Josh Oluwayemi

Josh Oluwayemi

Oluwayemi playing for the Wellington Phoenix in 2024.
Personal information
Full name	Oluwaferanmi Joshua Chibuzo Oluwayemi [1]
Date of birth	(2001-03-13) 13 March 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth	Waltham Forest, England
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Wellington Phoenix
Number	1
Youth career
2011–2020	Tottenham Hotspur
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2022	Tottenham Hotspur	0	(0)
2020	→ Maidenhead United (loan)	1	(0)
2022–2024	Portsmouth	4	(0)
2023	→ Chelmsford City (loan)	19	(0)
2024	Lahti	13	(0)
2024–	Wellington Phoenix	11	(0)
International career
	England U15
	England U16
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 January 2025.

Oluwaferanmi Joshua Chibuzo Oluwayemi (born 13 March 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for A-League Men club Wellington Phoenix.

Club career

Born in Waltham Forest, ^[2] Oluwayemi joined Tottenham Hotspur's academy at the age of 10, subsequently coming through the club's youth ranks. ^{[3] [4]}

In October 2020, he started his senior career by moving on loan to National League club Maidenhead United until January 2021. ^[5] In the summer of 2022, he was released by Tottenham, without having made any appearances for Spurs. ^[6]

Following a successful trial at Portsmouth, on 19 July 2022 Oluwayemi joined the EFL League One club on a permanent deal, signing a one-year contract, with an option for another season. ^{[7] [8]} He made his league debut for Pompey on 14 January 2023, starting in a 3–0 away loss against Bolton Wanderers. ^[9]

On 31 July 2023, Oluwayemi signed for National League South club Chelmsford City on loan. ^[10] In November 2023, following an injury, Oluwayemi returned to Portsmouth early. ^[11]

On 11 January 2024, after 9 appearances for Portsmouth, Oluwayemi joined Finnish Veikkausliiga club Lahti on a one-year contract. ^{[12] [13] [14]} He left Lahti in mid-August, after having recorded 14 appearances for the club. ^[15]

On 15 August 2024, Oluwayemi joined Wellington Phoenix, a New Zealand club playing in the Australian top-tier A-League Men, on a one-year deal for an undisclosed fee. ^[16] On 30 October 2024, Oluwayemi's contract was renewed with the Phoenix for another year, until the end of the 2025–26 season. ^[17]

International career

Thanks to his dual citizenship, Oluwayemi can choose to represent either England or Nigeria internationally. ^[18]

Oluwayemi has represented England at under-15 and under-16 level. ^[18]

In July 2021, Oluwayemi was called up to the senior Nigeria side for a friendly against Mexico. ^{[18] [19]}

Personal life

Oluwayemi has a younger brother, Tobi (b. 2003), who also plays as a goalkeeper: he similarly played for Tottenham's youth academy, before joining Celtic in the summer of 2019, and represented England at various youth international levels. ^{[20] [21]}

Career statistics

As of 11 January 2025 ^[22]

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
Tottenham Hotspur	2020–21	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Maidenhead United (loan)	2020–21	National League	1	0	0	0	—		1 [c]	0	2	0
Tottenham Hotspur U21	2021–22	—			—		—		2 [d]	0	2	0
Portsmouth	2022–23	League One	4	0	0	0	0	0	5 [d]	0	9	0
Chelmsford City (loan)	2023–24	National League South	19	0	2	0	—		1 [c]	0	22	0
Lahti	2024	Veikkausliiga	13	0	0	0	1	0	—		14	0
Wellington Phoenix	2024–25	A-League Men	11	0	0	0	—		—		11	0
Career total			48	0	2	0	0	0	9	0	59	0

1. Includes FA Cup
2. Includes Finnish League Cup
3. Appearance in FA Trophy
4. Appearances in EFL Trophy

References

1. "SQUAD LIST 2022/23 & U21 REGISTERED CONTRACT PLAYERS" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
2. "Nigeria – J. Oluwayemi – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com.
3. "Playing at new stadium 'an honour' – U18s keeper Josh". Tottenham Hotspur. 20 March 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
4. "Meet our first year scholars..." Tottenham Hotspur. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
5. "Maidenhead loan for Oluwayemi". Tottenham Hotspur. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
6. "Player update". Tottenham Hotspur. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
7. "Portsmouth sign ex-Spurs goalkeeper Oluwayemi". BBC Sport. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
8. "Oluwayemi Signs For Pompey". portsmouthfc.co.uk. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
9. "Bolton Wanderers 3–0 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 14 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
10. "Oluwayemi joins on loan". Chelmsford City F.C. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
11. "Breaking: Another Portsmouth injury blow as unlucky ex-Spurs man joins list of squad absentees". Portsmouth News. 29 July 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
12. "Former loan goalkeeper Macey joins Portsmouth". BBC Sport.
13. "Oluwayemi Signs For Finnish Club". portsmouthfc.co.uk. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
14. "Joshua Oluwayemi FC Lahden maalille" [Joshua Oluwayemi for FC Lahti's Goal]. fclahti.fi (in Finnish). 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
15. Joshua Oluwayemi siirtyy Uuteen-Seelantiin, fclahti.fi, 14 August 2024
16. "Former Tottenham 'keeper joins the Nix". Wellington Phoenix . 15 August 2024.
17. "New Nix No. 1 extends his contract". Wellington Phoenix . 30 October 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
18. "Joshua Oluwayemi: Portsmouth sign Nigeria prospect keeper from Tottenham". Goal.com. 20 July 2022.
19. "Maiden Nigeria call-up for Oluwayemi". Tottenham Hotspur. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
20. Young, Graeme (27 July 2019). "Tobi Oluwayemi joins Celtic as Tottenham academy keeper pens three-year deal". Daily Record. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
21. Devlin, Kieran (19 November 2021). "Oluwayemi: A fit for Postecoglou's passing plans, the Barkas dilemma, and potential future Celtic No 1". The Athletic. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
22. Josh Oluwayemi at Soccerway. Retrieved 17 December 2022.