Dominic Iorfa (footballer, born 1995)
Dominic Iorfa (born 24 June 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL Championship club Sheffield Wednesday. He is the son of Nigerian international footballer Dominic Iorfa, and represented England at under-21 level.
![]() Iorfa playing for Wolves in 2015. | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Dominic Iorfa[1] | ||
Date of birth | 24 June 1995 | ||
Place of birth | Southend-on-Sea, England | ||
Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Sheffield Wednesday | ||
Number | 6 | ||
Youth career | |||
Southend United | |||
–2013 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2013–2019 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 84 | (0) |
2014 | → Shrewsbury Town (loan) | 7 | (0) |
2017–2018 | → Ipswich Town (loan) | 23 | (2) |
2019– | Sheffield Wednesday | 145 | (5) |
International career‡ | |||
2013 | England U18 | 1 | (0) |
2014–2015 | England U20 | 4 | (0) |
2015–2017 | England U21 | 13 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:57, 23 August 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 30 June 2017 (UTC) |
Club career
editWolverhampton Wanderers
editIorfa was part of the youth system at his local club Southend United before joining the academy of Wolverhampton Wanderers at the age of 15.[3]
He moved on a one-month loan to League One Shrewsbury Town on 18 March 2014,[4] and made his senior debut the same day as a substitute in a 0–1 defeat at Colchester.[5] Iorfa's first senior start came eleven days later in a 1–0 loss to Walsall at the Bescot Stadium, receiving his first yellow card also.[6] Overall Iorfa made seven appearances for the Shrews in a campaign which ultimately resulted in relegation.
Following his return to Wolves, Iorfa made his first appearance for the club as a surprise starter in a 2–1 loss to Bournemouth at Molineux on 6 December 2014.[7] He swiftly became the club's first choice right-back, starting in twenty-one of Wolves' twenty-five remaining fixtures following his debut. Having made his debut at the start of a 4-game unbeaten run, Iorfa became a fan favourite and a regular to the first team. In January 2015, Iorfa won the football league's Young Player Of The Month award,[8] and that same day went on to assist a goal in a 3–0 win for Wolves against Fulham.
Iorfa received his first ever red card in the first game of the 2016–17 season, a straight red against Rotherham at the New York Stadium on 6 August 2016. Wolves were 2–0 down at the time but fought back despite being down to 10 men to draw 2–2 with goals from George Saville and Jón Daði Böðvarsson in Walter Zenga's first game as head coach.[9]
On 14 July 2017 Iorfa was sent on a season-long loan to fellow Championship side Ipswich Town.[10] He made 25 total appearances and scored in a 4–2 home win over Nottingham Forest on 2 December.[11]
Sheffield Wednesday
editOn 31 January 2019 Iorfa moved to Sheffield Wednesday for an undisclosed fee.[12] He would make his debut against Rotherham United on 16 February 2019, where he would score his first goal and second career goal, with the last kick of the game to draw 2-2.[13]
The following season, he was voted as Sheffield Wednesday Player of the Year for the 2019–20 season.[14]
In December 2020, he ruptured his Achilles tendon in a match against Barnsley, meaning he would miss the remainder of the 20-21 season.[15] He would return in time for the start of the 21-22 season after Wednesday had suffered relegation without him,[16] and would make his return against Huddersfield Town in the first round of the EFL Cup.[17] Following his return from injury, Iorfa would sign a new two-year deal keeping him at the club until the summer of 2023.[18] Following promotion back to the EFL Championship on option was taken in Iorfa's contact for him to stay at the club.[19]
Following the end of the 2023–24 season, the club had offered Iorfa a new contract.[20] It was confirmed his new contract was signed on 3 July 2024. [21]
International career
editIorfa has been capped by England at under 18, under 20 and under 21 levels.[3] According to his father, Iorfa will consider playing for Nigeria only after his 23rd birthday.[22]
Personal life
editHis father — also named Dominic Iorfa — played as a striker and represented Nigeria at senior, and under-23 levels.
Career statistics
edit- As of 23 August 2024
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Wolves | 2014–15[23] | Championship | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
2015–16[24] | 42 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 0 | ||
2016–17[25] | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | ||
Total | 84 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 93 | 0 | ||
Shrewsbury Town (loan) | 2013–14[26] | League One | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
Ipswich Town (loan) | 2017–18[27] | Championship | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 1 |
Sheffield Wednesday | 2018–19[28] | Championship | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 3 |
2019–20[28] | 41 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 2 | ||
2020–21[28] | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | ||
2021–22[28] | League One | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
2022–23[28] | 32 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5[b] | 0 | 45 | 0 | ||
2023–24[28] | Championship | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |
2024–25[28] | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
Total | 145 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 168 | 5 | ||
Career total | 255 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 289 | 6 |
- ^ Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
- ^ Two appearances in the EFL Trophy, three appearance in League One play-offs
Honours
editSheffield Wednesday
England U21
Individual
- Football League Young Player of the Month: January 2015[31]
- Sheffield Wednesday Player of the Year: 2019–20
References
edit- ^ "Professional Retain List & Free Transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 3 June 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2014.
- ^ "Dominic Iorfa". Sheffield Wednesday F.C. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- ^ a b "Iorfa for England!". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 1 March 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014.
- ^ "Wolves defender joins Shrewsbury Town on loan". BBC Sport. 18 March 2014.
- ^ "Colchester 1–0 Shrewsbury". BBC Sport. 18 March 2014.
- ^ "Walsall 1–0 Shrewsbury". Sky Sports. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ^ "Wolves 1–2 Bournemouth". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
- ^ Cartwright, Phil (21 February 2015). "Dominic Iorfa: Wolves defender wins Football League award". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
- ^ "Rotherham 2–2 Wolves". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
- ^ "Dominic Iorfa: Ipswich Town sign Wolves defender on season-long loan". BBC Sport. 14 July 2017.
- ^ Warren, Andy (2 December 2017). "Player ratings: Waghorn stars as Town flex their muscles - Blues grades after Forest win". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
- ^ Howson, Dom (31 January 2019). "Sheffield Wednesday snap up Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Dominic Iorfa". The Star. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
- ^ "Report: Rotherham 2-2 Owlsr". Sheffield Wednesday Football Club. Sheffield Wednesday Football Club. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
- ^ "Dominic Iorfa voted Owls Player of the Year". Sheffield Wednesday Football Club. Sheffield Wednesday Football Club. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- ^ "Pulis confirms Iorfa blow". Sheffield Wednesday FC. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ "Report: Derby 3-3 Wednesday". Sheffield Wednesday FC. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- ^ "Report: Wednesday 0-0 (2-4p) Huddersfield". Sheffield Wednesday FC. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ "Iorfa extends with Wednesday". Sheffield Wednesday F.C. 23 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
- ^ "Owls retained list confirmed". Sheffield Wednesday FC. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- ^ "Owls confirm retained list". Sheffield Wednesday FC. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ "Dominic Iorfa pens new Owls deal". Sheffield Wednesday Official Site. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ "Dominic Iorfa for Eagles at 23 - Father - The Nation Nigeria". Thenationonlineng.net. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- ^ "Games played by Dominic Iorfa in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
- ^ "Games played by Dominic Iorfa in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
- ^ "Games played by Dominic Iorfa in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
- ^ "Games played by Dominic Iorfa in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
- ^ "Games played by Dominic Iorfa in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Games played by Dominic Iorfa in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ Ian Woodcock (29 May 2023). "Barnsley 0–1 Sheffield Wednesday". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ Marshall, Tyrone (29 May 2016). "England Under-21s win Toulon tournament for first time in 22 years". Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- ^ "Dominic Iorfa: Wolves defender wins Football League award". Bbc.co.uk. 21 February 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
External links
edit- Dominic Iorfa at Soccerbase
- England profile at the FA