Deji Sotona
Personal information
Full name Ayodeji Sotona[1]
Date of birth (2002-12-07) 7 December 2002
Place of birth Waterford, Republic of Ireland[1]
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Boston United
(on loan from Doncaster Rovers)
Youth career
0000–2016 Mullingar Athletic
2015–2016 Leixlip United
2016–2020 Manchester United
2020–2023 Nice
2022 → Brentford B (loan)
2023 Burnley
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2023 Nice 0 (0)
2022–2023 → Kilmarnock (loan) 6 (0)
2023 Burnley 0 (0)
2023– Doncaster Rovers 6 (1)
2023– → Boston United (loan) 8 (1)
International career
2017 Republic of Ireland U15 2 (1)
2018 Republic of Ireland U16 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:20, 24 November 2023 (UTC)

Ayodeji Sotona (born 7 December 2002) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Boston United on loan from Doncaster Rovers.

Club career

Early career

Sotona was born in Waterford, but moved to Mullingar as a child, where he joined local side Mullingar Athletic.[2] At a young age, he joined the Mullingar Harriers Athletic Club, picking up several provincial and national sprinting medals, including an All-Ireland bronze medal in 2013.[2] He then went on to play for Leixlip United.[3]

At the age of 13, he began attracting attention from English sides Manchester City and Manchester United, eventually signing with the latter.[4] While at Manchester United, Sotona was named as the club's fastest player, ahead of first team members Diogo Dalot, Marcus Rashford and Daniel James.[5] After four years with the club, in which he trained with the first team, he rejected the offer of a three-year extension to his contract, and left the club as a free agent in September 2020.[6]

Nice

After a phone call with Patrick Vieira, who was managing Nice at the time, Sotona decided to join the French side at the expiration of his contract with Manchester United.[4][7] Vieira had promised first-team football, but after he was sacked in December 2020, new manager Adrian Ursea assigned Sotona to the reserves.[4]

With the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting the footballing schedule, he struggled for game time, and when a return to England with Brentford B presented itself in January 2022, Sotona took the opportunity, and joined on a six-month loan deal.[8] On 9 August 2022, Sotona signed for Scottish club Kilmarnock on a season-long loan.[9] He returned to Nice in January 2023.[10]

Burnley

On 30 January 2023, Sotona moved to Burnley, playing for their academy squad until the end of the season.[11]

Doncaster Rovers

On 14 July 2023, Sotana moved to Doncaster Rovers on a free transfer following his release from Burnley.[12]

On 24 November 2023, he joined National League North club Boston United on loan until 13 January 2024.[13] Following the expiration of the previous agreement, his loan was extended until the end of the season.[14]

International career

Sotona is eligible to represent the Republic of Ireland, Nigeria and England at international level.[2] He has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-15 and under-16 level.[15][16]

Career statistics

Club

As of matches played 10 October 2023[17]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] League cup[lower-alpha 2] Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester United U23 2019–20 ———1[lower-alpha 3]010
Nice 2020–21 Ligue 1 0000—0000
2021–22 0000—0000
2022–23 0000—0000
Kilmarnock B (loan) 2022–23 ———2[lower-alpha 4]121
Kilmarnock (loan) 2022–23 Scottish Premiership 2000000020
Burnley 2022–23 EFL Championship 0000000000
Doncaster Rovers 2023–24 EFL League One 61002020101
Career total 81002051152

Notes


References

  1. 1 2 3 Deji Sotona at WorldFootball.net
  2. 1 2 3 Hughes, Paul (30 July 2020). "Important summer ahead for Mullingar's Deji". westmeathexaminer.ie. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  3. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/leixlipunitedafc/posts/how-about-that-former-hoops-player-deji-sotona-is-the-fastest-player-in-the-enti/2425608090987536/
  4. 1 2 3 Harris, Jay (18 February 2022). "Deji Sotona on Manchester United, playing for Patrick Vieira and Brentford hopes". theathletic.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022. (subscription required)
  5. ↑ Hawkins, Billy (6 September 2019). "Manchester United's fastest player is 16-year-old Deji Sotona, a youth sprint champion who has been likened to Ryan Giggs". talksport.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  6. ↑ Luckhurst, Samuel (11 September 2020). "Deji Sotona leaves Manchester United after rejecting contract". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  7. ↑ Connaughton, Gary (2 October 2020). "An Irish Youngster Has Signed For Patrick Vieira's Nice". balls.ie. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  8. ↑ "Deji Sotona joins Brentford B on loan". brentfordfc.com. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  9. ↑ "DEJI SOTONA JOINS KILLIE ON LOAN". Kilmarnock FC. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  10. ↑ "Kilmarnock confirm Deji Sotona is heading back to Nice after loan spell ends". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  11. ↑ "TWEEDY ADDED TO ACADEMY RANKS". Burnley F.C. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  12. ↑ "Doncaster bring in free agent forward Sotona". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  13. ↑ "Deji Sotona departs on loan". www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  14. ↑ "Deji Sotona loan extended to end of season". www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk. 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  15. ↑ "Ireland U15s draw with Netherlands in friendly". fai.ie. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  16. ↑ "Ireland U16: Osam names squad for Swedish tournament". fai.ie. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  17. ↑ Deji Sotona at Soccerway


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