport/nogomet/veliko-pojacanje-na-kosevu-matthias-fanimo-novi-nogometas-fk-sarajevo/200723137|title=Veliko pojačanje na Koševu: Matthias Fanimo novi nogometaš FK Sarajevo|date=24 July 2020|access-date=24 July 2020|language=bs|author=K. H.|website=Klix.ba}}{{cite web|url=https://sport1.oslobodjenje.ba/premijer-liga-bih/podatke-treba-uzeti-sa-rezervom-sarajevo-platilo-50-hiljada-eura-za-novog-fudbalera/195349|title=Podatke treba uzeti sa rezervom: Sarajevo platilo 50 hiljada eura za novog fudbalera|date=26 July 2020|access-date=26 July 2020|language=bs|website=Sport1.ba|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727075809/https://sport1.oslobodjenje.ba/premijer-liga-bih/podatke-treba-uzeti-sa-rezervom-sarajevo-platilo-50-hiljada-eura-za-novog-fudbalera/195349|archive-date=27 July 2020}} He made his official debut for the club in a league match against Krupa on 2 August 2020.{{cite web|url=https://sportsport.ba/fudbal/novi-miljenik-navijaca-sarajeva-upisao-prve-minute-u-bordo-dresu/370540|title=Novi miljenik navijača Sarajeva upisao prve minute u bordo dresu!|date=2 August 2020|access-date=2 August 2020|language=bs|author=A. Lendo|website=sportsport.ba}} Fanimo scored his first goal for Sarajevo on 20 September 2020, against Sloboda Tuzla.{{cite web|url=https://sportsport.ba/fudbal/fanimo-nije-krio-srecu-nakon-meca-na-tusnju-danas-je-bio-dobar-dan/376181|title=Fanimo nije krio sreću nakon meča na Tušnju: Danas je bio dobar dan|date=20 September 2020|access-date=20 September 2020|language=bs|author=E. Čaušević|website=sportsport.ba}} He won his first trophy with the club on 26 May 2021, after beating Borac Banja Luka in the 2020–21 Bosnian Cup final.{{cite web|url=https://www.klix.ba/sport/nogomet/sarajevo-nakon-penala-savladalo-borac-i-osvojilo-kup-bih/210526159|title=Sarajevo nakon penala savladalo Borac i osvojilo Kup BiH|date=26 May 2021|access-date=26 May 2021|language=bs|author=N. K.|website=Klix.ba}}

In February 2022, Sarajevo terminated its contract with Fanimo due to his alleged indiscipline.{{cite web|url=https://www.klix.ba/sport/nogomet/sarajevo-zbog-nediscipline-raskinulo-ugovor-sa-matthiasom-fanimom/220224185|title=Sarajevo zbog nediscipline raskinulo ugovor sa Matthiasom Fanimom|date=24 February 2022|access-date=24 February 2022|language=bs|author=H. H.|website=Klix.ba}}

=Slaven Belupo=

In June 2022, Fanimo joined Croatian Football League club Slaven Belupo on a free transfer.{{cite web|url=https://nk-slaven-belupo.hr/matthias-fanimo/|title=Matthias Fanimo novi je igrač Slaven Belupa|publisher=NK Slaven Belupo|date=11 June 2022|access-date=15 June 2022|language=hr}} He made nine league appearances for the team in the first part of the 2022–23 season,{{cite web |title=Matthias Fanimo » 1. HNL 2022/2023 |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/matthias-fanimo/cro-1-hnl-2022-2023/slaven-belupo/3/ |website=worldfootball.net |access-date=14 December 2022 |language=en}} before leaving the club in December 2022 following the termination of his contract by mutual consent.{{cite web |author1=E. Oštraković |title=Fanimo najavio 15 golova pa se osramotio i otišao iz Hrvatske |url=https://sportsport.ba/fudbal/fanimo-slaven-belupo-raskid-ugovora/440016 |website=sportsport.ba |access-date=14 December 2022 |language=bs|date=7 December 2022}}

=Koper=

On 14 December 2022, Fanimo returned to Slovenia and signed a contract with Slovenian top division side Koper until June 2024.{{cite web |title=Zanimiva okrepitev v Kopru: Prihaja Anglež, ki je bil pred leti eden najboljših v Sarajevu |url=https://www.nogomania.com/Novica/Zanimiva-okrepitev-v-Kopru-Prihaja-Anglez-ki-je-bil-pred-leti-eden-najboljsih-v-Sarajevu |website=nogomania.com |access-date=14 December 2022 |language=sl |date=14 December 2022}}

=Ebbsfleet United=

On 29 June 2023, Fanimo returned to England to join newly-promoted National League side Ebbsfleet United.{{cite web|url=https://www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk/fast-fanimo-flies-into-the-fleet/|title=Fast Fanimo flies into the Fleet|publisher=Ebbsfleet United F.C.|date=29 June 2023|accessdate=29 June 2023}} He was released by the club at the end of the 2023–24 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk/fleet-issue-retained-released-list/|title=Fleet issue Retained/Released list|website=www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk|date=26 April 2024|accessdate=27 April 2024}}

=Folkestone Invicta=

On 24 September 2024, Fanimo signed for Isthmian League Premier Division side Folkestone Invicta and made his debut the same night in the Kent Senior Cup.{{cite web|url=https://folkestoneinvictafc.co.uk/2024/09/report-invicta-exit-kent-senior-cup-on-penalties/|title=Report: Invicta exit Kent Senior Cup on penalties|website=folkestoneinvictafc.co.uk|date=24 September 2024|accessdate=28 September 2024}}

International career

Fanimo has played for England at under-16, under-17, and the under-18 level. He made his debut for the under-16 side on 28 November 2008 against Scotland U16 in the 2008 Victory Shield which England won 2–0 and in doing so, winning the shield.{{cite web|title=Matthias Fanimo|url=http://www.thefa.com/England/All-Teams/Players/F/Matthias-Fanimo|publisher=The Football Association|access-date=28 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105160417/https://www.thefa.com/England/All-Teams/Players/F/Matthias-Fanimo|archive-date=5 November 2013}}{{cite web|title=LIONS WIN VICTORY SHIELD|url=http://www.thefa.com/England/Mens-u16s/news/2009/u16vscotland_match_report|publisher=The Football Association|access-date=28 August 2012}} Fanimo was then given the captain's armband for the 2009 Victory Shield by Kenny Swain and he then scored his first goal at U16 level against Northern Ireland on 5 November 2009 in the 82nd minute as England went on to win 2–0.{{cite web|title=U16S MAKE IT TWO WINS FROM TWO|url=http://www.thefa.com/England/Mens-u16s/news/2009/ni_report051109|publisher=The Football Association|access-date=28 August 2012}}

Fanimo then made his debut at under-17 level on 3 August 2010 against Finland, and his under-18 debut in November 2011 against Slovakia.