Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Joseph Akpunonu [1] | ||
Date of birth | December 21, 2001 | ||
Place of birth | Toledo, Ohio, United States | ||
Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) [2] | ||
Position(s) | Center-back | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Charleston Battery | ||
Youth career | |||
2018–2020 | Pacesetter SC | ||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2020–2022 | Bowling Green Falcons | 48 | (8) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2021–2022 | Toledo Villa | 22 | (1) |
2023–2024 | FC Cincinnati | 1 | (0) |
2023 | FC Cincinnati 2 | 23 | (0) |
2024 | → Hartford Athletic (loan) | 14 | (0) |
2024 | → Huntsville City FC (loan) | 8 | (0) |
2025– | Charleston Battery | 0 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of January 14, 2025 |
Joseph Akpunonu (born December 21, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center-back for the USL Championship side Charleston Battery.
Akpunonu went to high school at St. John's Jesuit High School, where he was a three-year letter winner. He played college soccer with the Bowling Green Falcons from 2020 to 2022, where he received 2022 Academic All-America First Team honors in his final year. [3] In the summers, he played with USL League Two side Toledo Villa. [4] In December 2022, he was one of 44 players invited to the 2022 adidas MLS College Showcase. [5] He was drafted 22nd overall in the first round of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft on December 2, 2022, by FC Cincinnati. [6] First assigned to their reserves, he made his professional debut with FC Cincinnati in a 1–0 U.S. Open Cup win over Louisville City FC on April 27, 2023. [7]
On February 6, 2024, Akpunonu joined USL Championship club Hartford Athletic on a season loan for the 2024 season.
Akpunonu signed with Charleston Battery of the USL Championship on January 13, 2025. [8]
Akpunonu is of Nigerian descent. [9] He studied biology at Bowling Green State University, and intends to become a doctor, like his father (Basil Akpunonu), [10] mother (Elizabeth Hoffman), [11] and brother (Peter Akpunonu). [12] ). [3] He had a 4.0 grade-point average, and was named to an 11-man Academic All-America First Team just prior to leaving Bowling Green State University. [2]
FC Cincinnati
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