Olamide Oluwatimilehin Babatunde Oluwaka Shodipo (born 5 July 1997) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Liga Portugal 2 club Feirense.

Olamide Shodipo
Shodipo pictured in July 2016.
Personal information
Full name Olamide Oluwatimilehin Babatunde Oluwaka Shodipo[1]
Date of birth (1997-07-05) 5 July 1997 (age 27)[2]
Place of birth Leixlip, Ireland
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
Feirense
Number 25
Youth career
2012–2015 Queens Park Rangers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2023 Queens Park Rangers 38 (0)
2017Port Vale (loan) 6 (0)
2018Colchester United (loan) 6 (0)
2020–2021Oxford United (loan) 39 (10)
2021–2022Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 15 (1)
2023Lincoln City (loan) 20 (2)
2023–2024 Lincoln City 6 (1)
2024– Feirense 12 (2)
International career
2015 Republic of Ireland U19 4 (0)
2016–2018 Republic of Ireland U21 6 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:46, 29 May 2024 (UTC)

Shodipo made his first-team debut for Queens Park Rangers in August 2016 and has been capped by the Republic of Ireland at under-19 and under-21 levels. He joined Port Vale on loan in January 2017 and joined Colchester United on loan in January 2018. He made 13 appearances for QPR during the 2019–20 season, though he spent the following season on loan at Oxford United and was loaned out to Sheffield Wednesday for the 2021–22 campaign. He joined Lincoln City on loan for the second half of the 2022–23 season and then signed for the club on a short-term deal in October 2023. He joined Portuguese club C.D. Feirense in January 2024.

Club career

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Queens Park Rangers

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Shodipo was born in Leixlip, a town near Dublin, Ireland, before moving to London at the age of two.[3][4] He signed a two-year contract extension with Queens Park Rangers in April 2016.[5] He made his senior debut in the opening game of the 2016–17 EFL Championship season on 7 August 2016, in a 3–0 win over Leeds United at Loftus Road; he was named in the starting lineup, and was later substituted in the 68th minute for Abdenasser El Khayati.[6] Manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink later said that Shodipo had "that rawness... that streetness and that fight" and said "we will definitely be putting him in and around the team regularly".[7] On 30 November, Shodipo signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract with QPR, tying him to the club until 2019.[8] However, new manager Ian Holloway left him out of the team in favour of new signing Kazenga LuaLua, explaining his decision by saying "every time I've put him on, unfortunately the team has let a goal in"; Holloway said "he would benefit massively from a loan spell", which he hoped would improve the defensive and tactical side of his game.[9][10]

On 30 January 2017, Shodipo signed with EFL League One side Port Vale on loan until the end of the 2016–17 season.[11] He made six appearances for the "Valiants" before being ruled out for the rest of the season after picking up a tendinitis injury on international duty in March 2017.[12]

On 31 January 2018, he joined EFL League Two side Colchester United on loan until the end of the 2017–18 season.[13] He came off the bench to make his debut on 10 March in the "U's" 1–1 draw at Mansfield Town.[14] However, he was limited to just two starts and four substitute appearances by manager John McGreal during his time at the Colchester Community Stadium.[15]

He suffered a significant tear to his thigh muscle in September 2018 and was ruled out of action for four months.[16] He was praised by manager Steve McClaren upon his return to playing and featured four times for QPR during the 2018–19 season, before having his contract extended by a further 12 months in May 2019.[17][18] Director of football Les Ferdinand said that "He's had a tough time with injuries in the last couple of years but hopefully that is behind him now and we are looking forward to seeing him out on the pitch next season."[19] He was handed a new contract by new manager Mark Warburton in September 2019, keeping him at the club until summer 2022.[20]

On 16 October 2020, he joined League One side Oxford United on loan for the 2020–21 season; manager Karl Robinson said that "he is an exciting player to watch, very unpredictable but always a threat because he has so much pace and a willingness to take people on".[21] He came off the bench to score the winning goal on his debut for the "U's" three days later, in a 3–2 win over Milton Keynes Dons at the Kassam Stadium.[22] He scored ten goals from 39 League One games, including one goal that helped to secure a play-off place on the final day of the campaign.[23][24] He also scored against Blackpool in the play-off semi-finals, though Oxford lost 6–3 on aggregate.[25]

On 11 July 2021, he signed for League One club Sheffield Wednesday on a season-long loan deal.[26] On arriving at the club, Shodipo said that "the fans are immense and I’m looking forward to working with Darren Moore. I want to come and help the team as much as possible and aim for promotion".[27] He would make his competitive debut for the "Owls" on 1 August, in an EFL Cup tie with Huddersfield Town at Hillsborough, however, an injury would see him replaced in the first half.[28] He would make his return from his injury against Huddersfield Town, coming off the bench on 11 September 2021, against Plymouth Argyle.[29] He would score his first goal for the "Owls" in a 2–2 home draw with Wycombe Wanderers on 27 November.[30] However, he picked up a long-term injury, reported to be hamstring related, the following month.[31][32] Moore did not include Shodipo in the EFL squad list in January, though said that he could be re-added before the 24 March deadline.[33] Shodipo did make two final substitute appearances in April to take his final total at Sheffield Wednesday to 21 appearances, including only seven league starts.[34] With his contract at QPR expiring in summer 2022, he was reportedly in contract negotiations at Loftus Road.[35]

He had made eleven Championship appearances for QPR in the first half of the 2022–23 campaign before new manager Neil Critchley decided he was not in his first-team plans.[36] Shodipo was released by Queens Park Rangers at the end of the season.[37] He went on trial at Reading in July 2023.[38]

Lincoln City

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On 14 January 2023, Shodipo joined League One side Lincoln City on loan for the remainder of the 2022–23 season, making his debut the same day against Milton Keynes Dons.[39][40] He scored two goals in twenty games for Lincoln.[41]

On 6 October 2023, Shodipo signed a short-term contract with Lincoln to run until early January, with director of football Jez George citing "significant injuries to Ben House and Tyler Walker".[42] He made his permanent debut coming off the bench against Peterborough United the next day.[43] On 5 January 2024, it was confirmed his short team deal had come to an end.[44]

Feirense

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On 30 January 2024, Shodipo joined Liga Portugal 2 club Feirense.[45]

International career

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Also eligible to play for Nigeria, Shodipo made his debut for the Republic of Ireland under-19 team in October 2015 and made his debut for the under-21 team in September 2016.[46][47][48]

Style of play

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Speaking in January 2017, Ian Holloway praised Shodipo's dribbling and crossing skills, though he said he had work to do to improve his defensive game.[10][11]

Career statistics

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As of match played 26 May 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
Queens Park Rangers 2015–16[49] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2016–17[50] Championship 11 0 1 0 2 0 14 0
2017–18[49] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2018–19[51] Championship 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
2019–20[52] Championship 12 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
2020–21[23] Championship 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
2021–22[34] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022–23[41] Championship 11 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 12 0
Total 38 0 2 0 4 0 44 0
Port Vale (loan) 2016–17[50] League One 6 0 6 0
Colchester United (loan) 2017–18[49] League Two 6 0 6 0
Oxford United (loan) 2020–21[23] League One 39 10 1 0 0 0 6[a] 3 46 13
Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 2021–22[34] League One 15 1 2 0 1 0 3[b] 0 21 1
Lincoln City (loan) 2022–23[41] League One 20 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 2
Lincoln City 2023–24[53] League One 6 1 0 0 0 0 3[b] 0 9 1
Total 26 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 29 3
Feirense 2023–24[54] Liga Portugal 2 12 2 0 0 0 0 1[c] 0 13 2
Career total 142 16 5 0 5 0 13 3 165 19
  1. ^ 4 appearances and two goals in the EFL Trophy and 2 appearances and 1 goal in the play-offs.
  2. ^ a b Appearances in the EFL Trophy
  3. ^ Appearances in the play-offs

References

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  1. ^ "Nigerian starlet Olamide Shodipo makes QPR debut". Goal.com. 7 August 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Olamide Shodipo". 11v11. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  3. ^ Whelan, Nathan (4 May 2019). "Ireland under-21 star rewarded with new QPR contract after injury hell". extra.ie. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Olamide Shodipo | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  5. ^ "QPR youngsters Niko Hamalainen and Olamide Shodipo extend stays at Loftus Road". qpr.co.uk. 13 April 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Queens Park Rangers 3–0 Leeds United". BBC Sport. 7 August 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  7. ^ Gallagher, Sean (20 October 2016). "Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink: We must be patient with Olamide Shodipo". Kilburn Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  8. ^ "Olamide Shodipo: QPR winger signs new contract until 2019". BBC Sport. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  9. ^ Warburton, Paul (24 January 2017). "QPR boss explains why he will loan out these two players". Get West London. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  10. ^ a b Gallagher, Sean (24 January 2017). "Olamide Shodipo would benefit from going out on loan, says QPR boss". Kilburn Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  11. ^ a b Baggaley, Mike (30 January 2017). "Port Vale sign QPR winger Olamide Shodipo". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  12. ^ Baggaley, Mike (10 April 2017). "Port Vale: On-loan QPR winger Olamide Shodipo out for season". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  13. ^ "Olamide Shodipo: QPR winger joins Colchester United on loan until end of the season". BBC Sport. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  14. ^ "Mansfield Town 1–1 Colchester United". BBC Sport. 10 March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  15. ^ "Olamide Shodipo - Players - Colchester United". www.coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  16. ^ Morrissey, Paul (25 January 2019). "Shodipo resumes full training after injury". QPR. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  17. ^ McIntyre, David (9 March 2019). "McClaren hails Bright and Shodipo after 'frustrating' QPR draw". West London Sport. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  18. ^ Jones, George (1 May 2019). "Mide Shodipo commits his future to QPR". QPR. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  19. ^ Dollery, Paul (2 May 2019). "Irish winger Shodipo rewarded with contract extension at QPR". The42. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  20. ^ Bennett, Dan (3 September 2019). "'I'm delighted the club has shown faith in me' - Shodipo looking to kick on after signing new deal". Kilburn Times. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  21. ^ Pritchard, David (16 October 2020). "Oxford United sign QPR winger Olamide Shodipo on deadline day". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  22. ^ "Oxford United 3-2 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  23. ^ a b c "Games played by Olamide Shodipo in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  24. ^ "Ireland's Shodipo scores to help Oxford clinch final League One play-off place". The42. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  25. ^ Freeman, Jay (21 May 2021). "Blackpool reach final after Oxford draw". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  26. ^ "Olamide Shodipo joins Owls on loan". Sheffield Wednesday FC. 11 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  27. ^ Crann, Joe (11 July 2021). "Olamide Shodipo speaks – New Sheffield Wednesday attacker's first words on promotion, Massimo Luongo and Darren Moore". Sheffield Star. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  28. ^ "Report: Wednesday 0-0 (2-4p) Huddersfield". Sheffield Wednesday F.C. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  29. ^ "Darren Moore on Sheffield Wednesday's loss to Plymouth, Saido Berahino and Dennis Adeniran". ExaminerLive. 11 September 2021.
  30. ^ "Sheffield Wednesday forward makes vow over his future after 'frustrating' loan spell". ExaminerLive. 29 November 2021.
  31. ^ Miller, Alex (1 January 2022). "Sheffield Wednesday slapped with a further injury concern ahead of Shrewsbury Town clash". Sheffield Star. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  32. ^ Miller, Alex (8 February 2022). "Latest update on Sheffield Wednesday loanee detailed - attacker continues long wait out". Sheffield Star. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  33. ^ Ray, James (9 February 2022). "Darren Moore opens up on Sheffield Wednesday's decision to omit QPR loanee Olamide Shodipo from EFL squad". The 72. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  34. ^ a b c "Games played by Olamide Shodipo in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  35. ^ Ray, James (6 May 2022). "QPR in ongoing talks with Sheffield Wednesday loan man Olamide Shodipo over potential contract extension". The 72. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  36. ^ Sport, West London (14 January 2023). "QPR winger Shodipo joins Lincoln". West London Sport. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  37. ^ "Amos among six players released". www.qpr.co.uk. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  38. ^ Mail, Harry (23 July 2023). "League One club cast eyes over free agent after QPR exit". The72. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  39. ^ "City sign exciting winger Shodipo". Lincoln City FC. 14 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  40. ^ "MK Dons 0-0 Lincoln". BBC. 14 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  41. ^ a b c "Games played by Olamide Shodipo in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  42. ^ "Shodipo returns to City". Lincoln City FC. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  43. ^ "Peterborough United 2 Imps 0". Lincoln City FC. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  44. ^ "Shodipo and Vale leave Imps". Lincoln City FC. 5 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  45. ^ "Shodipo é Reforço do CD Feirense" (in Portuguese). C.D. Feirense. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  46. ^ Costello, Shane (7 August 2016). "Highly-rated 19-year-old Dubliner made his debut for QPR today". The42. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  47. ^ "Olamide Shodipo makes his Republic of Ireland Under-19 debut in 1-1 friendly draw against Ukraine". www.qpr.co.uk. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  48. ^ "QPR winger Olamide Shodipo makes Under-21 debut for Republic of Ireland". qpr.co.uk. 3 September 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  49. ^ a b c "Games played by Olamide Shodipo in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  50. ^ a b "Games played by Olamide Shodipo in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  51. ^ "Games played by Olamide Shodipo in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  52. ^ "Games played by Olamide Shodipo in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  53. ^ "Games played by Olamide Shodipo in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  54. ^ Olamide Shodipo at Soccerway
  NODES
Association 1
COMMUNITY 1
INTERN 4
Note 1