Oludare Olufunwa
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Oludare Samuel Araba Olufunwa | ||
| Date of birth | 29 July 2001 | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Al-Salt | ||
| Number | 42 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2022 | Southampton | ||
| 2022–2023 | Liverpool | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023–2025 | St Johnstone | 11 | (0) |
| 2024 | → Hamilton Academical (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2025 | Gnistan | 11 | (0) |
| 2026– | Al-Salt | 0 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 31 January 2026 | |||
Oludare Samuel Araba Olufunwa (born 29 July 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Jordanian Pro League club Al-Salt.
Career
Olufunwa was in the academy of Southampton and signed a two-year professional contract in 2020.[2] He was at the club for eleven years in total prior to his release in 2022.[3] He spent the 2022–23 season with Liverpool and made 30 appearances in Premier League 2.[4] In August 2023 he signed a contract with Scottish club St Johnstone, agreeing to a two-year contract.[5][6] He made his Scottish Premiership debut on 5 August 2023 against Heart of Midlothian.[7] In September 2024, he joined Scottish Championship side Hamilton Academical on loan until January 2025.[8]
On 1 April 2025, Finnish Veikkausliiga club IF Gnistan announced the signing of Olufunwa for the 2025 season.[9]
On January 2026, Olufunwa joined Slovak First Football League side Trenčín on trial.[10]
On 31 January 2026, Olufunwa joined Jordanian Pro League club Al-Salt.[11]
Style of play
It has been reported that Olufunwa is capable of playing at centre-back or right-back.[12]
Personal life
Born in England, raised in Elephant and Castle, South East London, Olufunwa attended The Wellington Academy Boarding School located in Tidworth, Wiltshire. He has Nigerian heritage from his father and English inheritance from his mother.[13]
Career statistics
- As of 31 January 2026[14]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Southampton U21 | 2021–22 | – | 2[a] | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||
| Liverpool U21 | 2022–23 | – | 2[a] | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||
| St Johnstone | 2023–24 | Scottish Premiership | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| 2024–25 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | ||
| Hamilton Academical (loan) | 2024–25 | Scottish Championship | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Gnistan | 2025 | Veikkausliiga | 11 | 0 | 3[c] | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | 11 | 0 | |
| Al-Salt | 2025–26 | Jordanian Pro League | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 25 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 33 | 2 | ||
- ^ a b Includes EFL Trophy
- ^ Includes Scottish Challenge Cup
- ^ Includes Suomen Cup
References
- ^ Oludare Olufunwa at WorldFootball.net
- ^ Warlow, Rob (8 July 2020). "Ralph Hasenhuttl cites example for Oludare Olufunwa to follow after signing new Southampton deal". Hampshirelive.news. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ "Promising defender Olufunwa agrees move to Scottish club after release by Liverpool". All Nigeria Soccer. August 3, 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Defender Olufunwa joins Saints after Liverpool exit". BBC Sport. 1 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ Nicolson, Eric (1 August 2023). "Oludare Olufunwa: St Johnstone sign former Liverpool and Southampton defender on two-year deal". The Courier. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ Smith, Aidan (1 August 2023). "St Johnstone set to sign ex-Liverpool defender Oludare Olufunwa". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "St. Johnstone vs Hearts". Soccerway. 5 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "OLUDARE OLUFUNWA JOINS ACCIES". Hamilton Accies FC. 13 September 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
- ^ IF GNISTAN VAHVISTUU ENGLANTILAISELLA PUOLUSTAJALLA OLUDARE OLUFUNWALLA, gnistan.fi, 1 April 2025
- ^ "A-tím Prvý tím odštartoval zimnú prípravu" (in Slovak). AS Trenčín. 5 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
- ^ @salt_sc; (31 January 2026). "𝑶𝒍𝒖𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝑶𝒍𝒖𝒇𝒖𝒏𝒘𝒂🔵👋🏻" (in Arabic). Retrieved 2 February 2026 – via Instagram.
- ^ Durkan, Joanna (August 4, 2023). "22-year-old centre-back thankful to Liverpool family after 1 season stay". This is Anfield. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Olufunwa sends parting message to Liverpool after sealing transfer to St Johnstone". Allnigeriasoccer. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ Oludare Olufunwa at Soccerway