Semi Ajayi Profile: Club, Market Value And Honours

Semi Ajayi, whose full name is Oluwasemilogo Adesewo Ibidapo Ajayi, is a Nigerian professional football player born on November 9, 1993, in Crayford, England. Standing 1.93 meters tall (about 6 feet 4 inches), he plays as a center-back or defensive midfielder.

Ajayi is currently playing for West Bromwich Albion, a team in the EFL Championship, which is the second tier of English football. Although he was born in England, he represents Nigeria in international football.

Semi Ajayi Club Career:

Semi Ajayi started his football career at Charlton Athletic, a club known for developing young talent. After working his way up through their youth system, Ajayi was offered his first professional contract in January 2012.

In November 2012, Ajayi went on a short-term loan to Dartford for 28 days. He made his debut for Dartford in a 4-0 win over Kingstonian in the FA Trophy.

During his time with Dartford, Ajayi played three games and scored one goal before returning to Charlton Athletic in late December.

Back at Charlton, Ajayi spent the rest of the season playing for the reserve team. He helped the reserves win the Professional Development League 2 and was even an unused substitute for a senior team match against Blackpool in January 2013.

Arsenal took notice of Ajayi’s talents, and in September 2013, he joined their academy on a two-year deal. Ajayi made an impressive start, scoring with a header in his debut for Arsenal’s Under-21 team.

He was on the bench for four senior team matches during the 2014-15 season but did not get to play. In March 2015, Ajayi went on loan to Cardiff City for the rest of the season.

Although he didn’t play in any matches, Cardiff decided to sign him on a two-year permanent deal once his Arsenal contract ended.

Ajayi’s time at Cardiff saw him mostly as a backup player. He was an unused substitute in two League Cup games during the 2014-15 season.

To get more playing time, Ajayi went on loan to AFC Wimbledon in September 2015. He made five appearances for Wimbledon before returning to Cardiff.

Later in November 2015, Ajayi joined Crewe Alexandra on loan. He impressed with his performances and was named to the Football League Team of the Week after his debut.

His loan was extended until late February, and he continued to play well before returning to Cardiff in February 2016.

In January 2017, Ajayi joined Rotherham United on loan for the rest of the season. He became a regular starter and scored his first goal for the club in February.

Ajayi made 17 appearances that season, and Rotherham decided to sign him permanently in March 2017 and helped Rotherham gain promotion to the Championship in May 2018.

Ajayi had a standout 2018-19 season, scoring eight goals in 49 games. He won the EFL Championship Player of the Month for March 2019 and Rotherham’s Away Player of the Season award.

He also won the Goal of the Season for a long-range strike against Leeds United. In July 2019, Ajayi signed a four-year contract with West Bromwich Albion.

He continued to make an impact, scoring his first Premier League goal for the club in December 2020 in a draw against Liverpool.

Semi Ajayi International Career:

Semi Ajayi’s time with the Nigerian national team began in May 2013 when he was called up to the Nigeria U20 squad for the 2013 Toulon Tournament.

This was an exciting moment for Ajayi as it marked his entry into international football. Although he was an unused substitute in the first match against Mexico U20, he made his debut on June 4, 2013, in a 1-1 draw against Belgium U21.

This was a huge step for Ajayi, who was proud to represent his country. During the tournament, Ajayi played in two more matches.

He faced Portugal and Brazil, gaining valuable experience on the international stage. His performance in these games was proof of his growing skills and confidence as a young footballer.

After the tournament, Ajayi expressed his pride in playing for Nigeria, showing his dedication and love for his national team.

Ajayi’s hard work and dedication paid off when he received his first call-up to the senior national team in August 2018.

This call-up was for the 2019 African Cup of Nations Qualifiers. Ajayi described this moment as a “dream” come true, highlighting how much it meant to him.

He made his debut for the senior team against Seychelles, coming on as a substitute in the 73rd minute to replace the injured Chidozie Awaziem.

This match was an important milestone in Ajayi’s career, marking his transition from youth to senior international football.

In December 2023, Ajayi was named in the 25-man squad for the 2023 African Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire. Ajayi was the only Nigerian player who played every single minute of Nigeria’s seven matches.

His consistent performance was important as the team advanced through the tournament, helping Nigeria finish as runners-up.

Semi Ajayi Market Value:

Semi Ajayi is a professional football player with a current market value of €1.50 million as of May 24, 2024. At his peak, his market value reached €6.00 million on June 8, 2021.

This shows a major change in his value over the past few years. Ajayi’s performance, age, and the demand for players in his position likely influenced this decrease in market value. Despite this, he remains an important player, contributing to his team with his skills and experience.

Semi Ajayi Honours:

Rotherham United

EFL League One Play-offs Winner (2018)

Nigeria

Africa Cup of Nations Runner-up (2023)

Individual Achievements

EFL Championship Player of the Month (March 2019)

Pataka

Pataka is a consistent and avid follower of the round leather game. He communicates his passion by editing soccer posts for various soccer platforms.