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Sheyi Ojo
Sheyi Ojo
from Wikipedia

Oluwaseyi Babajide "Sheyi" Ojo (born 19 June 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a full-back or winger for Slovenian PrvaLiga club Maribor.

Key Information

Ojo joined Liverpool as a 14-year-old and came through their academy. He spent time on loan with Championship clubs Wigan Athletic and Wolverhampton Wanderers before making his competitive debut for Liverpool in January 2016.

Ojo has represented England at under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels.

Club career

[edit]

Early career

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Ojo joined MK Dons' academy when he was 10 years old. By the age of 13, he had played for the Dons' U18 side and was training with the first team squad.[3] During his time at the club, Ojo became the first MK Dons trainee to receive an international cap at youth level.[4]

Liverpool

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On 11 November 2011, Liverpool beat off competition from a host of Europe's top clubs[5] including a multimillion-pound offer from Chelsea to sign Ojo, then 14, for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £2 million.[3] In April 2014, Ojo was joint top scorer alongside fellow Liverpool player Harry Wilson in the U17 Future Cup.

Loan to Wigan

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Having made a number of appearances on Liverpool's bench over the festive period, Ojo joined Wigan Athletic on loan on 2 February 2015.[6] Five days later, he made his professional debut coming on as a 59th-minute substitute for Wigan in a Championship match against AFC Bournemouth, with Wigan naming Ojo as their Man of the Match after he had a positive impact on the game.[7][8]

Loan to Wolverhampton Wanderers

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On 2 August 2015, Ojo scored the winning goal for Liverpool in a friendly against Swindon Town.[9] On 4 August 2015, Liverpool announced that Ojo had signed a new long-term contract with the club and confirmed that he would join Wolverhampton Wanderers on a season-long loan.[10] He made his Wolves debut on the opening day of the 2015–16 Championship season as a substitute, coming on in the 84th minute and picking up a yellow card as his side went on to beat Blackburn Rovers. Three days later, he made his first start for Wolves in a 2–1 League Cup win over Newport County, assisting Nouha Dicko for Wolves' opening goal.[11]

Return to Liverpool

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He was recalled by Liverpool on 7 January 2016.[12] The next day, Ojo made his competitive first-team debut for Liverpool, as a substitute in the FA Cup Third round tie against Exeter City that ended in a 2–2 draw.[13] He scored his first competitive goal for Liverpool in the replay against Exeter on 20 January; his goal was the second in a 3–0 victory.[14]

Ojo made his Premier League debut on 20 March 2016, replacing Joe Allen in the 87th minute in a 3–2 loss away to Southampton at St Mary's Stadium.[15] Three weeks later, he made his first start for Liverpool in the Premier League against Stoke City at Anfield, where he assisted Daniel Sturridge for Liverpool's second goal in a 4–1 win, before being replaced by Divock Origi.[16]

Ahead of the 2016–17 season, Ojo sustained a fracture in his back and did not return to first team training until mid-November.[17]

Loan to Fulham

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On 16 August 2017, Ojo joined Fulham on season-long loan.[18] He scored a double in a 5–4 win over Sheffield United, on 21 November.[19] He scored the winning goal in a 1–0 win over Birmingham City, on 9 December.[20] On 23 December, Ojo received a yellow card and scored in a 2–1 win over Barnsley.[21]

Loan to Stade de Reims

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On 30 August 2018, Ojo signed a new contract with Liverpool and joined Stade de Reims on a season-long loan.[22] He also played for Reims II.[23]

Loan to Rangers

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On 18 June 2019, Rangers of the Scottish Premiership announced they signed Ojo on a season-long loan, a day before his 22nd birthday.[24] He made his competitive debut for the club on 9 July 2019 in a 4–0 win over St Joseph's of Gibraltar in the 2019–20 UEFA Europa League, and scored the second goal.[25] He scored four goals for Rangers in Europe.

Loan to Cardiff City

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Ojo joined Championship club Cardiff City on 7 September 2020 for the 2020–21 season.[26] He scored his first goal for Cardiff in a 1–0 win over Preston North End on 18 October.[27]

Loan to Millwall

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On 31 August 2021, Ojo went out on his seventh loan move, this time joining Millwall until 30 June 2022.[28]

In June 2022 it was announced by Liverpool that he would leave the club at the end of the month when his contract expired.[29]

Cardiff City

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On 13 July 2022, Ojo returned to Cardiff City on a permanent basis, signing a two-year contract.[30]

On 16 August 2023, Ojo joined Belgian Pro League club K.V. Kortrijk on a season-long loan.[31]

On 7 June 2024, Cardiff announced he would be leaving in the summer when his contract expired.[32]

Maribor

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On 6 September 2024, Ojo joined the 16-times Slovenian champions Maribor on a two-year deal.[33]

International career

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As Ojo was born in England, he is eligible to represent England, and through his Nigerian heritage is also eligible to play for Nigeria in international football. Ojo has represented England at under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels. In his early teens, Ojo often played at a higher age group at international level, representing England U17s at the St George's Park Tournament in 2012 at the age of 15.[34] Ojo also represented England U17s in the 2014 Algarve Tournament, with England coming second to Germany after a 1–0 loss in the final game.[35]

In September 2014, Ojo received his first under-18 call-up for a double header against the Netherlands. Ojo appeared in both games with England winning by an aggregate score of 7–2.[36] In late August 2015, Ojo received his first call-up to the under-19 team and played the full 90 minutes in a 3–2 friendly away win over Germany on 4 September.[37][38] At the 2016 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, he started against France and helped The Young Lions secure a 2–1 win by providing two assists.[39]

Ojo was selected for the England under-20 team in the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He made his tournament debut in the match against Guinea,[40] and was a substitute in a few other games, including the semi-final match against Italy in which he assisted in two of the goals.[41] In the final, Ojo came on as a substitute for Kieran Dowell in the 62nd minute. England beat Venezuela 1–0, which was the country's first win in a global tournament since their World Cup victory of 1966.[42]

In September 2018, he stated he could represent Nigeria at senior level in the future.[43]

Personal life

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Born in Hemel Hempstead, England, his name "Babajide" is a variant form of the Yoruba name: Babatunde, meaning "Father has Returned" or "Father Comes Back to Life".[44] During his time with the Liverpool Football Academy, Ojo was a student at Rainhill Media Arts College in Rainhill.[45]

Career statistics

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As of 1 July 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Liverpool 2014–15[46] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2015–16[47] Premier League 8 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 11 1
2016–17[48] Premier League 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0
Total 8 0 5 1 0 0 0 0 13 1
Wigan Athletic (loan) 2014–15[46] Championship 11 0 0 0 0 0 11 0
Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) 2015–16[47] Championship 17 2 0 0 2 1 19 3
Fulham (loan) 2017–18[49] Championship 22 4 1 0 1 0 0 0 24 4
Reims (loan) 2018–19[50] Ligue 1 15 0 2 1 1 0 18 1
Rangers (loan) 2019–20[51] Scottish Premiership 19 1 2 0 2 0 13[a] 4 36 5
Cardiff City (loan) 2020–21[52] Championship 41 5 1 0 0 0 42 5
Millwall (loan) 2021–22[53] Championship 18 0 1 0 0 0 19 0
Cardiff City 2022–23[54] Championship 37 1 2 1 1 0 40 2
2023–24[55] Championship 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
Total 37 1 2 1 2 0 0 0 41 2
Kortrijk (loan) 2023–24[23] Belgian Pro League 29 1 2 0 1[b] 0 32 1
Career total 220 15 16 3 8 1 14 4 258 23
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ One appearance in relegation play-offs

Honours

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Oluwaseyi Babajide "Sheyi" Ojo (born 19 June 1997) is an English footballer who plays as a right er for club . Standing at 177 cm (5 ft 10 in) tall and predominantly left-footed, Ojo is known for his pace, ability, and direct playing style on the . Ojo began his youth career at Dons in 2007 before joining 's academy in 2011 at the age of 14 for a reported £2 million fee. He progressed through the ranks at , signing his first in 2015 and making his senior debut for the club in early 2016 in the . Over the next seven years with , Ojo made 13 first-team appearances, scoring once, but spent much of his time on loan to gain experience, including spells at Wigan Athletic (2015), Wanderers (2015–2016), (2017–2018), (2018–2019), Rangers (2019–2020), Cardiff City (2020–2021), and (2021–2022). These loans saw him compete in the , , and , where he recorded notable contributions such as four goals in 24 appearances for during their promotion-winning 2017–2018 season. After being released by Liverpool in June 2022, Ojo signed a permanent two-year deal with Cardiff City, where he had previously been on loan. He spent the 2023–2024 season on loan at Belgian Pro League side KV Kortrijk before transferring to NK Maribor on a free transfer in September 2024, signing a contract until June 2026. Internationally, Ojo represented England at youth levels up to under-21, and was part of the squad that won the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea, where he made five appearances and provided an assist during the tournament.

Club career

Early career

Oluwaseyi Babajide "Sheyi" Ojo was born on 19 June 1997 in , , , to Nigerian parents Olu and Natasha. He grew up in a family that included his younger brother Toby, and the Ojos relocated from to the area when Sheyi was 14 years old to support his developing football career. Ojo began playing football at local clubs before joining the Dons academy in 2007 at the age of 10. His talent quickly became evident, as he progressed rapidly through the youth ranks; by age 13, he was featuring for the Dons' under-18 side and even training with the first-team squad, showcasing his pace and skill as a winger. These impressive performances attracted attention from top clubs, leading to a high-profile transfer to Liverpool's academy in November 2011 for a reported fee of £2 million, making Ojo one of the most expensive 14-year-old signings in English football history at the time. Upon arrival, he adapted swiftly to the new environment, making appearances for the under-16 and under-18 teams during the 2012–13 season, including scoring on his second start for the under-18s in a 4–2 win over Wanderers in November 2012.

Liverpool (2011–2022)

Oluwaseyi "Sheyi" Ojo joined 's academy from MK Dons in November 2011 at the age of 14, for a reported fee of around £2 million. He quickly progressed through the youth ranks, becoming a key player for the U18 team by the 2013–14 season, where he scored five goals in 29 appearances, and made his debut for the U21 side that year. Ojo's performances in youth leagues highlighted his potential as a winger, including joint top-scorer honors with teammate Harry Wilson at the 2014 . Ojo's first senior appearances for came during the 2015–16 season. He made his debut as a substitute in the third-round tie against Exeter City on 8 January 2016, playing the final 20 minutes of a 2–2 draw away at . Recalled from a brief loan spell, he started the replay at on 20 January, scoring his first goal for the club with a curled finish in a 3–0 victory. Ojo also featured as a late substitute in two matches that season—against on 20 March and Stoke City on 10 April—contributing to a total of four senior appearances without further goals. Overall, he made 13 first-team appearances for across all competitions during his time at the club, scoring once. To gain experience, Ojo was loaned to side Athletic on 2 February 2015 until the end of the 2014–15 season. He made 12 appearances, including a goal in an fourth-round win over Doncaster Rovers on 7 February, but were relegated to League One that year. After limited opportunities in 2015–16, Ojo joined Wanderers on loan on 16 January 2017 until the end of the 2016–17 season. He featured in 17 matches, scoring three goals, and contributed to Wolves' strong finish that secured promotion to the via the play-offs. Ojo's next loan was to on 31 August 2017 for the 2017–18 season. He recorded 19 appearances and two goals in the , but a minor back injury in March 2018 ended his campaign early, limiting his impact as won promotion. In July 2018, Ojo moved to French club on a season-long loan. He made 22 appearances, scoring three goals, and helped secure promotion to as champions. Ojo joined side Rangers on loan on 2 September 2019 until May 2020. He featured in 24 matches, netting two goals, as part of the squad that won the 2019–20 title—though the season was curtailed early due to the . The following season, Ojo was loaned to club Cardiff City on 5 October 2020 until May 2021. He made 15 appearances, scoring three goals, during a campaign affected by the ongoing . Ojo's final Liverpool loan came on 31 August 2021 to side Millwall for the 2021–22 season. He recorded 28 appearances and one goal, providing versatility on the flanks before returning to . Upon returning from loans, Ojo had minimal first-team involvement, though he trained regularly with the senior squad under manager , who in 2019 praised him as a "wonderful player" with a future "100 per cent at ." His expired at the end of June 2022, and announced his release on 13 July 2022 after 11 years with the club.

Cardiff City (2022–2024)

Ojo joined Cardiff City on a permanent basis on 13 July 2022, signing a two-year contract after his release from , having previously impressed during a loan spell at the club in the 2020–21 season. During the 2022–23 season, Ojo established himself as a regular winger, making 40 appearances across all competitions under managers and , while contributing 2 goals and 4 assists. One notable contribution came on 8 October 2022, when he scored in a 2–0 victory over Wigan Athletic. On 16 August 2023, Ojo moved to Belgian Pro League side KV Kortrijk on a season-long loan until June 2024. There, he recorded 32 appearances, 1 goal, and 1 assist, but struggled for consistent starting places amid the team's relegation battle, exacerbated by adaptation issues including playing out of position as a wing-back and frequent managerial changes that disrupted tactical cohesion. Upon returning to Cardiff in the summer of 2024, Ojo had limited involvement in pre-season and was released when his contract expired on 7 June 2024, having made a total of 60 appearances and scored 5 goals during his permanent tenure.

Maribor (2024–present)

On 6 September 2024, following his release from Cardiff City, Sheyi Ojo signed a two-year contract with NK Maribor on a free transfer, joining the Slovenian PrvaLiga club as a right winger capable of playing full-back roles in pursuit of consistent playing time. During the 2024–25 season, Ojo adapted quickly to the Slovenian top flight, establishing himself as a regular starter, primarily deployed as a left wing-back. He contributed two s and two assists across his appearances, helping secure second place in the league table. During the 2025–26 season, as of November 2025, Ojo has featured in 14 PrvaLiga matches, scoring one and providing two assists while continuing to develop his defensive responsibilities. His market value has risen to €700,000 amid these performances. As of November 2025, Ojo remains a regular starter for wearing jersey number 17, with no reported injuries, and is focused on the team's efforts to qualify for European competitions.

International career

Youth career

Ojo received his first call-up to the under-16 team in 2012, earning five caps and scoring one goal during his time with the age group. His international youth career progressed to the under-17 level from 2013 to 2015, where he made 12 appearances and netted four goals. Ojo played a key role in England's qualification for the , featuring in the elite round matches against and , helping secure a 7–2 aggregate victory to advance to . He was also part of the squad for the in , appearing in three matches as reached the quarter-finals before their exit. Ojo represented at under-18 level from 2014 to 2015, earning approximately eight caps and scoring three goals, including a brace in a 4–1 victory over in November 2014. In 2016, Ojo transitioned to the under-19 team, where he made several appearances, including in the finals in , providing assists during the tournament as reached the semi-finals. Ojo was selected for the England under-20 squad at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea, making five appearances, including as a substitute in the final, where he provided an assist, helping England secure a 1–0 victory over Venezuela to win the tournament. He received call-ups to the England under-21 team from 2017 to 2019, earning one cap in a 3–0 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification victory over Latvia on 5 September 2017, starting and playing 58 minutes. Across all youth levels up to under-21, Ojo accumulated 43 caps for . Born in to Nigerian parents, Ojo opted to represent the Three Lions at youth level despite his eligibility for , describing it as an honour. His selections were influenced by strong performances in Liverpool's academy. Coaches praised his pace and abilities.

Senior career

Oluwaseyi "Sheyi" Ojo has yet to earn a senior international cap for either or as of November 2025. Born in to Nigerian parents, he qualifies for both nations but has remained uncapped at the senior level despite early promise in the youth ranks. Interest from the emerged between 2018 and 2020, fueled by Ojo's heritage and his stalled progress with . In September 2018, while on loan at from , Ojo publicly stated he would consider representing the Super Eagles if approached, citing the honor it would bring. By October 2019, during his loan at Rangers, he initiated proceedings to switch allegiance to , aiming to join teammate in the national setup. However, the process stalled without completion, and no call-ups materialized from either federation thereafter. Ojo remains eligible for Nigeria at senior level, as he has not played a competitive match for 's senior team. No reports indicate active pursuits from the Nigerian FA or renewed interest from as of November 2025, with his focus shifting toward stabilizing his club career abroad.

Personal life

Family and background

Oluwaseyi Babajide Ojo, commonly known as Sheyi Ojo, was born on 19 June 1997 in , , , to parents of descent. His father, Olu, carries heritage, reflected in Ojo's full Oluwaseyi, which translates to "God has done this" in the . Ojo's mother, Natasha, completes the family unit, which maintained a stable and supportive environment during his early years. Raised in until the age of 14, Ojo grew up in a close-knit household that included his younger brother, Toby, born around 2004. In 2011, the family relocated from the London area to in to facilitate Ojo's transition into the Liverpool academy, a move that underscored their commitment to his development. Ojo's upbringing blended cultural influences from his Nigerian paternal roots, including exposure to Yoruba traditions through his father, with the everyday life of an English family. Despite this heritage, which made him eligible for Nigeria internationally, Ojo identifies primarily as , having been born, educated, and initially socialized in . The family has remained free of notable controversies, focusing instead on fostering Ojo's personal and athletic growth.

Later life and relationships

Ojo began a relationship with Amaani Noor during his teenage years, around 2014, when both were involved in youth activities in ; Noor competed in the Miss Teen Great Britain pageant while Ojo was rising through 's academy. The couple parted ways by 2015, with no further public association; Noor later faced legal issues unrelated to Ojo in 2019. Following his departure from in 2022, Ojo relocated his base to , , aligning with his permanent transfer to Cardiff City, where he sought stability after years of loans. In 2023, he briefly moved to for a season-long loan to , experiencing life in the before returning to Cardiff at the end of the term. By September 2024, Ojo had shifted residence to upon joining on a two-year contract, adapting to life in the PrvaLiga while maintaining connections to the through family and past ties.

Career statistics

Club

As of 17 November 2025, Ojo's senior club career statistics are as follows (appearances and goals in all competitions):
ClubSeasonsLeague appsLeague goalsTotal appsTotal goals
Liverpool2015–202290131
→ Wigan Athletic (loan)2014–15110110
→ Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan)2015–16150200
→ Fulham (loan)2017–18222244
→ Stade de Reims (loan)2018–19150150
→ Rangers (loan)2019–20223365
→ Cardiff City (loan)2020–21372415
Cardiff City2022–2024775827
→ Millwall (loan)2021–22180180
→ KV Kortrijk (loan)2023–24251251
NK Maribor2024–present382412
Career total2721532625

International

Ojo represented at youth levels, earning a total of 34 caps and scoring 5 goals across various age groups (no senior caps). Breakdown as of end of youth career:
National teamYearsCapsGoals
U16201231
U172012–201470
U182013–2015153
U192015–201641
U20201750
U21201700
Total2012–2017345

Honours

Club

During his loan spell at Fulham in the 2017–18 season, Ojo contributed to the club's promotion to the as play-off winners. He made 22 appearances across the campaign, scoring 4 goals and providing 2 assists, including involvement in the play-off semi-finals against Derby County where Fulham advanced with a 2–1 aggregate victory before defeating Aston Villa 1–0 in the final at . Ojo has not won any other major club honours in his career. His time with Liverpool's youth teams did not result in senior or youth trophy successes, such as reaching the final. Similarly, loans at Wanderers, Rangers, and other clubs, as well as his permanent stints at Cardiff City and , yielded no further team achievements as of November 2025, with Maribor yet to secure major silverware during his tenure. No individual awards have been bestowed upon Ojo at club level.

International

Ojo earned international honours at youth level with . He was part of the under-16 team that won the 2012 in , making three appearances. He also featured for the under-20 team that won the in , where he appeared in five matches, including a substitute appearance in the 1–0 final win against . At under-17 level, Ojo did not feature in the finals of the 2014 , where claimed the title. No further tournament successes came at under-17 or under-21 levels, with his under-21 involvement limited to qualifiers. Ojo has no senior international honours, having earned 42 caps across England's youth teams from under-16 to under-21 without progressing to the senior side. Although eligible for through his parents, he has made no representations for the Super Eagles.

References

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