Dapo Mebude

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Dapo Mebude
Espana-escocia-sub19-3 (32156296097) awokoya.jpg
Mebude with Scotland U19 in 2019
Personal information
Full name Adedapo Paul Oluwaseun Awokoya-Mebude[1]
Date of birth (2001-07-29) 29 July 2001 (age 20)[2]
Place of birth London, England
Position(s) Winger, Striker
Club information
Current team
 AFC Wimbledon
(on loan from Watford)
Youth career
2011–2019 Rangers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 Rangers 1 (0)
2021 → Queen of the South (loan) 11 (2)
2021– Watford 0 (0)
2021– → AFC Wimbledon (loan) 21 (2)
National team‡
Scotland U16
2017–2018 Scotland U17 10 (2)
2018 Scotland U18 2 (0)
2018–2020 Scotland U19 13 (4)
2021– Scotland U21 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:03, 19 March 2022 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12:32, 19 November 2021 (UTC)

Adedapo Paul Oluwaseun Awokoya-Mebude (born 29 July 2001) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a striker for AFC Wimbledon, on loan from Watford.

Early life[]

Mebude was born in London,[3] growing up in Peckham,[4] and is of Nigerian descent.[5] His family moved to Scotland when he was around 10 years old, and he joined the Rangers youth system after attending an open Soccer Schools event organised by the club.[6][7] He was later a participant in the SFA's Performance School programme at Holyrood Secondary School,[8] and also attended Rangers' youth partnership school Boclair Academy.[9]

Club career[]

Mebude turned professional with Rangers in May 2017.[10] Mebude signed a new contract with the club in December 2018, keeping him at Ibrox until 2021.[9] 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.[11] Mebude debuted for the first-team on 19 May 2019, in a 2–1 away defeat versus Kilmarnock in the league.[12]

On 21 January 2021, Mebude joined Scottish Championship club Queen of the South on loan until the end of the season.[13] He scored his first professional goal, in a 4–2 league win at Gayfield Park versus Arbroath on 6 March 2021.[14]

In June 2021, Mebude ran out his contract with Rangers to become a free agent.[15][7] A month later in July, he was signed by Watford on a two-year contract with the option of a further two-years.[16][17] He suffered a back injury at the end of July 2021, and was hospitalised.[18][19]

He moved on loan to AFC Wimbledon in August 2021.[20][4] He scored his first goal for Wimbledon in a 3–3 draw against Bolton Wanderers on 14 August 2021.[21]

International career[]

Mebude has represented Scotland at under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19 youth levels, and made his first under-21 appearance in October 2021 against Denmark.[2][10][9][11][22]

Style of play[]

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".[3] 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."[23]

Personal life[]

In February 2021 Mebude was one of five Rangers players fined by Scottish police "for attending an illegal gathering of ten people in a flat" in breach of lockdown rules during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.[24]

His younger brother Dire is also a footballer, who as of September 2020 was playing at youth level for Premier League club Manchester City, and Scotland.[25]

References[]

  1. ^ "2021/22 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b Dapo Mebude at the Scottish Football Association
  3. ^ a b Mark McDougall (7 November 2018). "Who is Dapo Mebude? Rangers fans rave as teen hits treble for reserves". Daily Record. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  4. ^ a b Dapo: It was the ‘perfect’ option to sign for the Dons, AFC Wimbledon, 4 August 2021
  5. ^ "Nigerian Superkid Signs Professional Contract With Scottish Powerhouse Rangers". All Nigeria Soccer. 30 May 2017.
  6. ^ Dapo Mebude determined to grab his Rangers chance with the help of striking rivals Alfredo Morelos and Jermain Defoe, Evening Times, 17 September 2019
  7. ^ a b Dapo Mebude reveals the dangling Rangers carrot he turned down as Watford star talks up Ibrox exit call, Scott McDermott, 3 October 2021
  8. ^ Performance Schools Roll Of Honour, Scottish Football Association
  9. ^ a b c "Dapo Mebude Signs New Contract". Rangers F.C. 15 December 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  10. ^ a b "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.
  11. ^ a b "Rangers facing striker shortage against St Johnstone, says Gerrard". BBC Sport. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  12. ^ "Kilmarnock 2–1 Rangers". BBC Sport. 19 May 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  13. ^ "Dapo Mebude". Queen of the South F.C. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  14. ^ "QoS : Report – Arbroath 6.3.21". www.qosfc.com. 6 March 2021.
  15. ^ "Pacy attacker looks set to leave Rangers for nothing this summer as contract runs down". Rangers News. 20 May 2021.
  16. ^ "Official: Mebude Signs For Golden Boys". www.watfordfc.com. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Watford sign Etebo, King and Mebude". BBC Sport. 9 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Injury Update: Dapo Mebude". www.watfordfc.com. 28 July 2021.
  19. ^ "Mebude out of hospital after back injury". Watford Observer. 28 July 2021.
  20. ^ "Wimbledon sign Watford's Mebude on loan". BBC Sport. 4 August 2021.
  21. ^ "Wimbledon 3–3 Bolton". BBC. 14 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  22. ^ Alasdair Mackenzie (27 March 2018). "Rangers youngster Dapo Mebude seals win for Scotland Under-17s against Germany". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  23. ^ Cusick, Aiden (10 September 2019). "Rangers winger Dapo Mebude likens himself to £49m Premier League star". HITC.
  24. ^ Lindsay, Matthew (20 February 2021). "Rangers midfielder Bongani Zungu set to depart Ibrox this summer following Covid-19 lockdown breach". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  25. ^ "Rangers youngster leaves Ibrox youth setup to clinch deal with Manchester City". HeraldScotland. 29 September 2020.

External links[]

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