Adedapo Paul Oluwaseun Awokoya-Mebude (born 29 July 2001) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Scottish Championship club Dunfermline Athletic.
_awokoya.jpg) Mebude with Scotland U19 in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Adedapo Paul Oluwaseun Awokoya-Mebude[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 29 July 2001[2] | ||
| Place of birth | London, England | ||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Winger, striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Dunfermline Athletic | ||
| Number | 62 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2011–2019 | Rangers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2021 | Rangers | 1 | (0) |
| 2021 | → Queen of the South (loan) | 11 | (2) |
| 2021–2022 | Watford | 0 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | → AFC Wimbledon (loan) | 25 | (2) |
| 2022–2024 | KV Oostende | 7 | (0) |
| 2024– | Dunfermline Athletic | 2 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| Scotland U16 | |||
| 2017–2018 | Scotland U17 | 10 | (2) |
| 2018 | Scotland U18 | 2 | (0) |
| 2018–2020 | Scotland U19 | 13 | (4) |
| 2021– | Scotland U21 | 3 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:28, 27 October 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12:32, 19 November 2021 (UTC) | |||
Early life
editMebude was born in London,[4] growing up in Peckham,[5] and is of Nigerian descent.[6] 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.[7][8] He was later a participant in the SFA's Performance School programme at Holyrood Secondary School,[9] and also attended Rangers' youth partnership school Boclair Academy.[10]
Club career
editMebude turned professional with Rangers in May 2017.[11] Mebude signed a new contract with the club in December 2018, keeping him at Ibrox until 2021.[10] 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.[12] Mebude debuted for the first-team on 19 May 2019, in a 2–1 away defeat versus Kilmarnock in the league.[13]
On 21 January 2021, Mebude joined Scottish Championship club Queen of the South on loan until the end of the season.[14] He scored his first professional goal, in a 4–2 league win at Gayfield Park versus Arbroath on 6 March 2021.[15]
In June 2021, Mebude ran out his contract with Rangers to become a free agent.[16][8] A month later in July, he was signed by Watford on a two-year contract with the option of a further two-years.[17][18] He suffered a back injury at the end of July 2021, and was hospitalised.[19][20]
He moved on loan to AFC Wimbledon in August 2021.[21][5] He scored his first goal for Wimbledon in a 3–3 draw against Bolton Wanderers on 14 August 2021.[22]
In September 2022 he signed for Belgian club KV Oostende.[23]
Mebude trained with Livingston in July 2024.[24] In October 2024, he joined Scottish Championship club Dunfermline Athletic on a one-year deal.[25]
International career
editMebude 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][11][10][12][26]
Style of play
editIn 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".[4] 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."[27]
Personal life
editIn 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.[28]
Mebude was hospitalised in January 2024 following a car crash.[29]
His younger brother Dire is also a footballer, who plays for fellow Belgian side KVC Westerlo, and Scotland U21,[30] having been on loan at Championship club Bristol City in 2024.
References
edit- ^ "2021/22 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ a b Dapo Mebude at the Scottish Football Association
- ^ Dapo Mebude at Soccerway. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Dapo: It was the 'perfect' option to sign for the Dons, AFC Wimbledon, 4 August 2021
- ^ "Nigerian Superkid Signs Professional Contract With Scottish Powerhouse Rangers". All Nigeria Soccer. 30 May 2017.
- ^ Dapo Mebude determined to grab his Rangers chance with the help of striking rivals Alfredo Morelos and Jermain Defoe, Evening Times, 17 September 2019
- ^ 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
- ^ Performance Schools Roll Of Honour, Scottish Football Association
- ^ a b c "Dapo Mebude Signs New Contract". Rangers F.C. 15 December 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "Rangers facing striker shortage against St Johnstone, says Gerrard". BBC Sport. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- ^ "Kilmarnock 2–1 Rangers". BBC Sport. 19 May 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
- ^ "Dapo Mebude". Queen of the South F.C. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- ^ "QoS : Report – Arbroath 6.3.21". www.qosfc.com. 6 March 2021.
- ^ "Pacy attacker looks set to leave Rangers for nothing this summer as contract runs down". Rangers News. 20 May 2021.
- ^ "Official: Mebude Signs For Golden Boys". www.watfordfc.com. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
- ^ "Watford sign Etebo, King and Mebude". BBC Sport. 9 July 2021.
- ^ "Injury Update: Dapo Mebude". www.watfordfc.com. 28 July 2021.
- ^ "Mebude out of hospital after back injury". Watford Observer. 28 July 2021.
- ^ "Wimbledon sign Watford's Mebude on loan". BBC Sport. 4 August 2021.
- ^ "Wimbledon 3–3 Bolton". BBC. 14 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ "Official: Mebude Makes Belgium Move". www.watfordfc.com.
- ^ "Ex-Rangers starlet pictured training with Livingston". thenational.scot. 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Dapo Mebude signs for Dunfermline". dafc.co.uk. 2 October 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ Alasdair Mackenzie (27 March 2018). "Rangers youngster Dapo Mebude seals win for Scotland Under-17s against Germany". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- ^ Cusick, Aiden (10 September 2019). "Rangers winger Dapo Mebude likens himself to £49m Premier League star". HITC.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Dapo Mebude: Scotland U21 player in hospital after car crash in Belgium". BBC Sport. 7 January 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Bristol City sign 'mystery attacker' with loan addition of ex-Manchester City and Rangers talent". BristolPost. 1 February 2024.
External links
edit- Dapo Mebude at Soccerbase