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Sheyi Ojo
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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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]On 6 September 2024, Ojo joined the 16-times Slovenian champions Maribor on a two-year deal.[33]
International career
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]- As of 1 July 2024
| 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 | ||
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ^ One appearance in relegation play-offs
Honours
[edit]England U20
References
[edit]- ^ "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/07/2014 and 31/07/2014". The Football Association. p. 23. Archived from the original on 24 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Sheyi Ojo: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
- ^ a b "Liverpool sign up MK Dons schoolboy Seyi Ojo". BBC Sport. 17 November 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
- ^ "Liverpool sign MK Dons teenage midfielder Seyi Ojo". The Guardian. 17 November 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
- ^ Shennan, Paddy (18 December 2014). "Exclusive – meet a teenage dream team: rising Liverpool FC star Sheyi Ojo and aspiring beauty queen and actress Amaani Noor". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
- ^ "Transfer news: Wigan sign Liverpool winger Sheyi Ojo on loan". Sky Sports. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ^ "Loan Watch: LFC youngster earns man of match on professional debut – despite only playing 30 minutes!". This Is Anfield. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ^ "Wigan Athletic 1–3 Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ^ "Christian Benteke scores first Liverpool goal on debut". Sky Sports.
- ^ "New Reds deal and loan switch for Ojo". Liverpool F.C. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ "Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Newport County". BBC Sport. 11 August 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ^ Patterson, Mike (7 January 2016). "Liverpool recall Sheyi Ojo from Wolves loan spell". Sky Sports. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
- ^ Rose, Gary (8 January 2016). "Exeter City 2–2 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- ^ Lewis, Aimee (20 January 2016). "Liverpool 3–0 Exeter City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
- ^ Henson, Mike (20 March 2016). "Southampton 3–2 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
- ^ Rimmer, Joe (10 April 2016). "Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp on Kevin Stewart and Sheyi Ojo". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
- ^ Walsh, Kristian (14 November 2016). "Sheyi Ojo hands Liverpool boss Klopp another injury boost". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ "Sheyi Ojo: Liverpool forward joins Fulham on loan for 2017–18 season". BBC Sport. 16 August 2017.
- ^ "Sheffield United 4–5 Fulham". BBC Sport. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- ^ "Fulham 1–0 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 9 December 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- ^ "Fulham 2–1 Barnsley". BBC Sport. 23 December 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- ^ "Sheyi Ojo signs new deal and makes loan move". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- ^ a b Sheyi Ojo at Soccerway. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
- ^ "Sheyi Ojo: Rangers sign Liverpool winger on season-long loan". BBC Sport. 18 June 2019.
- ^ "St Joseph's 0–4 Rangers: Steven Gerrard's team win Europa League qualifier". BBC Sport. 9 July 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ "Loan | Sheyi Ojo joins from Liverpool | Cardiff". Cardiff City F.C.
- ^ "Preston 0–1 Cardiff". BBC. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- ^ Williams, Sam (31 August 2021). "Sheyi Ojo completes loan move to Millwalll". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ "Liverpool: Divock Origi and Loris Karius among seven to leave Reds". BBC Sport. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
- ^ "Done Deal: Sheyi Ojo signs". Cardiff City F.C. 13 July 2022.
- ^ "Cardiff's Ojo moves to Belgium on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- ^ "2023/24 Retained List | Cardiff". Cardiff City F.C. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Maribor pripeljal igralce, "ki so bili nekoč nedosegljivi"" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ Bennett, Tom (7 August 2012). "England Under 17s Squad Named For Early Season Tournament". The Youth Radar. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ^ Stonehouse, Gary (2 March 2014). "England Under-17 suffer late heartbreak in the Algarve". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 13 October 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ^ "Neil Dewsnip names U18 squad". The Football Association. 26 August 2014. Archived from the original on 29 August 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ^ Lynch, David (27 August 2015). "Rossiter and Ojo in England U19 squad". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ^ Stonehouse, Gary (4 September 2015). "England U19s pick up thrilling victory in Germany". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ^ Sanders, Emma (12 July 2016). "Sheyi Ojo provides two assists as England U19s defeat France". This Is Anfield. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
- ^ Jones, Neil (26 May 2017). "Liverpool pair Ovie Ejaria and Sheyi Ojo help England continue their World Cup dream". Liverpool Echo.
- ^ Chris Bascombe; Alistair Tweedale (8 June 2017). "England U20s 3 Italy U20s 1: Dominic Solanke fires Three Lions to first World Cup final since 1966". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ "Under-20 World Cup: England beat Venezuela in final". BBC Sport. 11 June 2017.
- ^ "Sheyi Ojo: England U20 World Cup winner open to representing Nigeria". BBC Sport. 23 September 2018.
- ^ "Babatunde". Behind the Name. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ^ "LFC Academy Education Centre". Rainhill High School Media Arts College. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
- ^ a b "Games played by Sheyi Ojo in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ^ a b "Games played by Sheyi Ojo in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ^ "Games played by Sheyi Ojo in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
- ^ "Games played by Sheyi Ojo in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
- ^ "Games played by Sheyi Ojo in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
- ^ "Games played by Sheyi Ojo in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
- ^ "Games played by Sheyi Ojo in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ "Games played by Sheyi Ojo in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ "Games played by Sheyi Ojo in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ "Games played by Sheyi Ojo in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
External links
[edit]Sheyi Ojo
View on GrokipediaClub career
Early career
Oluwaseyi Babajide "Sheyi" Ojo was born on 19 June 1997 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England, to Nigerian parents Olu and Natasha.[1][10][11] He grew up in a family that included his younger brother Toby, and the Ojos relocated from Hertfordshire to the Liverpool area when Sheyi was 14 years old to support his developing football career.[11][12] Ojo began playing football at local clubs before joining the Milton Keynes Dons academy in 2007 at the age of 10.[13] 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.[13][14] 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.[15][5] 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 Wolverhampton Wanderers in November 2012.[16]Liverpool (2011–2022)
Oluwaseyi "Sheyi" Ojo joined Liverpool's academy from MK Dons in November 2011 at the age of 14, for a reported fee of around £2 million.[17][18] 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.[19] Ojo's performances in youth leagues highlighted his potential as a winger, including joint top-scorer honors with teammate Harry Wilson at the 2014 U17 Future Cup. Ojo's first senior appearances for Liverpool came during the 2015–16 season. He made his debut as a substitute in the FA Cup third-round tie against Exeter City on 8 January 2016, playing the final 20 minutes of a 2–2 draw away at St James Park. Recalled from a brief loan spell, he started the replay at Anfield on 20 January, scoring his first goal for the club with a curled finish in a 3–0 victory.[20] Ojo also featured as a late substitute in two Premier League matches that season—against Southampton 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 Liverpool across all competitions during his time at the club, scoring once.[21] To gain experience, Ojo was loaned to Championship side Wigan Athletic on 2 February 2015 until the end of the 2014–15 season. He made 12 appearances, including a goal in an FA Cup fourth-round win over Doncaster Rovers on 7 February, but Wigan were relegated to League One that year. After limited opportunities in 2015–16, Ojo joined Wolverhampton 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 Premier League via the play-offs. Ojo's next loan was to Fulham on 31 August 2017 for the 2017–18 season. He recorded 19 appearances and two goals in the Championship, but a minor back injury in March 2018 ended his campaign early, limiting his impact as Fulham won promotion. In July 2018, Ojo moved to French Ligue 2 club Stade de Reims on a season-long loan. He made 22 appearances, scoring three goals, and helped Reims secure promotion to Ligue 1 as champions. Ojo joined Scottish Premiership 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 COVID-19 pandemic. The following season, Ojo was loaned to Championship club Cardiff City on 5 October 2020 until May 2021. He made 15 appearances, scoring three goals, during a campaign affected by the ongoing pandemic. Ojo's final Liverpool loan came on 31 August 2021 to Championship side Millwall for the 2021–22 season. He recorded 28 appearances and one goal, providing versatility on the flanks before returning to Liverpool. Upon returning from loans, Ojo had minimal first-team involvement, though he trained regularly with the senior squad under manager Jürgen Klopp, who in 2019 praised him as a "wonderful player" with a future "100 per cent at Liverpool."[22] His contract expired at the end of June 2022, and Liverpool announced his release on 13 July 2022 after 11 years with the club.[7]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 Liverpool, having previously impressed during a loan spell at the club in the 2020–21 season.[7][23] During the 2022–23 season, Ojo established himself as a regular winger, making 40 appearances across all competitions under managers Sabri Lamouchi and Erol Bulut, while contributing 2 goals and 4 assists.[24][5] One notable contribution came on 8 October 2022, when he scored in a 2–0 victory over Wigan Athletic.[25] On 16 August 2023, Ojo moved to Belgian Pro League side KV Kortrijk on a season-long loan until June 2024.[26] 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.[27][22] 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.[28][27]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.[24][1] 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 goals and two assists across his appearances, helping Maribor secure second place in the league table.[5][29] During the 2025–26 season, as of November 2025, Ojo has featured in 14 PrvaLiga matches, scoring one goal and providing two assists while continuing to develop his defensive responsibilities. His market value has risen to €700,000 amid these performances.[30][1][31] As of November 2025, Ojo remains a regular starter for Maribor wearing jersey number 17, with no reported injuries, and is focused on the team's efforts to qualify for European competitions.[2]International career
Youth career
Ojo received his first call-up to the England under-16 team in 2012, earning five caps and scoring one goal during his time with the age group.[1] 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 2015 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, featuring in the elite round matches against Slovenia and Croatia, helping secure a 7–2 aggregate victory to advance to the finals. He was also part of the squad for the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, appearing in three matches as England reached the quarter-finals before their exit.[32] Ojo represented England 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 Poland in November 2014.[33][34] In 2016, Ojo transitioned to the under-19 team, where he made several appearances, including in the UEFA European Under-19 Championship finals in Germany, providing assists during the tournament as England reached the semi-finals.[35][36] 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.[9][37] 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.[38][39] Across all youth levels up to under-21, Ojo accumulated 43 caps for England. Born in England to Nigerian parents, Ojo opted to represent the Three Lions at youth level despite his eligibility for Nigeria, describing it as an honour. His selections were influenced by strong performances in Liverpool's academy. Coaches praised his pace and dribbling abilities.[34][40][37]Senior career
Oluwaseyi "Sheyi" Ojo has yet to earn a senior international cap for either England or Nigeria as of November 2025. Born in England to Nigerian parents, he qualifies for both nations but has remained uncapped at the senior level despite early promise in the youth ranks.[1] Interest from the Nigeria Football Federation emerged between 2018 and 2020, fueled by Ojo's heritage and his stalled progress with England. In September 2018, while on loan at Reims from Liverpool, 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 FIFA proceedings to switch allegiance to Nigeria, aiming to join teammate Joe Aribo in the national setup. However, the process stalled without completion, and no call-ups materialized from either federation thereafter.[37][41][42] Ojo remains eligible for Nigeria at senior level, as he has not played a competitive match for England's senior team. No reports indicate active pursuits from the Nigerian FA or renewed interest from England as of November 2025, with his focus shifting toward stabilizing his club career abroad.[1]Personal life
Family and background
Oluwaseyi Babajide Ojo, commonly known as Sheyi Ojo, was born on 19 June 1997 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England, to parents of Nigerian descent. His father, Olu, carries Yoruba heritage, reflected in Ojo's full given name Oluwaseyi, which translates to "God has done this" in the Yoruba language.[43][44] Ojo's mother, Natasha, completes the family unit, which maintained a stable and supportive environment during his early years. Raised in Hemel Hempstead until the age of 14, Ojo grew up in a close-knit household that included his younger brother, Toby, born around 2004.[11] In 2011, the family relocated from the London area to West Derby in Liverpool to facilitate Ojo's transition into the Liverpool academy, a move that underscored their commitment to his development.[45] 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.[37] Despite this heritage, which made him eligible for Nigeria internationally, Ojo identifies primarily as English, having been born, educated, and initially socialized in England.[46] The family has remained free of notable controversies, focusing instead on fostering Ojo's personal and athletic growth.[47]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 Liverpool; Noor competed in the Miss Teen Great Britain pageant while Ojo was rising through Liverpool's academy.[11][48] The couple parted ways by 2015, with no further public association; Noor later faced legal issues unrelated to Ojo in 2019.[49] Following his departure from Liverpool in 2022, Ojo relocated his base to Cardiff, Wales, aligning with his permanent transfer to Cardiff City, where he sought stability after years of loans.[50] In 2023, he briefly moved to Belgium for a season-long loan to KV Kortrijk, experiencing life in the Belgian Pro League before returning to Cardiff at the end of the term.[26] By September 2024, Ojo had shifted residence to Slovenia upon joining NK Maribor on a two-year contract, adapting to life in the PrvaLiga while maintaining connections to the UK through family and past ties.[24][22]Career statistics
Club
As of 17 November 2025, Ojo's senior club career statistics are as follows (appearances and goals in all competitions):[51][30]| Club | Seasons | League apps | League goals | Total apps | Total goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | 2015–2022 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| → Wigan Athletic (loan) | 2014–15 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| → Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) | 2015–16 | 15 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| → Fulham (loan) | 2017–18 | 22 | 2 | 24 | 4 |
| → Stade de Reims (loan) | 2018–19 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| → Rangers (loan) | 2019–20 | 22 | 3 | 36 | 5 |
| → Cardiff City (loan) | 2020–21 | 37 | 2 | 41 | 5 |
| Cardiff City | 2022–2024 | 77 | 5 | 82 | 7 |
| → Millwall (loan) | 2021–22 | 18 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| → KV Kortrijk (loan) | 2023–24 | 25 | 1 | 25 | 1 |
| NK Maribor | 2024–present | 38 | 2 | 41 | 2 |
| Career total | 272 | 15 | 326 | 25 |
International
Ojo represented England 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:[52]| National team | Years | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| England U16 | 2012 | 3 | 1 |
| England U17 | 2012–2014 | 7 | 0 |
| England U18 | 2013–2015 | 15 | 3 |
| England U19 | 2015–2016 | 4 | 1 |
| England U20 | 2017 | 5 | 0 |
| England U21 | 2017 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 2012–2017 | 34 | 5 |
