Nicholas Oyekunle
.jpg) Oyekunle in 2026 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Adetokunbo Adewale Ayomide Oyekunle[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 9 January 2007[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Portsmouth, England | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Leyton Orient (on loan from Southampton) | ||
| Number | 49 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Southampton | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2025– | Southampton | 3 | (0) |
| 2026– | → Leyton Orient (loan) | 3 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2025– | England U18 | 2 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 05:17, 30 August 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 19:51, 1 November 2025 (UTC) | |||
Adetokunbo Adewale Ayomide Oyekunle (born 9 January 2007), known as Nicholas Oyenkunle, is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League One club Leyton Orient, on loan from EFL Championship club Southampton.
Club career
On 8 February 2024, Oyenkunle signed his first professional contract with Southampton.[3] In May 2025, he became the all-time leading scorer in the U18 Premier League.[4] On 18 July, Oyenkunle signed a new two-year contract.[5] Oyenkunle made his first appearance for the club on 1 November in a 2–0 home defeat against Preston North End after he replaced Mads Roerslev in the 86th minute.[6] On 30 April 2026, he signed a one-year contract extension.[7]
On 7 August 2026, Oyekunle joined Leyton Orient on a season-long loan.[8] He made his debut for the club on 15 August in a 2–1 home defeat against Sheffield Wednesday after he replaced James Morris in the 73rd minute.[9] On 29 August, Oyekunle scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 home defeat against Barnsley.[10]
International career
Born in England, Oyenkunle is of Nigerian descent.[11] On 19 May 2025, he was named in the England under-18 squad for the first time.[12] He made his debut on 28 May in a 2–1 defeat against Morocco under-18s.[13]
Career statistics
- As of match played 29 August 2026
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Southampton | 2025–26[14] | Championship | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 2026–27[15] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Leyton Orient (loan) | 2026–27[15] | League One | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| Career total | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | ||
- ↑ Appearance in EFL Trophy
References
- ↑ "2024/25 Premier League squad lists". Premier League. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ "Nicholas Oyekunle Southampton U21: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ Rees-Julian, George (8 February 2025). "Young Southampton FC forward signs first professional contract". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ Rees-Julian, George (8 May 2025). "Southampton starlet now all-time leading scorer in U18 Premier League". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ "Eight Under-21s sign new contracts". Southampton FC. 18 July 2025. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ George, Dan (1 November 2025). "Southampton 0–2 Preston North End". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ "Nick Oyekunle signs new contract". Southampton FC. 30 April 2026. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- ↑ "Oyekunle joins Orient on loan". Southampton FC. 7 August 2026. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
- ↑ "Leyton Orient 1–2 Sheffield Wednesday". BBC Sport. 15 August 2026. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
- ↑ "Leyton Orient 1–3 Barnsley". BBC Sport. 29 August 2026. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ "Record-breaking Nigerian striker makes senior debut for Southampton against Preston - AllNigeriaSoccer". allnigeriasoccer.com.
- ↑ Veevers, Nicholas (19 May 2025). "England MU18s squad named for Morocco trip". englandfootball.com. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ Hunt, Holly (28 May 2025). "Report: Morocco 2–1 England MU18s". englandfootball.com. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ↑ "Games played by Nicholas Oyekunle in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- 1 2 "Games played by Nicholas Oyekunle in 2026/2027". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
External links
Profile at Southampton F.C. website