Deji Sotona
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ayodeji Sotona[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 7 December 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Waterford, Republic of Ireland[1] | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Boston United (on loan from Doncaster Rovers) | ||
| Number | 17 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2016 | Mullingar Athletic | ||
| 2015–2016 | Leixlip United | ||
| 2016–2020 | Manchester United | ||
| 2020–2023 | Nice | ||
| 2022 | → Brentford B (loan) | ||
| 2023 | Burnley | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2023 | Nice | 0 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | → Kilmarnock (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2023 | Burnley | 0 | (0) |
| 2023– | Doncaster Rovers | 6 | (1) |
| 2023– | → Boston United (loan) | 8 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 2017 | Republic of Ireland U15 | 2 | (1) |
| 2018 | Republic of Ireland U16 | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:20, 24 November 2023 (UTC) | |||
Ayodeji Sotona (born 7 December 2002) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Boston United on loan from Doncaster Rovers.
Club career[edit]
Early career[edit]
Sotona was born in Waterford, but moved to Mullingar as a child, where he joined local side Mullingar Athletic.[2] At a young age, he joined the Mullingar Harriers Athletic Club, picking up several provincial and national sprinting medals, including an All-Ireland bronze medal in 2013.[2] He then went on to play for Leixlip United.[3]
At the age of 13, he began attracting attention from English sides Manchester City and Manchester United, eventually signing with the latter.[4] While at Manchester United, Sotona was named as the club's fastest player, ahead of first team members Diogo Dalot, Marcus Rashford and Daniel James.[5] After four years with the club, in which he trained with the first team, he rejected the offer of a three-year extension to his contract, and left the club as a free agent in September 2020.[6]
Nice[edit]
After a phone call with Patrick Vieira, who was managing Nice at the time, Sotona decided to join the French side at the expiration of his contract with Manchester United.[4][7] Vieira had promised first-team football, but after he was sacked in December 2020, new manager Adrian Ursea assigned Sotona to the reserves.[4]
With the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting the footballing schedule, he struggled for game time, and when a return to England with Brentford B presented itself in January 2022, Sotona took the opportunity, and joined on a six-month loan deal.[8] On 9 August 2022, Sotona signed for Scottish club Kilmarnock on a season-long loan.[9] He returned to Nice in January 2023.[10]
Burnley[edit]
On 30 January 2023, Sotona moved to Burnley, playing for their academy squad until the end of the season.[11]
Doncaster Rovers[edit]
On 14 July 2023, Sotana moved to Doncaster Rovers on a free transfer following his release from Burnley.[12]
On 24 November 2023, he joined National League North club Boston United on loan until 13 January 2024.[13] Following the expiration of the previous agreement, his loan was extended until the end of the season.[14]
International career[edit]
Sotona is eligible to represent the Republic of Ireland, Nigeria and England at international level.[2] He has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-15 and under-16 level.[15][16]
Career statistics[edit]
Club[edit]
- As of matches played 10 October 2023[17]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manchester United U23 | 2019–20 | — | — | — | 1[c] | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Nice | 2020–21 | Ligue 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2021–22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2022–23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Kilmarnock B (loan) | 2022–23 | — | — | — | 2[d] | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||||
| Kilmarnock (loan) | 2022–23 | Scottish Premiership | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Burnley | 2022–23 | EFL Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Doncaster Rovers | 2023–24 | EFL League One | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| Career total | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 2 | ||
Notes
- ^ Includes FA Cup, Coupe de France and Scottish Cup
- ^ Includes EFL Cup and Scottish League Cup
- ^ Appearances in the EFL Trophy
- ^ Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Deji Sotona at WorldFootball.net
- ^ a b c Hughes, Paul (30 July 2020). "Important summer ahead for Mullingar's Deji". westmeathexaminer.ie. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/leixlipunitedafc/posts/how-about-that-former-hoops-player-deji-sotona-is-the-fastest-player-in-the-enti/2425608090987536/
- ^ a b c Harris, Jay (18 February 2022). "Deji Sotona on Manchester United, playing for Patrick Vieira and Brentford hopes". theathletic.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022. (subscription required)
- ^ Hawkins, Billy (6 September 2019). "Manchester United's fastest player is 16-year-old Deji Sotona, a youth sprint champion who has been likened to Ryan Giggs". talksport.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- ^ Luckhurst, Samuel (11 September 2020). "Deji Sotona leaves Manchester United after rejecting contract". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- ^ Connaughton, Gary (2 October 2020). "An Irish Youngster Has Signed For Patrick Vieira's Nice". balls.ie. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- ^ "Deji Sotona joins Brentford B on loan". brentfordfc.com. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- ^ "DEJI SOTONA JOINS KILLIE ON LOAN". Kilmarnock FC. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ "Kilmarnock confirm Deji Sotona is heading back to Nice after loan spell ends". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
- ^ "TWEEDY ADDED TO ACADEMY RANKS". Burnley F.C. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ "Doncaster bring in free agent forward Sotona". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ "Deji Sotona departs on loan". www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ "Deji Sotona loan extended to end of season". www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk. 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "Ireland U15s draw with Netherlands in friendly". fai.ie. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- ^ "Ireland U16: Osam names squad for Swedish tournament". fai.ie. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- ^ Deji Sotona at Soccerway
- 2002 births
- Living people
- Association footballers from Waterford (city)
- Irish people of Nigerian descent
- Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
- Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers
- Men's association football forwards
- Manchester United F.C. players
- OGC Nice players
- Brentford F.C. players
- Kilmarnock F.C. players
- Burnley F.C. players
- Doncaster Rovers F.C. players
- Boston United F.C. players
- Scottish Professional Football League players
- English Football League players
- National League (English football) players
- Republic of Ireland expatriate men's association footballers
- Irish expatriate sportspeople in France
- Expatriate men's footballers in France
- Irish expatriate sportspeople in Scotland
- Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland
- Irish expatriate sportspeople in England
- Expatriate men's footballers in England