Joshua Kayode

Joshua Kayode

Personal information
Full name	Joshua Akinola Ogunfaolu-Kayode [1]
Date of birth	(2000-05-04) 4 May 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth	Lagos, Nigeria
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) [2]
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Shrewsbury Town (on loan from Rotherham United)
Number	10
Youth career
0000–2017	Rotherham United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–	Rotherham United	24	(1)
2018	→ Chesterfield (loan)	3	(0)
2019–2020	→ Gateshead (loan)	22	(6)
2020	→ Carlisle United (loan)	5	(3)
2020–2021	→ Carlisle United (loan)	34	(8)
2022	→ Milton Keynes Dons (loan)	6	(0)
2023–2024	→ Carlisle United (loan)	3	(0)
2024–	→ Shrewsbury Town (loan)	2	(0)
International career‡
2020–2022	Republic of Ireland U21	13	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:09, 19 August 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:56, 27 September 2022 (UTC)

Joshua Akinola Ogunfaolu-Kayode (born 4 May 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League One side Shrewsbury Town, on loan from EFL League One club Rotherham United.

Born in Nigeria, Kayode represents Ireland internationally.

Club career

Rotherham United

Kayode was born in Lagos, Nigeria, however, he grew up in Dublin, Ireland before moving to start his career in the youth team of Rotherham United. ^[3] He made his professional debut in August 2017 in the EFL Trophy defeat to Manchester City U21. ^[3] On 20 November 2017 he signed his first professional contract, a deal until the summer of 2020. ^[3]

On 19 September 2018, Kayode joined National League side Chesterfield on a one-month youth loan. ^[4] In early August 2019 he joined National League North side Gateshead on loan until January 2020, with conditions attached that meant he could still feature for Rotherham in the EFL Trophy. ^[5]

After returning from Gateshead, Kayode signed a new 2+1⁄2-year deal extending his stay at Rotherham United until the summer of 2022. He then moved on loan to League Two side Carlisle United for the remainder of the 2019–20 season. ^[6] This loan was formally extended in May 2020 to cover any potential extension to the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ^[7]

On 4 August 2020, Kayode returned to Carlisle United, on a one-year loan. ^[8] In April 2021 whilst on loan at Carlisle, Kayode signed a new contract with the Millers that would keep him at the club until the end of the 2023–24 season. ^[9] He scored his first goal for Rotherham in an EFL Trophy tie against Crewe Alexandra on 4 January 2022. ^[10]

In pre-season ahead of the 2022–23 campaign, Kayode would sustain a hamstring injury minutes after scoring the equaliser for Rotherham United in a friendly against Mansfield Town. After recovery, and in the need for game time, Kayode left Rotherham United on loan - signing for MK Dons on the 29 August 2022. He would debut for MK Dons the following day as MK Dons suffered a 1–2 defeat to Cheltenham Town in the EFL Trophy. On 3 September Kayode would make his League bow for the Dons, starting on the bench in a 1–0 loss away to Exeter City, his second League appearance coming versus Bolton Wanderers.

In July 2024, Kayode joined fellow League One side Shrewsbury Town on a season-long loan deal. ^[11] In August 2024, Kayode scored his first goal for Shrewsbury Town. Against Notts County in the Carabao Cup. ^[12]

International career

Kayode was called up the Republic of Ireland under-21 team for the first time in October 2020, for the European Championship qualifier against Italy. ^[13] He was called up for a second time in November 2020, making his debut from the bench against Iceland under-21 on 15 November 2020. ^[14] He made his full debut and scored his first under-21 international goal on 18 November 2020, against Luxembourg under-21 in Luxembourg City. ^[15]

Career statistics

As of 17 August 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		EFL Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Rotherham United	2017–18 [16]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	2 [lower-alpha 1]	0	2	0
	2018–19 [17]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2019–20 [18]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	1	0
	2020–21 [19]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2021–22 [20]	League One	20	1	2	0	1	0	5 [lower-alpha 1]	1	28	2
	2022–23 [21]	Championship	0	0	0	0	1	0	—		1	0
	2023–24 [22]	Championship	4	0	0	0	1	1	–		5	1
	Total		24	1	2	0	3	1	8	1	37	3
Chesterfield (loan)	2018–19 [17]	National League	3	0	—		—		—		3	0
Gateshead (loan)	2019–20 [18] [23] [24] [25]	National League North	22	6	4	2	—		1 [lower-alpha 2]	0	27	8
Carlisle United (loan)	2019–20 [18]	League Two	5	3	—		—		—		5	3
	2020–21 [19]	League Two	34	8	2	0	0	0	—		36	8
	2023–24 [22]	League One	3	0	0	0	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	4	0
	Total		42	11	2	0	0	0	1	0	45	11
Milton Keynes Dons (loan)	2022–23 [21]	League One	6	0	0	0	—		3 [lower-alpha 1]	0	9	0
Shrewsbury Town (loan)	2024–25 [26]	League One	2	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	3	1
Career total			99	18	8	2	4	2	13	1	124	23

1. Appearances in EFL Trophy
2. Appearances in FA Trophy

Honours

Rotherham United

• EFL League One second-place promotion: 2021–22 ^[27]
• EFL Trophy: 2021–22 ^[28]

References

1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Carlisle United" (PDF). English Football League. p. 18. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
2. "Jushua Kayode". Milton Keynes Dons F.C. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
3. "Kayode pens professional deal". Rotherham United FC. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
4. "Kayode moves out on loan to Chesterfield". Rotherham United FC. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
5. "Joshua Kayode heads out on loan". Rotherham United F.C. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
6. "Striker in from the Millers". Carlisle United F.C. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
7. "Kayode extends loan period with Carlisle United". Rotherham United F.C. 15 May 2020.
8. "LOAN: A familiar face is in for the season".
9. "JJ pens long-term Millers deal". www.themillers.co.uk. 15 April 2021.
10. "Crewe 2 Rotherham United 4: Kayode and Ladapo strike late for Millers". yorkshirepost.co.uk. 4 January 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
11. "Shrewsbury snap up Joshua Kayode on loan". www.shrewsburytown.com. 26 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
12. "Carabao Cup: Shrewsbury Town 3-3 Notts County (4-3 on pens)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
13. "Carlisle Utd striker gets international call-up". newsandstar.co.uk. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
14. "Under-21 | Late Iceland goal sinks Ireland". Football Association of Ireland. 15 November 2020.
15. "Republic of Ireland U21s sign off Euro qualifying campaign". BBC Sport. 18 November 2020.
16. "Games played by Joshua Kayode in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
17. "Games played by Joshua Kayode in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
18. "Games played by Joshua Kayode in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
19. "Games played by Joshua Kayode in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
20. "Games played by Joshua Kayode in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
21. "Games played by Joshua Kayode in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
22. "Games played by Joshua Kayode in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
23. "Gateshead 6–0 Ramsbottom United". Gateshead FC. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
24. "Kidsgrove Athletic 0–1 Gateshead". Gateshead FC. 5 October 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
25. "Halesowen Town 1–0 Gateshead". Gateshead FC. 23 November 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
26. "Games played by Joshua Kayode in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
27. "Rotherham win to go up and relegate Gillingham". BBC Sport. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
28. Peddy, Chris (3 April 2022). "Rotherham United 4–2 Sutton United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 April 2022.

External links

• Joshua Kayode at Soccerway