Matthew Olosunde Explained

Matt Olosunde
Fullname:Matthew Olawale Olosunde[1]
Birth Date:March 7, 1998
Birth Place:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Height:6 ft 1 in
Position:Right-back
Currentclub:The New Saints
Clubnumber:4
Youthyears1:2005–2012
Youthclubs1:Princeton Futbol Club
Youthyears2:2012–2015
Youthclubs2:New York Red Bulls
Youthyears3:2016–2019
Youthclubs3:Manchester United
Years1:2017–2019
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2019–2021
Caps2:64
Goals2:0
Years3:2021–2023
Caps3:2
Goals3:0
Years4:2024–
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Nationalyears1:2013–2015
Nationalcaps1:30
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2016
Nationalcaps2:3
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2019
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2018
Nationalteam4:United States
Nationalcaps4:1
Nationalgoals4:0
Club-Update:June 30, 2022
Nationalteam-Update:May 28, 2018

Matthew Olawale Olosunde (born March 7, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a right-back for Cymru Premier club The New Saints.

Club career

New York Red Bulls

Born in Philadelphia and raised in Trenton, New Jersey, Olosunde began his career at New York Red Bulls Academy as a right-winger, and represented the club's under-16 and under-18 academy teams.[2]

On August 16, 2014, he played 71 minutes for the New York Red Bulls Reserves in a 1–0 win over the Wilmington Hammerheads in the United Soccer League.[3]

Having verbally committed to play college soccer at Duke University, Olosunde left the Red Bulls following the 2015 FIFA Under-17 World Cup to further his education.

Manchester United

In January 2016, it was announced that Olosunde would join Premier League club Manchester United. It was reported that the club had offered him online courses at the University of Oxford to persuade him to join.[4] He received international clearance and officially joined the team on March 11.[5]

He initially joined the Under-18 set-up, and was promoted to the Under-23 team ahead of the 2016–17 season.[6] He made 18 appearances in his inaugural Premier League 2 campaign.

In April 2017, Olosunde was nominated for the club's Goal of the Month Award for his solo effort against Real Salt Lake in the Dallas Cup.[7]

The following month, he traveled with the first team squad to Premier League games against Arsenal[8] and Tottenham Hotspur.[6] In June 2019, Olosunde was released by Manchester United.[9] [10] [11]

Rotherham United

On July 5, 2019, Olosunde signed a two-year contract with Rotherham United.[12] [13] He scored his first goal for the club, and his first professional goal, in an FA Cup tie against Everton on January 9, 2021.[14] On June 7, 2021, it was announced that he would leave the club as a free agent at the end of the month, having turned down a new contract offer.[15]

Preston North End

On June 30, 2021, it was announced that Olosunde had agreed to join Preston North End on a two-year deal.[16] In his first year, Olosunde played in only 2 games after suffering from Achilles tendon and Groin injuries for most of the season.[17]

The New Saints

On February 16, 2024, Cymru Premier side The New Saints announced the signing of Olosunde on a one-year deal.[18]

International career

Olosunde has played for the United States at several youth levels. For the United States under-17, he played 22 matches and was part of the 21-player roster that represented United States at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile. He only appeared in the team's first match against Nigeria.[19] Due to his heritage, he is also eligible to represent Nigeria at the international level.

He made his senior debut for the United States on May 28, 2018, coming on as a 74th-minute substitute against Bolivia.[20]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rotherham United2019–20League One32030202[21] 0390
2020–21Championship320110000331
Total640412020701
Preston North End2021–22Championship2000000020
2022–23Championship0000100010
Total2000100030
Total660413020751

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed . Premier League . February 2, 2018 . February 15, 2018 . February 13, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210213004949/https://www.premierleague.com/news/612828 . live.
  2. News: New York Red Bulls youth product Matthew Olosunde wowing Manchester United . April 15, 2016 . MLSsoccer.com . December 20, 2017 . October 22, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161022104423/http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/04/15/new-york-red-bulls-youth-product-matthew-olosunde-wowing-manchester-united . live.
  3. Web site: M. Olosunde . May 24, 2017 . June 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180626135704/https://int.soccerway.com/players/matthew-olosunde/360797/ . live.
  4. News: Meet the straight A student who could make his Manchester United debut on Sunday . Kelly . Ciaran . May 18, 2017 . Manchester Evening News . December 20, 2017 . October 19, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181019182327/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-utd-news-matthew-olosunde-13046545 . live.
  5. Web site: Matt Olosunde . ManUtd.com . December 20, 2017 . May 30, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180530013020/http://www.manutd.com/en/Players-And-Staff/Reserves/matthew-olosunde.aspx . live.
  6. Web site: Samuel . Luckhurst . Who is Matthew Olosunde? Manchester United player profile . Manchester Evening News . May 7, 2017 . May 6, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170506230655/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-united-matthew-olosunde-wiki-12996483 . live.
  7. News: Vote for Matt Olosunde for Man United's Goal of the Month . Once A Metro . December 20, 2017 . December 22, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051946/https://www.onceametro.com/2017/5/3/15532662/vote-matt-olosunde-manchester-united-goal-of-month-zlatan-ibrahimovic-henrikh-mkhitaryan . live.
  8. Web site: Samuel . Luckhurst . Manchester United squad vs Arsenal revealed . Manchester Evening News . May 7, 2017 . January 21, 2020 . September 27, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200927143230/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-united-team-news-arsenal-12996214 . live.
  9. Web site: Luckhurst . Samuel . Manchester United release 15 players in summer transfer window . . June 8, 2019 . June 8, 2019 . September 20, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200920185356/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/man-utd-transfer-news-released-16326844 . live.
  10. Web site: Henry . Larry Jr. . Manchester United release American defender Olosunde . SBI . June 7, 2019 . June 8, 2019.
  11. Web site: Juan Mata: Manchester United offer midfielder new contract . June 7, 2019 . BBC Sport . August 29, 2019 . October 1, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191001012910/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48561843 . live.
  12. Web site: SIGNING USA international checks in at New York. Rotherham United F.C.. July 5, 2019. August 29, 2019. November 9, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221109210032/https://www.themillers.co.uk/news/2019/july/signing--millers-move-for-usa-interntational/. live.
  13. Web site: Matthew Olosunde: Rotherham United sign USA full-back on two-year deal . July 5, 2019 . BBC Sport . August 29, 2019 . July 7, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190707104115/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48883378 . live.
  14. Web site: Everton 2-1 Rotherham . BBC . January 9, 2021 . January 10, 2021 . January 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210109191953/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55574380 . live.
  15. Web site: Olosunde set for AESSEAL New York Stadium departure . . June 7, 2021 . June 7, 2021 . November 9, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221109210032/https://www.themillers.co.uk/news/2021/june/read--olosunde-set-for-aesseal-new-york-stadium-departure/ . live.
  16. Web site: Olosunde: "I'm Excited To Start This New Journey" . . June 30, 2021 . June 30, 2021 . November 9, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221109204952/https://www.pnefc.net/news/2021/june/matthew-olosunde-im-excited-to-start-this-new-journey/ . live.
  17. Web site: Preston summer signing Matthew Olosunde has suffered yet another injury blow . October 28, 2021 . June 30, 2022 . November 9, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221109204956/https://www.deepdaledigest.com/news/preston-north-end-matthew-olosunde-injury-update/ . live.
  18. Web site: The New Saints FC secure signing of former Manchester United and Preston North End defender, Matthew Olosunde. The New Saints F.C.. February 16, 2024. March 4, 2024.
  19. Web site: Richie Williams Names 21-Player Roster for FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Chile . US Soccer . United States Soccer Federation . October 2, 2015 . May 7, 2017 . July 29, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170729070534/http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2015/10/02/12/04/151002-u17mnt-world-cup-roster-announcement . live.
  20. Web site: U.S. MNT vs. Bolivia - International Friendly . US Soccer . United States Soccer Federation . May 28, 2018 . September 17, 2018 . September 17, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180917181712/https://www.ussoccer.com/matches/mnt/2018/20180528-mnt-vs-bolivia . live.
  21. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy.