| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Stephen Obayan Sunday | ||
| Date of birth | 17 September 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | Lagos, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Numancia | ||
| Number | 4 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2003 | FC Ebedei | ||
| 2003–2004 | Jegede Babes | ||
| 2004–2005 | Poli Ejido | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2005–2007 | Poli Ejido | 55 | (0) |
| 2007–2011 | Valencia | 10 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | → Osasuna (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | → Betis (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2011 | → Numancia (loan) | 14 | (2) |
| 2011– | Numancia | 9 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2007 | Spain U19 | 5 | (0) |
| 2007 | Spain U20 | 4 | (0) |
| 2009 | Spain U21 | 1 | (0) |
| 2010– | Nigeria | 1 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16 October 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Stephen Obayan Sunday (born 17 September 1988), nicknamed Sunny, is a Nigerian footballer who plays for CD Numancia in Spain, as a defensive midfielder.
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Born in Lagos, Sunny began his career in Nigeria with FC Ebedei and Jegede Babes. In 2003, he participated in two youth championships in Sweden and Spain. In the latter, he appeared in Madrid's third edition of the Annual Immigrants World Cup, where he impressed so much he was given a five-year-contract with Polideportivo Ejido, in the Spanish second division.[1]
Sunny became a regular player for Ejido, making 63 league appearances between 2005 and 2007, and signed for Valencia CF in 2007, but after one season where he was scarcely used, he was loaned to fellow La Liga outfit CA Osasuna. In late January 2009, Sunny was linked with a move to England's Portsmouth, but the deal eventually collapsed due to financial complications.[2]
On 30 June 2009, after the season, which was marred by injury, Sunny was loaned to Real Betis, in a season-long deal, with a view to a four-year permanent move. He also appeared rarely during the second level campaign, as the Andalusians failed to return to the top division (seven matches out of 42).
In July 2010, Sunny had a trial in England with newly promoted Premier League side Blackpool, playing in a pre-season friendly against Crewe Alexandra on 27 July,[3] and then four days later, against Bristol City, but nothing came of it.
Sunny spent the first months of the new season training on his own, having been deemed surplus to requirements by Valencia manager Unai Emery. On 20 January 2011, he was again loaned, moving to CD Numancia in division two.
Although born in Nigeria, Sunday was eligible to play for Spain under FIFA rules, which allowed players with dual nationality to change their international allegiance before the age of 21, had they still not won their first full cap.
After first appearing for the under-19 side, he was called up by his adopted nation to the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, in Canada, playing in four games as Spain exited in the quarterfinals.
In September 2010, Sunny was called-up for Nigeria's 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Guinea,[4] and made his debut in the game as a starter, as the Super Eagles lost it 0–1.
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