Tanitoluwa Oluwatimilehin Oluwaseyi (born May 15, 2000) is a professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Major League Soccer side Minnesota United. Born in Nigeria, he represents Canada at international level.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name |
Tanitoluwa Oluwatimilehin Oluwaseyi[1] | ||
| Date of birth | May 15, 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | Abuja, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Minnesota United | ||
| Number | 14 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2010–2014 | Erin Mills SC | ||
| 2014–2018 | GPS Academy | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2021 | St. John's Red Storm | 49 | (20) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021 | Manhattan SC | 2 | (1) |
| 2021 | NY Pancyprian-Freedoms | ||
| 2022– | Minnesota United | 27 | (8) |
| 2022–2023 | → Minnesota United 2 (loan) | 13 | (3) |
| 2023 | → San Antonio FC (loan) | 25 | (17) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2024– | Canada | 9 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 19, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of November 15, 2024 | |||
Early life
editOluwaseyi was born in Abuja, Nigeria, but moved to Mississauga, Canada at age 10.[2][1] He played youth soccer with Erin Mills SC and GPS Academy [3][4]
He attended St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School. At St. Joan of Arc, he captained the Angels to a 17–0 record and a Provincial High School Championship as a senior he scored 30 goals and tallied ten assists while serving as a team captain. He was also a three-time MVP of the boys soccer team, scoring a total of 68 times over a four-year career. While at high school, Oluwaseyi also played club soccer for the GPS Academy, where he won the Golden Boot Award at the 2017 Super Cup in Northern Ireland, at which his team won the Vase Cup. He also led his team to Ontario Academy Soccer League and Provincial Indoor Soccer League Championships.[5][6]
College career
editIn 2018, Oluwaseyi committed to playing college soccer at St. John's University. In a four year college career, Oluwaseyi went on to make 49 appearances, scoring 20 goals and tallying ten assists.[5] He missed nearly all his entire senior season,[7][8] and his sophomore season was truncated by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he earned numerous college accolades, including BIG EAST All-Freshman Team selection in 2018, BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-BIG EAST, and United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Atlantic Region in 2019, and First Team All-BIG EAST, and United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Second Team in the 2020–21 season.[5]
Club career
editIn 2021, Oluwaseyi appeared for local side Manhattan SC in the USL League Two, where he scored a single goal during his two appearances.[9] He also played with New York Pancyprian-Freedoms, who compete in the fifth-tier EPSL.[10] He was also named on the roster for NPSL side FC Golden State, but didn't make an appearance.[11]
In January 2022, it was announced Oluwaseyi would be available in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft.[12] [13] On January 11, he was selected 17th overall by Minnesota United.[14][15][16] On February 25, Oluwaseyi signed a one-year deal with Minnesota.[17][18][19] During the 2022 season, he spent time with Minnesota United 2 in MLS Next Pro.[20] In November 2022 Minnesota announced they had exercised Oluwaseyi's contract option, keeping him at the club through 2023.[21]
In April 2023, he was loaned to USL Championship side San Antonio FC for the remainder of the 2023 season.[22] In his debut for San Antonio on May 7, Oluwaseyi scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over the Las Vegas Lights.[23] On May 14, he scored a hat-trick against the Charleston Battery in a 7-0 victory.[24] On July 7, Oluwaseyi got his second hat-trick against Memphis 901 in a 4-0 victory.[25] Three weeks later on July 29, he would score four goals against Hartford Athletic in a 5-2 win, reaching 13 goals on the season and breaking San Antonio's single season scoring record.[26]
On March 2, 2024, Oluwaseyi scored his first MLS goal, a stoppage-time equalizer as Minnesota United drew the Columbus Crew 1-1.
International career
editBorn in Nigeria but having spent his teenage years in Canada, Oluwaseyi was eligible to represent both the Nigerian national team and the Canadian national team.
In June 2024, he was announced as a late addition to the Canada squad ahead of two friendlies against the Netherlands and France.[27] He made his debut against the latter on June 9 at the Matmut Atlantique. He substituted Ismaël Koné in the 84th minute as the game ended in a goalless draw.[28] On June 15, 2024, Oluwaseyi was named to Canada's squad for the 2024 Copa América.[29] He became cap-tied to Canada in a 1-0 win against Peru on June 25, 2024, substituting for Cyle Larin in the 82nd minute.[30]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of match played November 2, 2024[31]
| Club | Season | League | Playoffs | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manhattan SC | 2021[32] | USL League Two | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | ||||
| Minnesota United | 2023 | MLS | 2 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2024 | 25 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 29 | 8 | |||
| Total | 27 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 8 | ||
| Minnesota United 2 (loan) | 2022 | MLS Next Pro | 10 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 2 | ||||
| 2023 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | ||||||
| Total | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 3 | ||
| San Antonio (loan) | 2023 | USL Championship | 25 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 18 | ||
| Career total | 67 | 29 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 74 | 30 | ||
International
edit- As of match played November 15, 2024
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 2024 | 9 | 0 |
| Total | 9 | 0 | |
References
edit- ^ a b Tani Oluwaseyi at the Canadian Soccer Association
- ^ "Black voices in soccer: The importance of recognizing Juneteenth and diversity in the game". MLS Next Pro.
- ^ "Who is Canada's newest striker option? 1-on-1 with Tani Oluwaseyi - VAMOS! Presented by Degree". OneSoccer. July 8, 2024.
- ^ Boehm, Charles (April 26, 2024). "Tani Oluwaseyi seizes moment with Minnesota United: "I've been waiting"". Major League Soccer.
- ^ a b c "Tani Oluwaseyi - Men's Soccer". St. John's University Athletics.
- ^ Murray, Brendan. "Tani Oluwaseyi Has Found His Confidence In 2019".
- ^ "St. John's soccer star Tani Oluwaseyi will miss entire 2021 season". July 26, 2021.
- ^ "Red Storm soccer miss impact left by Tani Oluwaseyi". BVM Sports. December 2, 2021.
- ^ "Manhattan SC | uslleaguetwo.com". www.uslleaguetwo.com.
- ^ "Former NYPF Players Oluwaseyi and Simonsen Picked in 2022 MLS SUPER DRAFT". Eleftheria Pancyprian Soccer Club.
- ^ "National Premier Soccer League". npsl.bonzidev.com.
- ^ "Who Are The Canadians In The MLS SuperDraft?". January 9, 2022.
- ^ "red storm have a bit of everything available in tuesdays". Toronto Star. January 9, 2022.
- ^ "MNUFC Select Forward Tani Oluwaseyi in the 2022 MLS Superdraft | Minnesota United FC". MNUFC.
- ^ Kiernan, Sara. "Red Stormin' the MLS: Three Johnnies Selected In SuperDraft".
- ^ "Trio of Canadians taken in opening round of MLS SuperDraft | CBC Sports". CBC News. January 12, 2022. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023.
- ^ "MNUFC Signs MLS SuperDraft Pick Forward Tani Oluwaseyi | Minnesota United FC". MNUFC.
- ^ "Minnesota United FC sign forward Tani Oluwaseyi | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer.
- ^ Tribune, Jerry Zgoda Star. "Meet the new Minnesota United players for 2022". Star Tribune.
- ^ "Tanitoluwa Oluwaseyi | MLSsoccer.com". mlsnextpro.
- ^ "Minnesota United 2022 End of Season Roster Update". December 21, 2022.
- ^ "Minnesota United Loans Forward Tani Oluwaseyi to San Antonio FC". Minnesota United. April 27, 2023.
- ^ "Oluwaseyi's goal lifts San Antonio FC to 2-1 road victory over Las Vegas Lights FC". KSAT. May 7, 2023.
- ^ "Oluwaseyi tallies hat trick in San Antonio FC's breakthrough performance against Charleston Battery". KSAT. May 14, 2023.
- ^ "SAFC SHUTS OUT MEMPHIS 901 FC 4-0 ON THE ROAD". San Antonio FC. July 7, 2023.
- ^ "SAN ANTONIO FC BEATS HARTFORD ATHLETIC 5-2 BEHIND FOUR GOALS FROM TANI OLUWASEYI". San Antonio FC. July 29, 2023.
- ^ "Canada add Minnesota United's Tani Oluwaseyi for June friendlies". Major League Soccer. June 3, 2024.
- ^ "France v Canada game report". ESPN. June 9, 2024.
- ^ "CANMNT ANNOUNCE 2024 COPA AMÉRICA ROSTER". Canadian Soccer Association. June 15, 2024.
- ^ "Copa America Match Details - Canada vs Peru". Concacaf. May 2, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ Tani Oluwaseyi at Soccerway
- ^ "Tanitoluwa Oluwaseyi 2021 USL2 Stats". USL League Two.
External links
edit- Tani Oluwaseyi at Soccerway