Sam Adekugbe

Samuel Ayomide Adekugbe (born January 16, 1995) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a left back for Vålerenga in the Norwegian Eliteserien. He has represented Canada at the under-18, under-20, and senior levels.

Sam Adekugbe
Personal information
Full name Samuel Ayomide Adekugbe[1]
Date of birth (1995-01-16) January 16, 1995
Place of birth London, England
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Vålerenga
Number 25
Youth career
2000–2004 AFC Clayton
2004–2011 Calgary Foothills
2011–2013 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013 Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 3 (0)
2015–2016 Whitecaps FC 2 6 (0)
2013–2017 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 16 (0)
2016–2017 → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 1 (0)
2017 → IFK Göteborg (loan) 9 (0)
2018 Vålerenga 2 1 (0)
2018– Vålerenga 77 (0)
National team‡
2013 Canada U18 1 (0)
2014–2015 Canada U20 6 (0)
2015– Canada 11 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of December 22, 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of January 15, 2020

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.[3] 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.[4]

Brighton & Hove Albion loan

During Winter 2015, Adekugbe was invited to train at English Football League Championship club Brighton & Hove Albion.[5] On July 15, 2016, Adekugbe transferred to Brighton on a season-long loan deal agreement, initially linking up with the club's development squad.[6] On August 9, 2016, Adekugbe started in the 4–0 victory over Colchester United in the 2016–17 EFL Cup.[7] 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.[8]

On January 14, 2017 Adekugbe started his first Championship game in a 2–0 defeat against Preston North End.[9]

IFK Göteborg loan

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.[10] 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.[11] He made his debut against Kristiansund on March 12, 2018[12]

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.[13] 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.[3] After a successful 2014 campaign with Vancouver, Adekugbe was called up to the U20 squad by coach Rob Gale on November 7, 2014.[14] 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.[15]

Senior

Adekugbe received his first call up to the Canada senior national team for friendlies against Mauritania on September 8 and 10. However, he did not feature in either match. Sam was played as a sub in the second leg of the 2018 World Cup qualifier between Canada and Belize, cap-tying him to the Canadian senior team.[16]

Personal life

Adekugbe was born in London to parents with Nigerian heritage and lived in England until 10, when his family moved to Canada.[17] His younger brother Elijah is also a professional soccer player with Cavalry FC. He is a fan of Manchester City.[13]

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.[18]

Career statistics

Club
As of December 22, 2020[19]
Club Season League Playoffs[lower-alpha 1] Domestic Cup[lower-alpha 2] League Cup[lower-alpha 3] Continental[lower-alpha 4] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 2013 PDL 3010–––40
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2013 MLS 10–00––10
2014 400000––40
2015 900010–40140
2016 20–20–0040
Total 16000300040230
Whitecaps FC 2 2015 USL 20––––20
2016 4000–––40
Total 600000000060
Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 2016-17 Championship 10–2021–51
IFK Göteborg (loan) 2017 Allsvenskan 90–10––100
Vålerenga 2 2018 2. divisjon 10––––10
Vålerenga 2018 Eliteserien 270–20––290
2019 240–10––250
2020 260–00––260
Total 77000300000800
Career total 1130109021401301
  1. Appearance in the PDL playoffs
  2. Includes the Canadian Championship, FA Cup, Svenska Cupen, and Norwegian Football Cup
  3. All appearances in the EFL Cup
  4. All appearances in the CONCACAF Champions League

International
As of January 15, 2020[20]
Canada
YearAppsGoals
201520
201610
201730
201810
201920
202020
Total110

References
  1. "40-Player National Team Roster: 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup: Canada" (PDF). CONCACAF. p. 2. Retrieved May 20, 2019 – via Bernews.
  2. https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/sam-adekugbe
  3. "Whitecaps FC add Homegrown defender Sam Adekugbe to MLS roster". WhitecapsFC.com. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. August 28, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  4. Devji, Farhan (October 27, 2013). "Camilo hat-trick carries Vancouver Whitecaps FC to 3-0 win over Colorado Rapids in 2013 season finale". WhitecapsFC.com. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  5. "Whitecaps FC defender Sam Adekugbe training with Brighton". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. November 26, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  6. "Canadian International arrives on loan". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. July 15, 2016. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  7. "Match Report". Brighton & Hove Albion Official Website. August 9, 2016.
  8. "Match Report". Brighton & Hove Albion Official Website. August 23, 2016. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016.
  9. "Mixed feelings for Adekugbe after defeat on league debut". The Argus. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  10. "SAM ADEKUGBEKLAR FÖRIFK GÖTEBORG". July 25, 2017. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017.
  11. "Kanadisk landslagsspiller klar for Vålerenga". Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  12. "JOHNSON MATCHVINNER I ELITESERIEDEBUTEN". March 12, 2018.
  13. Weber, Marc (April 12, 2012). "GOAL!: Q&A with Whitecaps residency player Sam Adekugbe". canada.com. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  14. "Canada M20 to face England, Russia and USA on road to 2015 CONCACAF Championship". Canada Soccer. November 7, 2014.
  15. Rowaan, Dave (January 5, 2014). "Canada names squad for CONCACAF U20 Championships".
  16. "Canada names large squad for first camp under Floro". Canada Soccer. August 27, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  17. Sam Adekugbe at the Canadian Soccer Association (also available in French). Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  18. "Whitecaps FC add Homegrown defender Sam Adekugbe to MLS roster". Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
  19. Sam Adekugbe at Soccerway. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  20. Sam Adekugbe at National-Football-Teams.com
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