Odeluga Offiah

Odeluga Offiah

Personal information
Full name	Odeluga Joshua Offiah [1]
Date of birth	(2002-10-26) 26 October 2002 (age 22) [2]
Place of birth	Camden, England
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.87 m) [2]
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Blackpool (on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion)
Number	24
Youth career
0000–2017	Bromley [3]
2017–2023	Brighton & Hove Albion
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–	Brighton & Hove Albion	6	(0)
2023	→ Heart of Midlothian (loan)	5	(12)
2024–	→ Blackpool (loan)	6	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:42, 5 October 2024 (UTC)

Odeluga Joshua Offiah (born 26 October 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Blackpool, on loan from Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion.

Club career

Brighton & Hove Albion

In his youth, Offiah was a member of the Bromley academy, ^[3] and in 2016 won the Kent Youth Cup with their U13 side before joining Brighton & Hove Albion's academy in 2017. ^{[4] [3]}

Offiah made his professional footballing debut on 24 August 2021, coming on as a 68th minute substitute for Taylor Richards in the 2–0 EFL Cup second round victory over Championship side Cardiff City. ^[5] He made his first start for the "Seagulls" on 8 January 2022, playing 55 minutes of the 2–1 – after extra-time – away win over West Bromwich Albion of the Championship in the FA Cup third round. ^[6] On 31 January, Offiah committed his future with Brighton by signing a new contract that runs until June 2024. ^[7]

Offiah was among the substitutes in Brighton's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United at Wembley on 23 April 2023, where he remained on the bench in the eventual penalty shootout defeat. ^[8] He made his Premier League debut and first professional league match of his career three days later, coming on as 88th minute substitute for Albion goalscorer Facundo Buonanotte in the 3–1 away loss at Nottingham Forest. ^[9]

He made his first ever Premier League start vs Bournemouth on 28 April 2024.

Heart of Midlothian (loan)

On 18 August 2023, Offiah signed a new contract with Brighton running until June 2025, whilst signing a season-long loan with Heart of Midlothian of the Scottish Premiership. ^[10] He made a goalscoring debut two days after signing, with a powerful header crashing in off the underside of the crossbar, scoring Hearts' second in the eventual 4–0 home win over Scottish Championship side Partick Thistle in the Scottish League Cup second round. ^[11] Offiah returned to Brighton in December 2023 following the termination of his loan spell. ^[12]

Blackpool (loan)

On 30 August 2024, it was announced that Offiah would join EFL League One club Blackpool on a season-long loan. ^[13]

Personal life

Offiah was born in Camden to Nigerian parents. ^[14] He is the nephew of former rugby league and rugby union player Martin Offiah and cousin of Tyler Offiah. ^[15]

Career statistics

As of match played 5 October 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Brighton & Hove Albion	2021–22 [16]	Premier League	0	0	1	0	1	0	—		2	0
	2022–23 [17]	Premier League	2	0	0	0	1	0	—		3	0
	2023–24 [18]	Premier League	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
	2024–25 [19]	Premier League	0	0	—		1	0	—		1	0
	Total		6	0	1	0	3	0	0	0	10	0
Brighton & Hove Albion U21	2021–22 [16]	—			—		—		2 [a]	0	2	0
	2022–23 [17]	—			—		—		1 [a]	0	1	0
	2024–25 [19]	—			—		—		1 [a]	0	1	0
	Total		—		—		—		4	0	4	0
Heart of Midlothian (loan)	2023–24 [18]	Scottish Premiership	5	0	0	0	2	1	2 [b]	0	9	1
Blackpool (loan)	2024–25 [19]	League One	6	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	7	1
Career total			17	1	1	0	6	1	6	0	30	2

1. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
2. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

References

1. "Premier League 2020/21 Retained List of Players" (PDF). Premier League. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
2. "Odel Offiah". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
3. "DONE DEAL: Brighton secure Odell Offiah to two-year contract". Tribal Football. 14 April 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
4. "Bromley U13's Win Kent Youth Cup". Bromley F.C. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
5. "Cardiff 0–2 Brighton & Hove Albion: Seagulls into Carabao Cup third round - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
6. "West Bromwich Albion 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion: Neal Maupay hits extra-time winner - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 8 January 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
7. "Offiah commits future to Albion". Brighton & Hove Albion. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
8. "It's Wembley heartbreak as Albion are beaten on penalties". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
9. "Albion felled by Forest". Brighton & Hove Albion. 26 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
10. "Offiah signs new deal and joins Hearts on loan". Brighton & Hove Albion. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
11. "Match Report: Hearts 4-0 Partick Thistle". Hearts. 20 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
12. "Odel Offiah plays for Brighton after Wigan interest". The Argus. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
13. "Odeluga Offiah: Blackpool sign Brighton & Hove Albion defender on loan". BBC Sport. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
14. "English Premier League side Brighton promote Ghanaian teen defender Odel Offiah to second team". Sports World Ghana. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
15. "Brighton transfer EXCLUSIVE: Seagulls seal deal for rising star Odell Offiah". Express. 14 April 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
16. "Games played by Odeluga Offiah in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
17. "Games played by Odeluga Offiah in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
18. "Games played by Odeluga Offiah in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
19. "Games played by Odeluga Offiah in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 August 2024.

External links

• Odeluga Offiah at Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
• Odeluga Offiah at Premier League