Oscar Bobb Explained

Oscar Bobb
Full Name:Oscar Bobb[1]
Birth Date:12 July 2003
Birth Place:Oslo, Norway
Height:1.74 m
Currentclub:Manchester City
Clubnumber:52
Position:Midfielder, winger
Youthyears1:–2015
Youthclubs1:Lyn
Youthyears2:2017–2019
Youthclubs2:Vålerenga
Youthyears3:2019–2023
Youthclubs3:Manchester City
Years1:2023–
Clubs1:Manchester City
Caps1:14
Goals1:1
Nationalyears1:2019
Nationalteam1:Norway U16
Nationalcaps1:12
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2020
Nationalteam2:Norway U17
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2021
Nationalteam3:Norway U18
Nationalcaps3:9
Nationalgoals3:3
Nationalyears4:2022
Nationalteam4:Norway U19
Nationalcaps4:4
Nationalgoals4:1
Nationalyears5:2022–
Nationalteam5:Norway U21
Nationalcaps5:8
Nationalgoals5:2
Nationalyears6:2023–
Nationalteam6:Norway
Nationalcaps6:8
Nationalgoals6:2
Club-Update:23:24, 11 May 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:8 June 2024

Oscar Bobb (born 12 July 2003) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or winger for club Manchester City and the Norway national team.

Club career

Early career and move to Portugal

Born in Oslo, Bobb played for Lyn at youth level. In 2013, he began being linked with Portuguese club Porto, after performing well at a youth tournament in Algarve.[2] Porto reached out to Bobb's mother,, to convince the young footballer to sign with them, even going as far as to pay for the two of them to visit the club in Porto.[2] In October 2015, Gunnes moved to Portugal on her own, before signing documentation in November of the same year for Bobb to be enrolled in the Portuguese Football Federation.[2]

Despite the documentation being rejected by FIFA in January 2016, Bobb and his mother remained in Porto, and in January 2017 he attempted to sign with Escola de Futebol Hernâni Gonçalves.[2] However, FIFA were neither convinced that Bobb's mother had moved to Portugal of her own volition, to pursue an acting career, nor that the Escola de Futebol Hernâni Gonçalves were independent from Porto, and consequently refused Bobb an international transfer certificate.[2] [3]

The case reached the Court of Arbitration for Sport, who sided with FIFA, and Bobb was told to return to Norway.[2] He would go on to sign for fellow Oslo-based club Vålerenga.[2]

Manchester City

Bobb joined Premier League club Manchester City in July 2019.[4] In October of the same year, he was named by English newspaper The Guardian as the best young talent at Manchester City of his age group.[5]

After a relatively slow start, compared to other youth players brought in at the same time, Bobb cemented his place in Manchester City's under-23 side, notching a number of assists in his first full season.[6] As a reward for his fine form for the reserve side, Bobb was named on the Manchester City bench for the first time, in an FA Cup third round tie against Swindon Town on 7 January 2022, though he did not feature.[7] [8]

On 2 September 2023, Bobb was given his Premier League debut against Fulham coming on as an 88th minute substitute for Phil Foden, where he was involved in the buildup leading to the 5th goal scored by fellow Norwegian Erling Haaland.[9] On 19 September, he made his Champions League debut against Red Star Belgrade, replacing Phil Foden in the 83rd minute in a 3–1 win.[10] On 13 December also against Red Star Belgrade, Bobb scored his first Champions League goal in a 3–2 victory.[11] On 13 January 2024, he scored his first Premier League goal in the 91st minute, securing a 3–2 comeback away win over Newcastle United.[12] A month later, on 26 February, he signed a new long-term contract at the club until 2029.[13]

International career

Born in Norway, Bobb is of partial Gambian and Norwegian descent.[14] Until 2023 he was a youth international for Norway, having played up to the Norway U21s.[15] Bobb received his first call-up for the Norway men's team for the October 2023 international fixtures.[16] He made his senior debut as a 63rd minute substitute in the team's 4–0 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying win over Cyprus on 12 October.[17] On 16 November 2023, Bobb scored his first goal for Norway in a friendly match against the Faroe Islands.[18]

Personal life

Bobb speaks fluent Portuguese.[19]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester City2023–24Premier League14150104120262
2024–25Premier League000000001010
Career total14150104130272

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Norway202341
202441
Total82

Norway score listed first, score column indicates score after each Bobb goal

List of international goals scored by Oscar Bobb
No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
116 November 2023Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway32–02–0Friendly
222 March 2024Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway51–01–2Friendly

Honours

Manchester City

2023–24[20]

2024[21]

2023[22]

2023[23]

Individual

January 2024[25]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Premier League clubs publish 2020/21 retained lists. 4 June 2021. 7 January 2022. Premier League.
  2. Web site: Como o FC Porto perdeu o talentoso Oscar Bobb. How FC Porto lost the talented Oscar Bobb. Micael. Pereira. Miguel. Prado. Anders. Christiansen. https://web.archive.org/web/20210514211701/https://tribunaexpresso.pt/football-leaks/2018-11-29-Como-o-FC-Porto-perdeu-o-talentoso-Oscar-Bobb. 14 May 2021. 7 January 2022. dead.
  3. Web site: Not Exceptional Enough: Oscar Bobb's Uselessly Close Article 19 Case. Terence D.. Brennan. 3 June 2020. 7 January 2022. terryblaw.medium.com.
  4. Web site: Oscar Bobb . 7 January 2022 . Manchester City.
  5. Web site: Christenson . Marcus . Powell . Jim . Blight . Garry . 9 October 2019 . Next Generation 2019: 20 of the best talents at Premier League clubs . 7 January 2022 . The Guardian.
  6. Web site: Bajkowski . Simon . 22 December 2021 . Oscar Bobb is reaping the rewards of Man City step up in summer . 7 January 2022 . Manchester Evening News.
  7. Web site: Wood . Liam . 7 January 2022 . Who is Oscar Bobb? Profile on Man City youngster included on bench vs Swindon . 7 January 2022 . Manchester Evening News.
  8. Web site: Lyn og VIF-talentet Oscar Bobb på benken til Manchester City. Lyn and VIF talent Oscar Bobb on the bench for Manchester City. 7 January 2022. 7 January 2022. dagsavisen.no. Norwegian.
  9. Web site: Manchester City 5–1 Fulham. Sky Sports. 2 August 2023. 2 August 2023.
  10. Web site: Bobb on Champions League debut: 'I'm very grateful' . Manchester City . 20 September 2023 .
  11. Web site: Paul Brown . Academy aces Hamilton and Bobb score in City win at Red Star . Manchester City . 13 December 2023 .
  12. Web site: Newcastle United 2–3 Manchester City . BBC Sport . 13 January 2024 .
  13. Web site: Bobb signs extension to City deal! . Manchester City F.C. . 26 February 2024 .
  14. Web site: 26 March 2023 . Nå er «Moi» den eneste: – Håper virkelig det blir annerledes . TV 2.
  15. Web site: Man City forward Oscar Bobb could get two senior debuts next season. Joe. Bray. 27 June 2023. Manchester Evening News.
  16. News: Bobb called up to Norway's Senior Squad for Euro 2024 qualifiers . 13 October 2023 . Manchester City.
  17. News: 12 October 2023 . Haaland hits brace on busy night of International Matches . Manchester City.
  18. Web site: Norway 2–0 Faroe Islands . Soccerway . 16 November 2023 .
  19. Web site: 2024-03-07 . Vídeo: norueguês do Man. City fala português perfeito (e há uma razão para isso) Abola.pt . 2024-03-07 . Abola.pt . pt.
  20. Web site: Oscar Bobb: Overview . Premier League . 12 August 2024.
  21. News: Manchester City 1–1 Manchester United: Line-ups . BBC Sport . 10 August 2024 . 10 August 2024.
  22. News: Manchester City 1–1 Sevilla . Phil . McNulty . BBC Sport . 16 August 2023 . 19 May 2024.
  23. News: Manchester City 4–0 Fluminense . BBC Sport . 22 December 2023 . 22 December 2023.
  24. News: Manchester City 1–2 Manchester United: Line-ups . BBC Sport . 25 May 2024 . 25 May 2024.
  25. Web site: Bobb's brilliant strike wins January 2024 Budweiser Goal of the Month award . Premier League . 16 February 2024 . 19 May 2024.