Dominic Iorfa (footballer, born 1995) explained

Dominic Iorfa
Fullname:Dominic Iorfa[1]
Birth Date:24 June 1995
Birth Place:Southend-on-Sea, England
Height:[2]
Position:Defender
Currentclub:Sheffield Wednesday
Clubnumber:6
Youthclubs1:Southend United
Youthyears2:–2013
Youthclubs2:Wolverhampton Wanderers
Years1:2013–2019
Clubs1:Wolverhampton Wanderers
Caps1:84
Goals1:0
Years2:2014
Clubs2:Shrewsbury Town (loan)
Caps2:7
Goals2:0
Years3:2017–2018
Clubs3:Ipswich Town (loan)
Caps3:23
Goals3:2
Years4:2019–
Clubs4:Sheffield Wednesday
Caps4:144
Goals4:5
Nationalyears1:2013
Nationalteam1:England U18
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2014–2015
Nationalteam2:England U20
Nationalcaps2:4
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2015–2017
Nationalteam3:England U21
Nationalcaps3:13
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:17:04, 19 August 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:30 June 2017 (UTC)

Dominic Iorfa (born 24 June 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for club Sheffield Wednesday. He is the son of Nigerian international footballer Dominic Iorfa, and represented England at under-21 level.

Club career

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Iorfa was part of the youth system at his local club Southend United before joining the academy of Wolverhampton Wanderers at the age of 15.[3]

He moved on a one-month loan to League One Shrewsbury Town on 18 March 2014,[4] and made his senior debut the same day as a substitute in a 0–1 defeat at Colchester.[5] Iorfa's first senior start came eleven days later in a 1–0 loss to Walsall at the Bescot Stadium, receiving his first yellow card also.[6] Overall Iorfa made seven appearances for the Shrews in a campaign which ultimately resulted in relegation.

Following his return to Wolves, Iorfa made his first appearance for the club as a surprise starter in a 2–1 loss to Bournemouth at Molineux on 6 December 2014.[7] He swiftly became the club's first choice right-back, starting in twenty-one of Wolves' twenty-five remaining fixtures following his debut. Having made his debut at the start of a 4-game unbeaten run, Iorfa became a fan favourite and a regular to the first team. In January 2015, Iorfa won the football league's Young Player Of The Month award,[8] and that same day went on to assist a goal in a 3–0 win for Wolves against Fulham.

Iorfa received his first ever red card in the first game of the 2016–17 season, a straight red against Rotherham at the New York Stadium on 6 August 2016. Wolves were 2–0 down at the time but fought back despite being down to 10 men to draw 2–2 with goals from George Saville and Jón Daði Böðvarsson in Walter Zenga's first game as head coach.[9]

On 14 July 2017 Iorfa was sent on a season-long loan to fellow Championship side Ipswich Town.[10] He made 25 total appearances and scored in a 4–2 home win over Nottingham Forest on 2 December.[11]

Sheffield Wednesday

On 31 January 2019 Iorfa moved to Sheffield Wednesday for an undisclosed fee.[12] He would make his debut against Rotherham United on 16 February 2019, where he would score his first goal and second career goal, with the last kick of the game to draw 2-2.[13]

The following season, he was voted as Sheffield Wednesday Player of the Year for the 2019–20 season.[14]

In December 2020, he ruptured his Achilles tendon in a match against Barnsley, meaning he would miss the remainder of the 20-21 season.[15] He would return in time for the start of the 21-22 season after Wednesday had suffered relegation without him,[16] and would make his return against Huddersfield Town in the first round of the EFL Cup.[17] Following his return from injury, Iorfa would sign a new two-year deal keeping him at the club until the summer of 2023.[18] Following promotion back to the EFL Championship on option was taken in Iorfa's contact for him to stay at the club.[19]

Following the end of the 2023–24 season, the club had offered Iorfa a new contract.[20] It was confirmed his new contract was signed on 3 July 2024. [21]

International career

Iorfa has been capped by England at under 18, under 20 and under 21 levels.[3] According to his father, Iorfa will consider playing for Nigeria only after his 23rd birthday.[22]

Personal life

His father — also named Dominic Iorfa — played as a striker and represented Nigeria at senior, and under-23 levels.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wolves2014–15Championship200200000220
2015–16420103000460
2016–17220102000250
Total840405000930
Shrewsbury Town (loan)2013–14League One7000000070
Ipswich Town (loan)2017–18Championship231101000251
2018–19Championship123000000123
2019–20412202000452
2020–21100002000120
2021–22League One190001010210
2022–23320503050450
2023–24Championship280002000300
2024–252000000020
Total144570100601675
Career total2546120160602886

Honours

Sheffield Wednesday

2023[23]

England U21

2016[24]

Individual

2019–20

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Professional Retain List & Free Transfers 2012/13 . . 3 June 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140802074454/http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/4e/bd/0%2C%2C10794~179534%2C00.pdf . 2 August 2014 . dmy .
  2. Web site: Dominic Iorfa . Sheffield Wednesday F.C. . 7 October 2022.
  3. News: Iorfa for England!. Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 1 March 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140304025832/http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/iorfa-for-england-010313-687984.aspx. 4 March 2014. dmy-all.
  4. News: Wolves defender joins Shrewsbury Town on loan. BBC Sport. 18 March 2014.
  5. News: Colchester 1–0 Shrewsbury. BBC Sport. 18 March 2014.
  6. Web site: Walsall 1–0 Shrewsbury. Sky Sports. 29 March 2014.
  7. News: Wolves 1–2 Bournemouth. BBC Sport . 6 December 2014.
  8. Web site: Cartwright. Phil. Dominic Iorfa: Wolves defender wins Football League award. BBC Sport. 10 March 2015. 21 February 2015.
  9. News: Rotherham 2–2 Wolves. BBC Sport . 6 August 2016.
  10. Web site: Dominic Iorfa: Ipswich Town sign Wolves defender on season-long loan . 14 July 2017 . BBC Sport.
  11. News: Warren . Andy . Player ratings: Waghorn stars as Town flex their muscles - Blues grades after Forest win . 24 January 2019 . East Anglian Daily Times . 2 December 2017.
  12. News: Howson . Dom . Sheffield Wednesday snap up Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Dominic Iorfa . 31 January 2019 . The Star . 31 January 2019.
  13. Web site: Report: Rotherham 2-2 Owlsr. Sheffield Wednesday Football Club. Sheffield Wednesday Football Club. 16 February 2019.
  14. Web site: Dominic Iorfa voted Owls Player of the Year. Sheffield Wednesday Football Club. Sheffield Wednesday Football Club. 27 July 2020.
  15. Web site: Pulis confirms Iorfa blow . Sheffield Wednesday FC . 13 December 2020.
  16. Web site: Report: Derby 3-3 Wednesday. Sheffield Wednesday FC . 8 May 2021.
  17. Web site: Report: Wednesday 0-0 (2-4p) Huddersfield. Sheffield Wednesday FC . 1 August 2021.
  18. News: Iorfa extends with Wednesday. 23 August 2021. Sheffield Wednesday F.C.. 23 August 2021.
  19. Web site: Owls retained list confirmed. Sheffield Wednesday FC. 2 June 2023.
  20. News: Owls confirm retained list. 17 May 2024 . Sheffield Wednesday FC. 17 May 2024.
  21. News: Dominic Iorfa pens new Owls deal. 3 July 2023. Sheffield Wednesday Official Site. 3 July 2023.
  22. Web site: Dominic Iorfa for Eagles at 23 - Father - The Nation Nigeria. 27 August 2015. Thenationonlineng.net. 17 December 2017.
  23. News: Barnsley 0–1 Sheffield Wednesday . Ian Woodcock . BBC Sport . 29 May 2023 . 29 May 2023.
  24. Web site: England Under-21s win Toulon tournament for first time in 22 years. Tyrone. Marshall. 29 May 2016. Mirror.co.uk. 17 December 2017.
  25. Web site: Dominic Iorfa: Wolves defender wins Football League award. 21 February 2015. 17 December 2017. Bbc.co.uk.