Sam Adekugbe

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Sam Adekugbe
Sam Adekugbe WC2022.jpg
Adekugbe playing for Canada at the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Samuel Ayomide Adekugbe [1]
Date of birth (1995-01-16) January 16, 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth London, England
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) [2] [3]
Position(s) Left-back
Team information
Current team
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Number 3
Youth career
1998–2000 Manchester United Grassroots Program
2000–2004 AFC Clayton
2004–2011 Calgary Foothills
2011–2013 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2013 Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 3 (0)
2015–2016 Whitecaps FC 2 6 (0)
2013–2017 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 16 (0)
2016–2017Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 1 (0)
2017IFK Göteborg (loan) 9 (0)
2018 Vålerenga 2 1 (0)
2018–2021 Vålerenga 89 (0)
2021–2023 Hatayspor 52 (0)
2023Galatasaray (loan) 6 (0)
2023– Vancouver Whitecaps FC 26 (1)
International career
2013 Canada U18 1 (0)
2014–2015 Canada U20 6 (0)
2015– Canada 42 (1)
Medal record
Representing Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Men's soccer
CONCACAF Nations League
Runner-up 2023
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 19, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of November 22, 2023

Samuel Ayomide Adekugbe (born January 16, 1995) is a professional soccer player who plays as a left-back for Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Born in England, he represents the Canada national team.

Contents

Club career

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

On August 28, 2013, Adekugbe signed a Generation Adidas homegrown contract with MLS club Vancouver Whitecaps FC, making him the seventh homegrown signing in club history. [4] He made his professional debut on October 27 in the final game of the 2013 season which ended in a 3–0 victory over Colorado Rapids. [5]

Loan to Brighton & Hove Albion

During Winter 2015, Adekugbe was invited to train at English EFL Championship club Brighton & Hove Albion. [6] On July 15, 2016, Adekugbe transferred to Brighton on a season-long loan deal agreement, initially linking up with the club's development squad. [7] On August 9, 2016, Adekugbe started in the 4–0 victory over Colchester United in the 2016–17 EFL Cup. [8] On August 23, 2016, Adekugbe scored his first professional goal in a 4–2 victory over Oxford United in the second round of the 2016–17 EFL Cup. [9]

On January 14, 2017, Adekugbe started his first Championship game in a 2–0 defeat against Preston North End. [10]

Loan to IFK Göteborg

Adekugbe joined Allsvenskan club IFK Göteborg on loan on July 25, 2017, for the remainder of the season, with an option to buy for the club. [11] He made his debut against IFK Norrköping in a 4–1 win on July 30.

Vålerenga

On January 8, 2018, Eliteserien club Vålerenga announced they had signed Adekugbe to a four-year deal. [12] He made his debut against Kristiansund on March 12, 2018 [13] In 3.5 seasons with the Oslo club, Adekugbe would play 94 games. [14]

Hatayspor

On June 18, 2021, it was announced Adekugbe had signed a three-year deal with Turkish Süper Lig side Hatayspor, effective August 1, 2021. [15] He made his debut on August 14 against Kasımpaşa. [16]

Loan to Galatasaray

On 17 February 2023, he signed a loan contract with Galatasaray until the end of the 2022–23 season. [17]

Adekugbe became the champion in the Süper Lig in the 2022–23 season with the Galatasaray team. Defeating Ankaragücü 4-1 away in the match played in the 36th week on 30 May 2023, Galatasaray secured the lead with 2 weeks before the end and won the 23rd championship in its history. [18]

Return to Vancouver

On August 3, 2023, Adekugbe re-joined his former club Vancouver Whitecaps FC on a deal until the end of the 2026 season. [19]

International career

Adekugbe was eligible to represent England, Nigeria or Canada internationally. In 2012, he was quoted saying he dreamed of playing for England at Wembley. [20] However, he has represented Canada at youth and senior level.

Youth

Adekugbe was part of Canada's U-18 squad for the 2013 COTIF U-20 tournament from August 11 to 21. [4] After a successful 2014 campaign with Vancouver, Adekugbe was called up to the U20 squad by coach Rob Gale on November 7, 2014. [21] He made his debut for the side against England on November 12 in a 1–1 draw. In January 2015 he would participate with Canada in the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. [22]

Senior

Adekugbe received his first call up to the Canada senior team for two friendlies against Mauritania in September 2013, though he did not feature in either match. [23] He made his debut two years later in a against Belize on September 8, 2015. [24] In June 2017 Adekugbe was named to Canada's squad for that year's CONCACAF Gold Cup. [25]

On November 16, 2021, during Canada's 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Mexico at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium, Adekugbe celebrated Cyle Larin's 52nd-minute goal by diving backward into a pitchside snow bank. The celebration subsequently went viral. [26] He scored his first goal for Canada in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the United States on January 30, 2022. [27] In November 2022, Adekugbe was named to the 2022 FIFA World Cup team for Canada. [28] In Canada's third match against Morocco, he caused an own-goal, sending in a cross that deflected off Moroccan defender Nayef Aguerd into the back of the net. [29]

In June 2023, Adekugbe was called-up to the Canadian squad contesting the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals. [30] On June 19, he was named to the 23-man squad for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup, before withdrawing the day before Canada's first match. [31]

Personal life

Adekugbe was born in London to parents with Nigerian heritage and lived in England until 10, when his family moved to Calgary, Alberta in Western Canada. [32] His younger brother Elijah is also a professional soccer player. He is a fan of Manchester City. [20]

Adekugbe received his Canadian permanent residency status on August 23, 2013, which qualifies him as a domestic player on Canadian clubs for MLS roster purposes. [33] He became a Canadian citizen in 2016. [34]

Career statistics

Club

As of matches played October 27, 2024 [35]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 2013 PDL 301 [lower-alpha 1] 040
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2013 MLS 100010
2014 40000040
2015 90104 [lower-alpha 2] 000140
2016 20200040
Total16030004000230
Whitecaps FC 2 2015 USL 2020
2016 400040
Total600000000060
Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 2016–17 Championship 10202151
IFK Göteborg (loan) 2017 Allsvenskan 9010100
Vålerenga 2 2018 Norwegian Second Division 1010
Vålerenga 2018 Eliteserien 27020290
2019 24010250
2020 26000260
2021 120002 [lower-alpha 3] 0140
Total89030002000940
Hatayspor 2021–22 Süper Lig 34030370
2022–23 18010190
Total52040000000560
Galatasaray (loan) 2022–23 Süper Lig600060
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2023 MLS10000002 [lower-alpha 4] 1121
2024 16120003 [lower-alpha 5] 0211
Total26120000051332
Career total20911502160612383
  1. Appearance in PDL Play-offs
  2. Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League
  3. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  4. Appearances in MLS Cup playoffs
  5. One appearance in Leagues Cup, one appearance in MLS Cup playoffs

International

As of match played November 22, 2023 [36]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Canada 201520
201610
201730
201810
201920
202020
2021130
2022131
202350
Total421
As of January 30, 2022
Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Adekugbe goal. [36]
List of international goals scored by Sam Adekugbe
No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1January 30, 2022 Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton, Canada26Flag of the United States.svg  United States 2–02–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Galatasaray

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

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References

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