Dapo Mebude

Adedapo Awokoya-Mebude (born 29 July 2001) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Queen of the South, on loan from Rangers.

Dapo Mebude
Mebude with Scotland U19 in 2019.
Personal information
Full name Adedapo Awokoya-Mebude[1]
Date of birth (2001-07-29) 29 July 2001[1]
Place of birth London, England
Position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 Queen of the South
(on loan from Rangers)
Number 29
Youth career
Rangers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019– Rangers 1 (0)
2021– → Queen of the South (loan) 2 (0)
National team‡
Scotland U16
2017–2018 Scotland U17 10 (2)
2018 Scotland U18 2 (0)
2018– Scotland U19 11 (4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:00, 6 February 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11:07, 17 October 2019 (UTC)

Early and personal life

Mebude was born in London,[2] and is of Nigerian descent.[3] His family moved to Scotland when he was young, and he joined the Rangers youth system after attending an open Soccer Schools event organised by the club.[4] He was later a participant in the SFA's Performance School programme at Holyrood Secondary School,[5] and also attended Rangers' youth partnership school Boclair Academy.[6]

His younger brother Dire is also a footballer, who as of September 2020 was playing for Premier League club Manchester City, and Scotland at youth level.[7]

Club career

Mebude turned professional with Rangers in May 2017.[8] He signed a new contract with the club in December 2018, keeping him at Ibrox until 2021.[6] In February 2019 he was recalled from international duty with the Scotland under-19s to join up with the Rangers first team, due to injury problems.[9] He made his senior debut on 19 May 2019, in a 1–2 away defeat against Kilmarnock in the league.[10]

On 21 January 2021, Mebude joined Scottish Championship club Queen of the South on loan until the end of the season.[11]

International career

Mebude represented Scotland at under-16, under-17, under-18, and under-19 youth levels.[1][8][6][9][12]

Playing style

In November 2018, he was described by the Daily Record as a "diminutive striker" who was "highly-rated within Ibrox" and that he was "known for his lightening [sic] quick pace as well as his obvious finishing ability and is a handful for defenders with his trickery".[2] In a September 2019 interview, Mebude stated "When I play as a winger I try and be direct and score goals like Raheem Sterling who is fast, direct and a similar build to me."[13]

References
  1. Dapo Mebude at the Scottish Football Association
  2. Mark McDougall (7 November 2018). "Who is Dapo Mebude? Rangers fans rave as teen hits treble for reserves". Daily Record. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  3. "Nigerian Superkid Signs Professional Contract With Scottish Powerhouse Rangers:: All Nigeria Soccer - The Complete Nigerian Football Portal". www.allnigeriasoccer.com.
  4. Dapo Mebude determined to grab his Rangers chance with the help of striking rivals Alfredo Morelos and Jermain Defoe, Evening Times, 17 September 2019
  5. Performance Schools Roll Of Honour, Scottish Football Association
  6. "Dapo Mebude Signs New Contract". Rangers F.C. 15 December 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  7. "Rangers youngster leaves Ibrox youth setup to clinch deal with Manchester City". HeraldScotland.
  8. "Rangers starlets Serge Atakayi and Dapo Mebude profiled as academy prospects add to their growing reputation". Daily Record. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  9. "Rangers facing striker shortage against St Johnstone, says Gerrard". BBC Sport. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  10. "Kilmarnock 2–1 Rangers". BBC Sport. 19 May 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  11. "Dapo Mebude". Queen of the South F.C. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  12. Alasdair Mackenzie (27 March 2018). "Rangers youngster Dapo Mebude seals win for Scotland Under-17s against Germany". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  13. Cusick, Aiden (10 September 2019). "Rangers winger Dapo Mebude likens himself to £49m Premier League star". HITC.
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