Festy Ebosele

Festy Ebosele

Ebosele playing for Republic of Ireland U19 in 2019
Personal information
Full name	Festy Oseiwe Ebosele [1]
Date of birth	(2002-08-02) 2 August 2002 (age 22) [2]
Place of birth	Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Right-back, right wing-back
Team information
Current team	Watford (on loan from Udinese)
Number	36
Youth career
2010–2016	Moyne Rangers
2016–2018	Bray Wanderers
2018–2021	Derby County
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2022	Derby County	38	(2)
2022–	Udinese	48	(0)
2024–	→ Watford (loan)	18	(1)
International career‡
2018	Republic of Ireland U16	2	(0)
2018–2019	Republic of Ireland U17	7	(1)
2019–2020	Republic of Ireland U19	7	(0)
2021–2023	Republic of Ireland U21	5	(0)
2023–	Republic of Ireland	7	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 January 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:50, 17 November 2024 (UTC)

Festy Oseiwe Ebosele (born 2 August 2002) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a right-back or right wing-back for EFL Championship club Watford, on loan from Serie A club Udinese, and the Republic of Ireland national team. ^[3]

Early years

Ebosele was born in the town of Enniscorthy in County Wexford, Ireland to Nigerian parents. He began playing football for Moyne Rangers in 2010 before joining the academy of League of Ireland side Bray Wanderers when he was 14-years-old. Two years later in 2018, he signed for English Championship side Derby County. ^[4]

Club career

Derby County

Ebosele made his debut for Derby County as a substitute in a 2–0 FA Cup loss to Chorley on 9 January 2021. He was one of fourteen players from Derby County's academy to make their debut in the game, after the entirety of Derby's first team squad and coaching team were forced to isolate due to a COVID-19 outbreak. ^[5] He made his league debut as a substitute in a 1–0 loss to Norwich City on 10 April 2021. ^[6] On 6 November 2021, Ebosele scored a first senior goal in a 1–1 draw at Millwall. ^[7] In January 2022, Ebosele was linked to a move to Derby County's rivals Nottingham Forest, however Ebosele was said to have rejected the prospect of a move. ^[8]

In March 2022, with Derby being unable to offer Ebosele new contract terms due to the restrictions put on the club by the EFL whilst in administration, ^[9] it was confirmed that Ebosele would join Udinese at the end of his Derby contract in summer 2022, signing a five-year deal with the Serie A club. ^[10] In the weeks following the transfer, Derby manager Wayne Rooney questioned Ebosele's attitude and had him training with the Under-23 squad. ^[11] Ebosele later got back into the team and finished the season with 37 appearances in all competitions, scoring two goals. ^[12]

Udinese

On 21 March 2022, it was announced that Ebosele would join Italian Serie A club Udinese on a five-year contract starting in the summer of 2022. ^[13] The transfer was confirmed by Derby County on 4 July, as the club was also entitled to compensation due to Ebosele's homegrown status. ^[14]

Loan to Watford

On 30 August 2024, Ebosele signed for Championship club Watford on a season-long loan. ^[15]

International career

Born in Ireland, Ebosele is of Nigerian descent, so he could choose to represent either of the respective countries at international level. ^[16] He has represented the Republic of Ireland at U16, U17, U19 and U21 levels ever since. ^[2]

He then received his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland senior national team on 25 May 2022, ahead of their UEFA Nations League games against Armenia, Ukraine and Scotland. ^[17]

On 7 September 2023, he made his senior debut for Republic of Ireland, replacing Chiedozie Ogbene from the bench in the 84th minute of a 2–0 loss to France at Parc des Princes. ^{[18] [19]} He provided a pinpoint cross for Robbie Brady’s Nations League 88th-minute winner in Ireland’s 2–1 victory over Finland in Helsinki on 10 October 2024. ^[20]

Personal life

His sister, Lystus Ebosele, goes by the moniker Cyclone on BBC One light entertainment television show Gladiators . ^[21]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 21 January 2025 ^[12]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup [a]		League cup [b]		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Derby County	2020–21 [22]	Championship	3	0	1	0	0	0	—		4	0
	2021–22 [23]	Championship	35	2	1	0	1	0	—		37	2
	Total		38	2	2	0	1	0	0	0	41	2
Udinese	2022–23 [24]	Serie A	17	0	1	0	—		—		18	0
	2023–24 [25]	Serie A	31	0	1	0	—		—		32	0
	Total		48	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	50	0
Watford (loan)	2024–25 [26]	Championship	18	1	0	0	1	0	—		19	1
Career total			104	3	4	0	2	0	0	0	110	3

1. Includes FA Cup, Coppa Italia
2. Includes EFL Cup

International

As of match played 17 November 2024

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Republic of Ireland	2023	2	0
	2024	5	0
Total		7	0

References

1. "Club list of registered players: Derby County" (PDF). English Football League. p. 17. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
2. "View Festy Ebosele – Derby County". www.dcfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
3. Festy Ebosele at Soccerway
4. "Festy embarks on Derby dream". New Ross Standard. 14 July 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
5. "Chorley 2–0 Derby County". British Broadcasting Corporation. 9 January 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
6. "Derby County 0–1 Norwich City". British Broadcasting Corporation. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
7. "Millwall 1–1 Derby County". BBC Sport. 6 November 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
8. Glendenning, Barry (27 January 2022). "Little victories in the fight to save Derby County". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
9. "Wayne Rooney: Derby County manager says entire squad wants to stay following relegation". BBC Sport. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
10. McCormack, Richie. "Udinese confirm signing of Ireland wing-back Festy Ebosele". www.98fm.com. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
11. Abbott, Matt (26 April 2022). "Wayne Rooney stance on Festy Ebosele farewell revealed as contract priority urged". Derby Telegraph. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
12. "Republic of Ireland - F. Ebosele - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". ie.soccerway.com.
13. "Udinese confirm signing of Ireland U21 Festy Ebosele". 21 March 2022 – via www.rte.ie.
14. "Ebosele Leaves Derby At End Of Contract For Udinese Switch". www.dcfc.co.uk. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
15. French, Andrew (30 August 2024). "Republic of Ireland international joins on loan for the season". Watford Observer. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
16. "Festy Ebosele: Nigeria eligible defender debuts for Ireland U21 - Interesting Football". 1 June 2021.
17. "Kenny names 27-man squad for Nations League ties". Football Association of Ireland. 25 May 2022.
18. "France 2 Republic of Ireland 0". BBC Sport. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
19. O'Hehir, Paul (8 September 2023). "Festy Ebosele 'delighted' to make Ireland debut as focus turns to Dutch clash". Irish Mirror.
20. Gray, Andy (10 October 2024). "Finland 2-1 Ireland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
21. Moynihan, John (18 January 2025). "Enniscorthy's Lystus Ebosele named as a Gladiator for upcoming season of the popular programme". Southeastradio.ie. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
22. "Games played by Festy Ebosele in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
23. "Games played by Festy Ebosele in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
24. "Games played by Festy Ebosele in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
25. "Games played by Festy Ebosele in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
26. "Games played by Festy Ebosele in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 December 2024.