Mustapha_Olagunju

Mustapha Olagunju

Mustapha Olagunju

English footballer

Mustapha Oluwatosin Olagunju (born 1 January 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for EFL League Two club Crawley Town, on loan from EFL Championship club Huddersfield Town.

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Olagunju turned professional at Huddersfield Town in August 2019. He has since played on loan for Tadcaster Albion, Welling United, Port Vale, Ebbsfleet United and Crawley Town.

Career

Born in Plumstead, London, Olagunju started his football career at the XYZ Academy, before moving to Kent Football United and then Huddersfield Town after impressing the "Terriers" in a trial game against Barnsley.[4] He joined Huddersfield as an attacking midfielder but was converted to playing at centre-back under the stewardship of Leigh Bromby and Emyr Humphreys.[5] He was promoted into Dean Whitehead's U19 team after starting 31 games for the U17 side.[6] He turned professional at the club in August 2019, signing a two-year contract.[6] Manager Danny Cowley invited him to train with the first-team at a camp in Dubai in November 2019.[4]

On 10 January 2020, he moved to Tadcaster Albion of the Northern Premier League Division One West on a one-month loan to gain first-team experience.[7] He started two games for the "Brewers".[8] He joined Welling United on loan on 30 October 2020, along with Jaheim Headley.[9] He made his National League South debut the next day in a 2–1 defeat at Eastbourne Borough.[10] He played a total of seven games for the "Wings".[2]

Olagunju made his senior debut for Huddersfield Town on 9 January 2021, when he started in their 3–2 FA Cup Third Round defeat to Plymouth Argyle at Kirklees Stadium after manager Carlos Corberán rested all 11 players who started the previous Championship fixture.[11] He was booked in the fifth minute and substituted after 77 minutes.[12] On 1 February 2021, he joined League Two side Port Vale on loan until the end of the 2020–21 season.[13][14] He made his EFL debut on 20 February, in a 1–1 draw at Leyton Orient, and manager Darrell Clarke said that "he did all right".[15] In April 2021, he signed a new contract at Huddersfield Town to keep him at the club until June 2024.[16] However, he sustained a major knee injury – a complicated fracture to his kneecap – in July 2021 and spent the following 20 months in recovery.[17][18] He played a reserve team game in February 2023, stating after the match that "I have to keep building on that and keep improving as I get back in touch with the game".[19]

On 24 October 2023, he joined National League side Ebbsfleet United on a three-month loan deal.[20] He returned to Huddersfield in January 2024 at the end of his loan spell having played nine games and missed six due to injury.[21][22] On 1 February 2024, he joined League Two club Crawley Town on loan until the end of the 2023–24 season in what Huddersfield academy manager Jon Worthington called "a really interesting challenge".[22]

Style of play

Olagunju is an aggressive centre-back who plays on the front foot and is comfortable in possession.[6]

Personal life

Born in England, Olagunju is of Nigerian descent.[3][23]

Career statistics

As of 1 February 2024
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    References

    1. [1]
      "Club list of registered players: As at 23rd June 2020: Huddersfield Town" (PDF). 23 June 2020. p. 12. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
    2. [2]
      Mustapha Olagunju at Soccerway
    3. [3]
      "Mustapha Olagunju - Defender - U19 Team - Huddersfield Town". www.htafc.com. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
    4. [4]
      Threlfall-Sykes, David (19 March 2020). "#Youngterriers In Focus: Mustapha Olagunju". Huddersfield Town. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
    5. [5]
      Chicken, Steven (1 February 2021). "Huddersfield Town defender Mustapha Olagunju secures League Two loan". YorkshireLive. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
    6. [6]
      Threlfall-Sykes, David (8 August 2019). "First Pro Contract For Mustapha Olagunju". www.htafc.com. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
    7. [7]
      Threlfall-Sykes, David (10 January 2020). "Loan: Young Terrier Olagunju Joins Tadcaster". Huddersfield Town. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
    8. [8]
      "Over 200 Non-league Starts For Academy Players In 2019/20 - News". Gamblers Commentary. 9 May 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
    9. [9]
      Threlfall-Sykes, David (30 October 2020). "Loans: Pair Of Young Terriers Join Welling Utd". Huddersfield Town. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
    10. [10]
      "Eastbourne Borough 2-1 Welling United". Welling United FC. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
    11. [11]
      "Huddersfield Town 2-3 Plymouth Argyle". BBC Sport. 9 January 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
    12. [12]
      Kingsley, Igho (12 January 2021). "2002-Born Center Back Of Nigerian Descent Delighted To Make Pro Debut For Huddersfield Town:: All Nigeria Soccer - The Complete Nigerian Football Portal". www.allnigeriasoccer.com. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
    13. [13]
      Tomlinson, Adam (1 February 2021). "Mustapha Olagunju Joins Port Vale On Loan". Huddersfield Town. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
    14. [14]
      "Port Vale complete Mustapha Olagunju loan signing". Port Vale. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
    15. [15]
      Baggaley, Michael (20 February 2021). "Darrell Clarke's verdict on Port Vale's 1-1 draw at Leyton Orient". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
    16. [16]
      Tomlinson, Adam (16 April 2021). "New Long-term Contract for Mustapha Olagunju!". www.htafc.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
    17. [17]
      Bains, Raj (24 October 2023). "Loan: Mustapha Olagunju Joins Ebbsfleet United". www.htafc.com. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
    18. [18]
      Emmanuel, Ifeanyi (23 February 2023). "Huddersfield Town's Olagunju delighted to make his comeback after 20 months out:: All Nigeria Soccer - The Complete Nigerian Football Portal". www.allnigeriasoccer.com. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
    19. [19]
      "Olagunju: "good To Be Back In The Game"". www.htafc.com. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
    20. [20]
      Humphris, Katie (24 October 2023). "Olagunju arrives at the Fleet". Ebbsfleet United Football Club | Official Website of the Fleet. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
    21. [21]
      "Olagunju concludes Fleet loan stay". Retrieved 1 February 2024.
    22. [22]
      Bains, Raj (1 February 2024). "Loan: Mustapha Olagunju Joins Crawley Town". www.htafc.com. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
    23. [23]
      "Confirmed : Two Nigerian Teenagers Released By Huddersfield Town :: All Nigeria Soccer - The Complete Nigerian Football Portal". www.allnigeriasoccer.com. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
    24. [24]
      "Games played by Mustapha Olagunju in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
    25. [25]
      "Games played by Mustapha Olagunju in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
    26. [26]
      "Games played by Mustapha Olagunju in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
    27. [27]
      "Games played by Mustapha Olagunju in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
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