Joseph Akpunonu (born December 21, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center-back for the USL Championship side Huntsville City FC, on loan from MLS club FC Cincinnati.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Joseph Akpunonu[1] | ||
| Date of birth | December 21, 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Toledo, Ohio, United States | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Center-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Huntsville City FC (on loan from FC Cincinnati) | ||
| Number | 15 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2018–2020 | Pacesetter SC | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2022 | Bowling Green Falcons | 48 | (8) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2022 | Toledo Villa | 22 | (1) |
| 2023– | FC Cincinnati | 1 | (0) |
| 2023– | FC Cincinnati 2 | 23 | (0) |
| 2024 | → Hartford Athletic (loan) | 14 | (0) |
| 2024– | → Huntsville City FC (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of August 10, 2024 | |||
Club career
editAkpunonu went to high school at St. John's Jesuit High School, where he was a three-year letter winner. He played college soccer with the Bowling Green Falcons from 2020 to 2022, where he received 2022 Academic All-America First Team honors in his final year.[3] In the summers, he played with USL League Two side Toledo Villa.[4] In December 2022, he was one of 44 players invited to the 2022 adidas MLS College Showcase.[5] He was drafted 22nd overall in the first round of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft on December 2, 2022, by FC Cincinnati.[6] First assigned to their reserves, he made his professional debut with FC Cincinnati in a 1–0 U.S. Open Cup win over Louisville City FC on April 27, 2023.[7]
On February 6, 2024, Akpunonu joined USL Championship club Hartford Athletic on a season loan for the 2024 season.
Personal life
editAkpunonu is of Nigerian descent.[8] He studied biology at Bowling Green State University, and intends to become a doctor, like his father (Basil Akpunonu),[9] mother (Elizabeth Hoffman),[10] and brother (Peter Akpunonu).[11]).[3] He had a 4.0 grade-point average, and was named to an 11-man Academic All-America First Team just prior to leaving Bowling Green State University.[2]
Honors
editFC Cincinnati
Individual
References
edit- ^ "2022 adidas MLS College Showcase to feature 44 top college prospects | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer.
- ^ a b "Joey Akpunonu | MLSsoccer.com". mlssoccer.
- ^ a b "Joey Akpunonu - Men's Soccer". Bowling Green State University Athletics.
- ^ Staff, Toledo Villa FC (December 20, 2022). "Interview with Joey Akpunonu". Toledo Villa FC - USL L2.
- ^ "Invitees Announced for 2022 adidas MLS College Showcase | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer.
- ^ "MLS SuperDraft: FC Cincinnati selects Bowling Green defender Joey Akpunonu". The Enquirer.
- ^ "FC Cincinnati moving on in Open Cup with win against Louisville City FC | Replay". The Enquirer.
- ^ "Akpunonu, Eneli drafted to MLS by Super Draft". Score Nigeria. December 26, 2022.
- ^ "The University of Toledo Physicians". University of Toledo Physicians. June 14, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
- ^ "Dr. Elizabeth Hoffman, MD – Sylvania, OH | Internal Medicine on Doximity". Doximity. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
- ^ "UK College of Medicine". Retrieved September 11, 2023.
- ^ Staff Reports (April 24, 2023). "Over a dozen Falcons honored at Ziggy Awards".
External links
edit- Joey Akpunonu at Soccerway
- Toledo Villa profile