Nicky Ajose
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nicholas Olushola Ajose[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 7 October 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Bury, England | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Crewe Alexandra (on loan from Leeds United) | ||
| Number | 35 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1999–2009 | Manchester United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2009–2011 | Manchester United | 0 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | → Bury (loan) | 28 | (13) |
| 2011–2014 | Peterborough United | 24 | (7) |
| 2011 | → Scunthorpe United (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2012 | → Chesterfield (loan) | 12 | (1) |
| 2012 | → Crawley Town (loan) | 19 | (2) |
| 2013 | → Bury (loan) | 19 | (4) |
| 2013–2014 | → Swindon Town (loan) | 16 | (6) |
| 2014– | Leeds United | 3 | (0) |
| 2014– | → Crewe Alexandra (loan) | 12 | (8) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2006–2007 | England U16 | 4 | (0) |
| 2007 | England U17 | 1 | (0) |
| 2009– | Nigeria U20 | 0 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:07, 14 February 2015 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Nicholas Olushola "Nicky" Ajose (born 7 October 1991) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Leeds United. He began his career with Manchester United, but never made an appearance in the first-team and spent much of the 2010–11 season on loan to Bury. He joined Peterborough United in July 2011, but spent time on loan with Scunthorpe United, Chesterfield, Crawley Town and Swindon Town, as well as another six months with Bury, before joining Leeds in August 2014. He joined Crewe on loan in November 2014.
Ajose played for England at under-16 and under-17 level. Also eligible to play for Nigeria, he was called up to the Nigeria under-20s for the 2009 African Youth Championship.
Club career
Manchester United
Born in Bury, Ajose made his way through Manchester United's youth squads, having joined the club in 1999.[2] He was awarded with his first professional contract by the club in the summer of 2009.[3]
Bury (loan)
On 24 September 2010, Ajose joined his home-town club, Bury, on a one-month loan deal,[4] he made his debut the following day as an 80th-minute substitute in a 2–0 away win over Cheltenham Town.[5] His first goal for Bury came on his fifth appearance, a 3–0 home win over Accrington Stanley on 9 October.[6] Seven days later he netted in a 4–3 away victory over Torquay United.[7] His loan was later extended until 3 January 2011.[8] Ajose then scored goals in a 3–1 away wins over Aldershot Town on 30 October,[9] and Burton Albion on 19 November.[10] Ajose netted twice in a 5–0 away win over Lincoln City on 23 November.[11] On 5 January 2011, Bury announced that they had agreed at a meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson that Ajose would remain at Bury on loan until 30 June 2011.[12] He returned to Manchester United for treatment in February after damaging his knee.[13] Five weeks later he rejoined Bury to commence the rest of his loan spell.[14] Ajose scored his first goal of 2011 in a 4–2 away victory over Macclesfield Town on 1 February.[15] He scored twice in a 3–0 victory over Oxford United on 2 April,[16] before netting another brace in a 4–2 away win over Northampton Town the following week.[17]
Peterborough United
After failing to make it into the Manchester United first-team, Ajose joined Peterborough United – managed by Darren Ferguson, son of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson – on 5 July 2011. Peterborough paid an undisclosed fee for the striker, thought to be around £300,000 who signed a four-year contract with the club.[18] After a short loan spell with Scunthorpe United he signed on loan with Chesterfield for the remainder of the season, scoring his first goal against his former club, Bury.[19] Next a loan spell with former manager Richie Barker's Crawley Town came with 18 appearances and nine goals, Ajose scored the goal that knocked Championship side Bolton Wanderers out of the Football League Cup. In January 2013, Ajose returned to Peterborough, before again signing for his home-town team, Bury, on loan for the rest of the season on 23 January. On 2 February, Ajose scored his first goal back at Bury with a headed effort in their 2–0 over Doncaster Rovers at Gigg Lane.[20] In August 2013, Ajose joined Scottish Premiership side St. Johnstone (who had qualified for UEFA Europa League) on trial.[21]
On 30 August 2013, Ajose signed for Swindon Town on loan until 1 January 2014.[22] He scored 10 goals in 21 games for Swindon in all competitions.
After impressing during his six-month loan spell at Swindon, Ajose returned to Peterborough United in January 2014. On 7 February, Ajose won the League One Player of the Month award for January 2014.[23] He scored seven goals for Peterborough United in 22 league appearances, helping them reach the League One play-offs. Ajose started both legs of the play-off semi-final against Leyton Orient (instead of the in form Conor Washington which in my opinion cost them the game), playing alongside Britt Assombalonga up front, but Orient won 3–2 on aggregate and Peterborough were knocked out. Ajose scored 17 goals in all competitions during the 2013–14 season, with 13 of those coming in the league.
In line with the club's policy of transfer-listing all players entering the last year of their contracts, Ajose was transfer-listed by Peterborough on 15 May 2014.[24]
Leeds United
On 5 August 2014, Ajose signed a three-year contract with Leeds United, who paid Peterborough an undisclosed fee,[25] reported to be around £150,000.[26] Ajose made his debut for Leeds on 9 August against Millwall.[27]
Crewe Alexandra loan
On 26 November 2014, Ajose joined Crewe Alexandra in an emergency loan deal until 5 January 2015.[28] After Ajose scored three goals in five matches for the Alex, their manager Steve Davis revealed that he was in talks with Leeds head coach Neil Redfearn about renewing the loan deal,[29] and on 8 January 2015 Crewe announced that they had secured Ajose on loan until the end of the 2014–15 season.[30][31][32]
International career
Ajose has been capped by England U16 four times & once by England U17.[33]
He is also eligible to play for Nigeria and was called up by Nigeria under-20s for the 2009 African Youth Championship.[34]
Honours
Club
- Bury
- League Two runner-up (promoted): 2010–11
Individual
- League One Player of the Month: January 2014[23]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other[nb 1] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manchester United | 2010–11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bury (loan) | 2010–11 | 28 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 13 |
| Peterborough United | 2011–12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2012–13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2013–14 | 22 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 7 | |
| Total | 24 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 7 | |
| Scunthorpe United (loan) | 2011–12 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Chesterfield (loan) | 2011–12 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
| Crawley Town (loan) | 2012–13 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 3 |
| Bury (loan) | 2012–13 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 4 |
| Swindon Town (loan) | 2013–14 | 16 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 21 | 10 |
| Leeds United | 2014–15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Career total | 128 | 33 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 146 | 38 | |
Statistics accurate as of match played 12 August 2014[35]
Notes
- ↑ Includes other competitive competitions, including the FA Community Shield, Football League Trophy and Football League play-offs
References
- ↑ "Search 1984 to 2006 – Birth, Marriage and Death indexes". Findmypast.com. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
- ↑ "Career History". UpThePosh!. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- ↑ "Player profile: Nicky Ajose". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ↑ "United youngster on loan". buryfc.co.uk (Bury F.C.). 25 September 2010. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
- ↑ "Cheltenham 0–2 Bury". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 25 September 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
- ↑ "Bury 3–0 Accrington". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 9 October 2010. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ↑ "Torquay 3–4 Bury". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 16 October 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
- ↑ "Bury extend loan of Manchester United's Nicky Ajose". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 22 October 2010. Retrieved 23 October 2010.
- ↑ "Aldershot 1–3 Bury". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 30 October 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
- ↑ "Burton Albion 1–3 Bury". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 19 November 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
- ↑ "Lincoln City 0–5 Bury". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 23 November 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
- ↑ "Nicky STAYS at Gigg Lane". buryfc.co.uk (Bury FC). 5 January 2011. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
- ↑ "Ajose returns to Old Trafford for treatment". buryfc.co.uk (Bury FC). 8 February 2011. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
- ↑ "Nicky Ajose returns to Bury from Man Utd after injury". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 18 March 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2011.
- ↑ "Macclesfield 2–4 Bury". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 1 February 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
- ↑ "Bury 3–0 Oxford Utd". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 2 April 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
- ↑ "Northampton 2–4 Bury". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 9 April 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
- ↑ "Peterborough land Manchester United's Nicky Ajose". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 5 July 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
- ↑ "Spireites issue retained list". Chesterfield FC. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
- ↑ "Bury 2–0 Doncaster". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 2 February 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
- ↑ "Ajose back with Posh". Sky Sports. 20 August 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
- ↑ "Nicky Ajose: Swindon agree loan deal for Peterborough striker". BBC Sport. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Ajose named Player of the Month". football-league.co.uk (The Football League). 7 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
- ↑ "LEAGUE ONE LATEST: Ex Manchester United striker Nicky Ajose is transfer-listed by Peterborough United". Scunthorpe Telegraph (Local World). 15 May 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
- ↑ "Nicky Ajose: Leeds United sign Peterborough United striker". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 5 August 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
- ↑ Hay, Phil (8 August 2014). "Ajose: I've earned my chance at Leeds United". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
- ↑ "Millwall v Leeds". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
- ↑ "AJOSE MAKES LOAN MOVE". Leeds United AFC. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
- ↑ Rich Sharpe (7 January 2015). "Crewe Alexandra: Steve Davis hopeful Jamie Ness and Nicky Ajose will return". The Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- ↑ "Ajose: "I've Got Unfinished Business"". Crewe Alexandra FC. 8 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
- ↑ "REDFEARN GIVES TRANSFER UPDATE". Leeds United AFC. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
- ↑ Phil Hay (9 January 2015). "Leeds United: Redfearn wants signings now". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
- ↑ "Nicky Ajose". TheFA.com. The Football Association. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
- ↑ "Country Call up Man Utd Youngster". Kick Off Magazine. 14 December 2008. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
- ↑ "21. Nicky Ajose". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
External links
| ||||||