Sylvester Jasper
{{short description|English-Bulgarian footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Sylvester Jasper
| image = Sylvester Jasper Footballer.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Jasper at Bristol Rovers F.C. on loan in 2022.
| fullname = Sylvester Alexander Jasper
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|09|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = Southwark, London, England{{cite web|url=https://www.fulhamfc.com/player-profiles/sylvester-jasper|title=Profile|accessdate=20 June 2020|website=fulhamfc.com}}
| height = {{height|m=1.80}}
| position = Forward
| currentclub = Železničar Pančevo
| clubnumber = 26
| youthyears1 = 2009
| youthclubs1 = Marek Dupnitsa
| youthyears2 = 2010–2012
| youthclubs2 = Queens Park Rangers
| youthyears3 = 2012–2020
| youthclubs3 = Fulham
| years1 = 2020–2023
| clubs1 = Fulham
| caps1 = 2
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2021–2022
| clubs2 = → Colchester United (loan)
| caps2 = 18
| goals2 = 2
| years3 = 2022
| clubs3 = → Hibernian (loan)
| caps3 = 13
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2022
| clubs4 = → Bristol Rovers (loan)
| caps4 = 6
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2023–2024
| clubs5 = Portimonense
| caps5 = 25
| goals5 = 2
| years6 = 2024–2025
| clubs6 = Śląsk Wrocław
| caps6 = 19
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2025–
| clubs7 = Železničar Pančevo
| caps7 = 0
| goals7 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2016
| nationalteam1 = England U15
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2017
| nationalteam2 = England U16
| nationalcaps2 = 2
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 2021–2022
| nationalteam3 = Bulgaria U21
| nationalcaps3 = 4
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| club-update = 17:02, 3 July 2025 (UTC)
| ntupdate =
}}
Sylvester Alexander Jasper ({{langx|bg|Силвестър Александър Джаспър}}; born 13 September 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Serbian SuperLiga club Železničar Pančevo. Born in England, he represented both his country of birth and Bulgaria at youth level.
Club career
Jasper started his youth career in Marek Dupnitsa from Bulgaria at the age of 8, where he trained for a few weeks, as he says in one interview, because of his uncle, an ex Marek Dupnitsa player. Then he continues at Queens Park Rangers aged 9 and moved to Fulham 2 years later.[https://btvnovinite.bg/sport/selekcionerat-na-mladezhite-povika-futbolist-ot-fulam.html Селекционерът на младежите повика футболист от "Фулъм"] In January 2020 he made his professional debut for the team in a FA Cup match against Manchester City.[https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=37192 Winger Eligible For Nigeria, England, Bulgaria Signs New Deal With] On 25 August 2020, Jasper signed his first professional contract with Fulham.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2020/august/New-Contract-For-Jasper/|title=Fulham FC - Jasper's New Contract|first=Fulham|last=FC|website=Fulham FC|date=25 August 2020 }}
On 4 August 2021, Jasper joined League Two side Colchester United on loan until January 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58093446|title=Sylvester Jasper: Colchester United sign Fulham forward on loan|publisher=BBC|date=4 August 2021|accessdate=5 August 2021}} He made his debut from the bench on 7 August in Colchester's 0–0 draw with Carlisle United.{{cite web |title=Carlisle United 0–0 Colchester United |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58036211 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 August 2021 |access-date=7 August 2021}}
On 31 January 2022, Jasper joined Scottish club Hibernian on loan for the rest of the season, which included an option to buy at the end of the season.{{cite web|title=Sylvester Jasper Joins On Loan!|url=https://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/article/sylvester-jasper-joins-on-loan |publisher=Hibernian FC|date=31 January 2022 |access-date=31 January 2022}} Jasper made 16 appearances for Hibs during the loan, but they declined the option to sign him permanently.{{cite news |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/hibs-make-decision-on-sylvester-jasper-transfer-option-as-fulham-wingers-loan-comes-to-an-end-3707161 |title=Hibs make decision on Sylvester Jasper transfer option as Fulham winger's loan comes to an end |newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News |first=Patrick |last=McPartlin |date=24 May 2022 |accessdate=24 May 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61675106 |title=Hibernian: Scott Allan, Alex Gogic, Drey Wright and Jamie Murphy among six exits |website=BBC Sport |date=2 June 2022 |accessdate=2 June 2022}}
On 1 September 2022, Jasper signed for League One club Bristol Rovers on loan for the 2022–23 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/2022/september/jasper-signs-for-rovers/|title=Sylvester Jasper signs for Rovers!|website=www.bristolrovers.co.uk|date=1 September 2022|accessdate=1 September 2022}} He made his debut two days later as a second-half substitute in a 2–2 draw with Morecambe.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62697342|title=Bristol Rovers 2–2 Morecambe|publisher=BBC Sport|date=3 September 2022|accessdate=4 September 2022}} After being left out of the squad for a 2–2 draw against Plymouth Argyle, Rovers manager Joey Barton announced that Jasper was returning to Fulham due to him being unhappy with the amount of game time he has been given.{{Cite tweet |access-date=29 July 2023 |url-access=limited |title=Register |number=1583863387137589249 |user=official_brfc |url=https://twitter.com/official_brfc/status/1583863387137589249}}
On 5 April 2023, Jasper agreed to join Primeira Liga club Portimonense with the two clubs having agreed upon a compensation fee.{{cite web|url=https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/april/05/Jasper-To-Join-Portimonense/|title=Jasper To Join Portimonense|website=www.fulhamfc.com|date=5 April 2023|accessdate=5 April 2023}}
On 2 October 2024, Jasper, now a free agent, signed a two-year deal with Ekstraklasa club Śląsk Wrocław with an option for another year.{{cite web |last1=Fudali |first1=Jakub |title=Śląsk Wrocław ma nowego zawodnika. Pomoże Jackowi Magierze? |url=https://www.goal.pl/ekstraklasa/slask-wroclaw-nowy-transfer-fulham/ |website=goal.pl |access-date=2 October 2024 |language=pl |date=2 October 2024}}
On 3 July 2025, Jasper joined Serbian SuperLiga side Železničar Pančevo on a two-year contract following the mutual termination of his contract with Śląsk Wrocław. {{cite web|url=https://fkzeleznicar.rs/bivsi-igrac-fulama-pojacao-zeleznicar/|trans-title=Former Fulham player reinforced by Zelezničar!|title=Bivši igrač Fulama pojačao Železničar!|website=fkzeleznicar.rs|language=Serbian|date=3 July 2025|accessdate=3 July 2025}} {{cite web|url=https://www.slaskwroclaw.pl/w/sylvester-jasper-odchodzi-ze-%C5%9Al%C4%85ska-wroc%C5%82aw|trans-title=Sylvester Jasper leaves Śląsk Wrocław|title=Sylvester Jasper odchodzi ze Śląska Wrocław|language=Polish|website=www.slaskwrocklaw.pl|date=3 July 2025|accessdate=3 July 2025}}
International career
Jasper was born in England to a Nigerian father and a Bulgarian mother, making him eligible to represent the three countries internationally.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=37192|title=Confirmed : Winger Eligible For Nigeria, England, Bulgaria Signs New Deal With Fulham :: All Nigeria Soccer – The Complete Nigerian Football Portal|website=www.allnigeriasoccer.com}} In 2016 he represented England at the under-15 level.[https://the72.co.uk/242439/sheffield-wednesday-casting-eye-over-fulham-ace-sylvester-jasper/ Sheffield Wednesday 'casting eye' over Fulham ace Sylvester Jasper]
On 2 November 2021, Jasper received his first call-up to the Bulgarian under-21 side for 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against the Netherlands under-21 and Moldova under-21 sides.{{Cite web|url=https://bfunion.bg/news/48095/0|title=Състав на България U21 за двубоите срещу Нидерландия и Молдова|trans-title=Bulgaria U21 squad for the games vs Netherlands and Moldova|language=Bulgarian|website=bfunion.bg|date=2 November 2021}} He made his debut for the team in the match against the Netherlands.[https://sportal.bg/news-2021111216342527215 Младежите се препънаха в Нидерландия, спорен гол и дузпа носят победата на домакините]
Personal life
He attended St Richard Reynolds Roman Catholic College in Twickenham from 2013 to 2017.
His mother is Bulgarian originating from Dupnitsa, and his father is Nigerian who had lived and studied in Bulgaria. Jasper's family has ties to football, with his maternal great-uncle being the legendary Marek player Sasho Pargov.[https://blitz.bg/sport/intervyu/senzatsiyata-v-natsionalniya-otbor-silvestr-dzhaspr-pred-blits-tv-boyko-borisov-prevrna-sofiya-v-london-video_485139.html Сензацията в националния отбор Силвестър Джаспър пред БЛИЦ TV: Бойко Борисов превърна София в Лондон]
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 16 May 2025}}{{Soccerway|sylvester-jasper/527739}}
| 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, Taça de Portugal, Polish Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes EFL Cup, Taça da Liga}} !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Fulham U23
|2019–20 |colspan="7"|— |2{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||||
| rowspan="3" valign="center"|Fulham
|2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2020–21
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| colspan=2 | Total
!2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Colchester United (loan)
|18 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 24 | 3 | |
| Hibernian (loan)
|13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 16 | 0 | ||
| Bristol Rovers (loan)
|6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 8 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="3" valign="center"|Portimonense
|24 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=PLPO|Appearance in Primeira Liga relegation play-offs}} | 0 | 29 | 2 | |
| 2024–25
|1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2 | Total
!25 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 2 | |
| Śląsk Wrocław
|19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 21 | 0 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!83 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 104 | 5 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jasper, Sylvester}}
Category:Footballers from the London Borough of Southwark
Category:People from Southwark
Category:Bulgarian men's footballers
Category:Bulgaria men's under-21 international footballers
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:Bulgarian people of Nigerian descent
Category:English people of Nigerian descent
Category:Sportspeople of Nigerian descent
Category:English people of Bulgarian descent
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Colchester United F.C. players
Category:Hibernian F.C. players
Category:Bristol Rovers F.C. players
Category:Portimonense S.C. players
Category:Śląsk Wrocław players
Category:FK Železničar Pančevo players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Scottish Professional Football League players
Category:Primeira Liga players
Category:Liga Portugal 2 players
Category:English expatriate men's footballers
Category:Bulgarian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Portugal
Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Portugal
Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in Portugal
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Poland
Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Poland
Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in Poland
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Serbia
Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in Serbia