Tomi Ameobi

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Tomi Ameobi

| image = Tomi_Ameobi_with_fans_after_a_FC_Edmonton_game_2014-05-08_15-16_(cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Ameobi with FC Edmonton after a game in 2014

| fullname = Oluwatomiwo Ameobi{{Hugman|22076|accessdate=2 June 2019}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|8|16|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/tomi-ameobi/47539/ |title=T. Ameobi: Summary |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=2 June 2019}}

| birth_place = Newcastle upon Tyne, England

| height = {{height|ft=6|in=3}}{{cite web |url=https://www.fccincinnati.com/tomi-ameobi |title=24 – Tomi Ameobi |publisher=FC Cincinnati |access-date=2 June 2019 |archive-date=2 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602224802/https://www.fccincinnati.com/tomi-ameobi |url-status=dead }}

| position = Forward{{cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.co.uk/player/104915/tomi-ameobi |title=Tomi Ameobi |website=ESPN FC |access-date=2 June 2019}}

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 2003–2005

| youthyears2 = 2005–2007

| youthclubs1 = Newcastle United

| youthclubs2 = Leeds United

| years1 = 2007–2008

| clubs1 = Leeds United

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2007–2008

| clubs2 = → Scunthorpe United (loan)

| caps2 = 9

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2008–2009

| clubs3 = Doncaster Rovers

| caps3 = 1

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2008

| clubs4 = → Grimsby Town (loan)

| caps4 = 2

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2009

| clubs5 = → Mansfield Town (loan)

| caps5 = 4

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2009–2010

| clubs6 = Forest Green Rovers

| caps6 = 27

| goals6 = 4

| years7 = 2010–2011

| clubs7 = Whitley Bay

| caps7 = 4

| goals7 = 3

| years8 = 2011

| clubs8 = BÍ/Bolungarvík

| caps8 = 22

| goals8 = 11

| years9 = 2012

| clubs9 = Grindavík

| caps9 = 17

| goals9 = 3

| years10 = 2013

| clubs10 = VPS

| caps10 = 30

| goals10 = 9

| years11 = 2013–2014

| clubs11 = Whitley Bay

| caps11 = 4

| goals11 = 2

| years12 = 2014–2017

| clubs12 = FC Edmonton

| caps12 = 94

| goals12 = 21

| years13 = 2018

| clubs13 = FC Cincinnati

| caps13 = 4

| goals13 = 0

| years14 = 2019–2020

| clubs14 = FC Edmonton

| caps14 = 30

| goals14 = 4

| years15 = 2023-

| clubs15 = Edmonton Scottish

| caps15 =

| goals15 =

| totalcaps = 248

|totalgoals = 57

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalteam1 =

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| club-update = 6 September 2020

| ntupdate =

}}

Oluwatomiwo Ameobi (born 16 August 1988) is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward.

Having come through the youth academy at Leeds United, he went on to play in the Football League for Scunthorpe United, Doncaster Rovers, Grimsby Town and Mansfield Town before appearing for Non-League sides Forest Green Rovers and Whitley Bay. In 2011 he moved to play in Europe and had spells in Iceland and Finland with BÍ/Bolungarvík, Grindavík and VPS. In 2014 Ameobi moved to North America and had spells with both FC Edmonton and FC Cincinnati.

Career

The 2007–08 season was Ameobi's first campaign in the Leeds United first team. He previously played for the club's reserve side, which finished sixth in Division One Central of the Central League in 2006–07.{{cite web |url=http://world.htafc.com/page/ReservesDetail/0,,10312~398987,00.html |title=Results & Final Standings – 2006/07 |publisher=Htafc.premiumtv.co.uk |access-date=6 July 2013}} Ameobi signed his first professional contract with Leeds United on 8 August 2007.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/6935642.stm |title=Prutton and Marques pen new deals |work=BBC News |date=7 August 2007 |access-date=6 July 2013}} He had been offered the contract on 8 May,{{cite web |url=http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,982_2138191,00.html |title=Young trio offered new deals |publisher=Teamtalk.com |date=7 February 2012 |access-date=6 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519100554/http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,982_2138191,00.html |archive-date=19 May 2009 |df=dmy-all }} but had to wait three months to sign the deal as the club had been placed under a transfer embargo.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}

He made his first appearance of the pre-season in Leeds United's 2–0 defeat against Northern Premier League side Guiseley on 6 August. He started the match, which was the club's final pre-season fixture, and was replaced after 75 minutes. Ameobi made his debut for Leeds on 28 August, against Portsmouth in the Football League Cup. He was loaned out to the Championship side Scunthorpe United in November 2007. {{citation needed|date=May 2018}}

Ameobi returned to Leeds before joining Doncaster on 22 July. On 24 September 2008, he was loaned to Football League Two side Grimsby Town.{{cite news

|date=22 July 2008

|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11734_3853010,00.html

|title=Rovers agree Ameobi deal

|publisher=Sky Sports

|access-date=22 July 2008}} He later returned to Doncaster after just two appearances. Ameobi signed for Conference National outfit Mansfield Town on loan in January 2009.{{cite news

|url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=54844

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090517073135/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=54844

|url-status=usurped

|archive-date=17 May 2009

|title=Stags sign Ameobi

|publisher=NonLeagueDaily.com

|date=15 January 2009

|access-date=16 January 2009}} He returned to Doncaster the following month, having played five games for Mansfield, but was released from his contract on 7 May.{{cite news

|date=7 May 2009

|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11688_5294304,00.html

|title=O'Driscoll wields the axe

|publisher=Sky Sports

|access-date=7 May 2009}}

In September 2009, Ameobi signed for Forest Green Rovers.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/forest_green_rovers/8274240.stm |title=Striker Ameobi joins Forest Green |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 September 2009 |access-date=23 July 2011}} He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–2 away win over Hayes & Yeading in January 2010{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8468395.stm |title=Hayes & Yeading 2–3 Forest Green |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 January 2010 |access-date=23 July 2011}} and also in that month represented Forest Green in the 3rd round of the FA Cup against Notts County.{{cite web| url=http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Tomi-Ameobi-aiming-to-step-out-of-brother-s-shadow-by-becoming-FA-Cup-hero-article273615.html |title=Tomi Ameobi aiming to step out of brother's shadow by becoming FA Cup hero |publisher=Mirror Football |date=2 January 2010 |access-date=23 July 2011}} At the end of the season he was released by the club having made 28 league appearances and having scored 5 times.

In July 2010, it was announced that Ameobi was on trial with Whitley Bay. He subsequently signed a contract for the club having impressed in their pre-season friendlies. On 4 September 2010, he featured in the 2–2 draw away at Billingham Synthonia coming on as a half-time substitute. Later in the season Ameobi returned to the side, making appearances during Bay's title challenge against Jarrow Roofing and Newcastle Benfield.

On 14 May 2011, Ameobi played his first game in an Icelandic league, and there in the second division. Ameobi's opponents were ÍR, but BÍ/Bvk. lost the game on Torfnesvöllur, 1–2. He scored BÍ/Bvk.'s goal in the game. Ameobi scored again in the second match of the season, winning Haukar away at Ásvellir, 2–1.

On 12 April 2013, Ameobi signed a 1+1 year contract with Finnish League team Vaasan Palloseura.{{cite web |url=http://www.vepsu.fi/item/600-tomi-ameobi-vepsuun.html |title=Tomi Ameobi joins VPS |publisher=Vepsu.fi |date=27 June 2013 |access-date=6 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521200954/http://www.vepsu.fi/item/600-tomi-ameobi-vepsuun.html |archive-date=21 May 2014 |df=dmy-all }}

After his contract with Finnish team Vaasan Palloseura expired,{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/whitleybayfc/status/405346767811928064 |title=Team news: Tomi Ameobi international clearance had come thru and should be registered to play tonight |publisher=Whitley Bay FC|date=27 June 2013 |access-date=6 July 2013}} he returned to Whitley Bay.{{cite web|url=http://nonleague.pitchero.com/news/bay-return-for-ameobi-27089/ |title=Bay Return for Ameobi|publisher=Pitchero Non League |date=27 June 2013 |access-date=6 July 2013}} Ameobi played his debut, after his return to Whitley Bay, on 28 December 2013 against Guisborough Town.{{cite web|url=http://whitleybayfc.co.uk/reports/report.asp?ID=171&DB=1314|title=Match Report Guisborough – Whitley Bay|publisher=WB|date=27 June 2013|access-date=6 July 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150423201049/http://whitleybayfc.co.uk/reports/report.asp?ID=171&DB=1314|archive-date=23 April 2015|url-status=dead}}

Ameobi signed with NASL club FC Edmonton on 31 March 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.nasl.com/article/uuid/5s0gc2mvl32212lbrhh05a34i/fc-edmonton-adds-british-striker-tomi-ameobi |access-date=31 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403222111/http://www.nasl.com/article/uuid/5s0gc2mvl32212lbrhh05a34i/fc-edmonton-adds-british-striker-tomi-ameobi |archive-date=3 April 2014 |title=NASL: FC Edmonton Adds British Striker Tomi Ameobi }} He scored on his debut in a 1–1 draw with the Tampa Bay Rowdies.{{Citation needed|date=May 2015}} Ameobi spent four seasons in Edmonton. After the 2017 season, with the future of FC Edmonton and the NASL in doubt, Ameobi was released from FC Edmonton.{{cite web|url=http://www.fcedmonton.com/news/2017/11/15/release--fc-edmonton-announce-four-departures-in-ameobi-corea-fordyce-and-nyassi|title=FC Edmonton announce four departures in Ameobi, Corea, Fordyce and Nyassi|website=FC Edmonton|date=16 November 2017|access-date=17 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117122238/http://www.fcedmonton.com/news/2017/11/15/release--fc-edmonton-announce-four-departures-in-ameobi-corea-fordyce-and-nyassi|archive-date=17 November 2017|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://the11.ca/with-the-clubs-path-unclear-fc-edmonton-begins-releasing-players/|title=With the club's path unclear, FC Edmonton begins releasing players|website=the11.ca|author=Steven Sandor|date=16 November 2017}} Ameobi would leave Edmonton as the club's second all-time leading scorer.

On 21 February 2018, Ameobi signed with USL side FC Cincinnati for the 2018 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.fccincinnati.com/news_article/show/889095?referrer_id=2577005 |title=Striker Tomi Ameobi Added to FCC Roster |website=www.fccincinnati.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222043839/http://www.fccincinnati.com/news_article/show/889095?referrer_id=2577005 |archive-date=22 February 2018 |url-status=dead}}

On 31 January 2019, Ameobi returned for a second spell with FC Edmonton after the club joined the Canadian Premier League.{{cite web |title=FC Edmonton Announce Signings of Five Players |url=https://fcedmonton.canpl.ca/article/fc-edmonton-announce-signings-of-five-players |publisher=FC Edmonton |access-date=31 January 2019 |date=2019-01-31 |archive-date=18 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418210128/https://fcedmonton.canpl.ca/article/fc-edmonton-announce-signings-of-five-players |url-status=dead }}

Personal life

Ameobi was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear.{{cite web|url=http://www.uptheposh.com/people/2352 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506112428/http://www.uptheposh.com/people/2352/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=6 May 2008 |title=Tomi Ameobi's Biography |publisher=Uptheposh.com |access-date=6 July 2013}} Ameobi is the younger brother of striker Shola Ameobi and the older brother of former Middlesbrough winger Sammy Ameobi.

Ameobi now lives in Canada and is a qualified solicitor,https://ca.linkedin.com/in/tomiameobi {{Self-published source|date=June 2022}} having graduated from the Open University.{{cite web | url=https://law-school.open.ac.uk/study/our-students/tomi-ameobi | title=The Open University }}

Career statistics

{{updated|19 October 2019}}{{cite web |title=Tomi Ameobi |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=47170 |publisher=Soccerbase |access-date=29 September 2019}}{{cite news|title=T. Ameobi|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/tomi-ameobi/47539/|access-date=29 September 2019|work=Soccerway}}

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|National CupIncludes the FA Cup, Icelandic Football Cup, Finnish Cup, Canadian Championship and U.S. Open Cup. !colspan="2"\|League CupIncludes the Football League Cup. !colspan="2"\|Continental !colspan="2"\|OtherIncludes the Soccer Bowl. !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Club statistics
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Leeds United \|2007–08 \|League One \|0	0	\|0	0	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	1	0	2	0
Scunthorpe United (loan) \|2007–08 \|Championship \|9	0	\|1	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	10	0
Doncaster Rovers \|2008–09 \|Championship \|1	0	\|0	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	1	0
Grimsby Town (loan) \|2008–09 \|League Two \|2	0	\|0	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	1	0	3	0
Mansfield Town (loan) \|2008–09 \|Conference Premier \|4	0	\|0	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	4	0
Forest Green Rovers \|2009–10 \|Conference Premier \|27	4	\|3	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	30	4
BÍ/Bolungarvík \|2011 \|1. deild karla \|22	11	\|3	2	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	25	13
Grindavík \|2012 \|Úrvalsdeild karla \|17	3	\|3	1	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	20	4
VPS \|2013 \|Veikkausliiga \|30	9	\|2	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	32	9
rowspan="5"\|FC Edmonton \|2014 \|NASL \|23	6	3	1	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	26	7
2015 \|NASL \|18	7	4	4	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	22	11
2016 \|NASL \|30	2	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	1	0	33	2
2017 \|NASL \|24	6	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	26	6
colspan="2"\|Total !95	21	11	5	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	1	0	107	26
FC Cincinnati \|2018 \|United Soccer League \|4	0	\|2	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	6	0
rowspan="2"\|FC Edmonton \|2019 \|Canadian Premier League \|23	4	\|2	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	25	4
2020 \|Canadian Premier League \|1	0	\|0	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	0	0
colspan="3"\|Career total !234	52	27	8	1	0	0	0	3	0	265	60