Oladapo Joshua Afolayan

Oladapo Afolayan reached the Bundesliga by an unusual route: a Chelsea academy place, several years in Canada and a start in university football.

Born in Harrow, he began at Harrow St Marys and joined Chelsea's academy in 2006. In 2012 he moved to Toronto FC's academy, where he played for the reserve side and for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. Back in England, he had short youth spells at Barnet and Tooting & Mitcham United. His senior career began at Loughborough University FC.

The move to Solihull Moors in 2017 was the breakthrough. He scored 15 goals in 45 appearances there, and in the same period won his only cap for the England C team, on 8 November 2017. West Ham United signed him the following year. He spent much of his time there out on loan, at Oldham Athletic, Mansfield Town and Bolton Wanderers. The Bolton spell in early 2021 led to a permanent move to the club.

His years at FC St. Pauli were the most productive of his career. In 2023/24 he scored 10 goals in 34 appearances in the 2. Bundesliga, and the club won promotion. He stayed for the step up, playing 34 times in the 2024/25 Bundesliga season, though the output fell to three goals and one assist. He made nine appearances in 2025/26 before leaving. Across all competitions he played about 77 times for the club, with 13 goals and four assists.

In February 2026 he joined Blackburn Rovers for an undisclosed fee, on a contract until June 2027.