Jacob Akanyirige
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | December 30, 2001 | ||
Place of birth | Pleasanton, California, United States | ||
Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Youth career | |||
2015–2016 | Ballistic United SC | ||
2016–2017 | San Jose Earthquakes | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2018–2021 | San Jose Earthquakes | 1 | (0) |
2019 | → Reno 1868 (loan) | 4 | (0) |
National team‡ | |||
2020– | United States U20 | 2 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of September 16, 2021 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of July 10, 2020 |
Jacob Akanyirige (born December 30, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender.
Career[]
Youth[]
Akanyirige played for Pleasanton, CA's Ballistic United SC during the 2015–2016 season for their U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy's Under 13/14 team. In 2016–2017, he joined San Jose's U-15 squad and quickly moved up the academy ranks. After making one appearance for the U-17 side in 2017-18, he moved up to the U-19s and was competing against players two and three years older than him.[1] Akanyirige's birthday makes him a unique prospect for the youth national teams as he is two days too old to play with the 2002 cycle and is the youngest, or among the youngest, in 2001.[2]
Professional[]
Akanyirige signed as San Jose's fourth ever Homegrown Player on December 15, 2017. At the time of his signing, he was the youngest player to sign for the Earthquakes as well as third-youngest player in MLS, and the eighth-youngest to ever sign a professional contract in MLS history.[3] Following the 2021 season, San Jose declined their contract option on Akanyirige.[4]
International career[]
Born in the United States, Akanyirige is of Ghanaian descent.[5] He is a youth international for the United States.
Statistics[]
Updated September 16, 2020.
Club | Season | League | Cup | Totals | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
San Jose | 2020 | MLS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Career totals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
References[]
- ^ "San Jose Earthquakes". sjeq.ussoccerda.com. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
- ^ "FEATURE: Four things to know about Homegrown signing Jacob Akanyirige". San Jose Earthquakes. December 15, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
- ^ "NEWS: Earthquakes Sign 15-Year-Old Defender Jacob Akanyirige to Homegrown Player Contract". San Jose Earthquakes. December 15, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
- ^ "NEWS: Earthquakes announce roster moves ahead of 2022 MLS Season | San Jose Earthquakes". sjearthquakes.
- ^ "Ghana's Jacob Akanyirige makes MLS history". GhanaWeb. January 27, 2018.
External links[]
- Jacob Akanyirige at Soccerway
- Jacob Akanyirige at Major League Soccer
- 2001 births
- Living people
- American sportspeople of Ghanaian descent
- American soccer players
- United States men's youth international soccer players
- Association football defenders
- Homegrown Players (MLS)
- People from Pleasanton, California
- Reno 1868 FC players
- San Jose Earthquakes players
- Soccer players from California
- Sportspeople from Alameda County, California
- USL Championship players
- Major League Soccer players
- American soccer defender stubs