Daniel Oladele Akinbiyi Oyegoke (born 3 January 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a right back for Scottish Premiership club Heart of Midlothian.

Daniel Oyegoke
Oyegoke while with Bradford City in 2023.
Personal information
Full name Daniel Oladele Akinbiyi Oyegoke[1]
Date of birth (2003-01-03) 3 January 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Barnet, England[2]
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[3]
Position(s) Right back
Team information
Current team
Heart of Midlothian
Number 5
Youth career
0000–2017 Barnet
2017–2021 Arsenal
2021–2022 Brentford
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2024 Brentford 0 (0)
2022–2023Milton Keynes Dons (loan) 13 (0)
2023–2024Bradford City (loan) 24 (0)
2024– Heart of Midlothian 12 (1)
International career
2019 England U16 4 (0)
2019 England U17 2 (0)
2021 England U18 1 (0)
2021–2022 England U19 15 (0)
2022–2023 England U20 10 (1)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  England
UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Winner 2022 Slovakia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:30, 25 November 2024 (UTC)

Oyegoke is a product of the Barnet and Arsenal academies and began his professional career with Brentford in 2021. A member of the club's B team, he gained his first senior experience on loan at EFL clubs Milton Keynes Dons and Bradford City. After failing to break into the first team squad at Brentford, Oyegoke transferred to Heart of Midlothian in 2024. He was capped by England at youth level.

Club career

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Early years

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After beginning his youth career as a forward in the Barnet Academy,[4] Oyegoke moved to the Arsenal Academy in 2017.[5][6] While at Hale End, he was converted into a right back and progressed to sign a scholarship deal at the end of the 2018–19 season.[4][5] At the end of his two-year scholarship, Oyegoke elected to decline the offer of a professional contract and departed the club.[7]

Brentford

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On 1 July 2021, Oyegoke transferred to the B team at Premier League club Brentford and signed a three-year contract, with the option of a further year, for an undisclosed fee.[8] He made 24 B team appearances during the 2021–22 season and was an unused substitute during two first team cup matches.[9][3] Oyegoke was called into the first team's 2022–23 pre-season training camp in Germany and made two friendly appearances.[10][11]

On 27 July 2022, Oyegoke joined League One club Milton Keynes Dons on a season-long loan.[9] He made 18 appearances, predominantly as a starter,[3] before being recalled by Brentford on 2 January 2023.[10] During the second half of the 2022–23 season, Oyegoke was a part of the B team's 2022–23 Premier League Cup-winning squad.[12]

On 28 June 2023, Oyegoke joined League Two club Bradford City on a season-long loan.[13] A second yellow card led Oyegoke to be sent off for the first time in his career after 41 minutes of the opening match of the 2023–24 season.[14] He made regular appearances until mid-November,[15] when he underwent surgery on a shoulder injury.[16] One month later, it was announced that the club would retain Oyegoke's registration until the end of the season, on reduced terms.[17] He returned to match play on 16 March 2024 and ended the 2023–24 season (in which the Bantams narrowly missed the League Two play-offs) with 28 appearances.[12] Despite being offered a new contract,[18] Oyegoke transferred out of Brentford on 21 June 2024.[12]

Heart of Midlothian

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On 21 June 2024, Oyegoke transferred to Scottish Premiership club Heart of Midlothian and signed a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[19] He scored the first professional goal of his career on his eighth appearance, in a 4–0 victory over St Mirren on 19 October 2024.[20]

International career

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Oyegoke was capped by England at U16, U17, U18 and U19 level.[3] He participated in an U19 training camp in May 2021 and was named in the squad for a pair of friendly matches in September 2021,[21] both of which he appeared in.[22] During the 2021–22 season, Oyegoke was a part of the U19 squad which qualified for the 2022 UEFA European U19 Championship Finals.[23] He started in two of his five appearances at the Finals,[3] including the victory over Israel in the Final.[24]

In September 2022, Oyegoke was named in the England U20 squad for its Costa Cálida Supercup campaign.[25] He started in the opening match versus Chile and scored his first international goal in the 3–0 win.[26] Oyegoke was a member of England's 2023 U20 World Cup squad and started in every match prior to the team's round-of-16 exit.[27]

Personal life

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Oyegoke is of Nigerian descent.[28] He attended Aldenham School.[29]

Career statistics

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As of match played 23 November 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Arsenal U21 2020–21[30] 1[c] 0 1 0
Brentford 2021–22[31] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Milton Keynes Dons (loan) 2022–23[32] League One 13 0 0 0 2 0 3[c] 0 18 0
Bradford City (loan) 2023–24[15] League Two 24 0 0 0 2 0 2[c] 0 28 0
Heart of Midlothian 2024–25[20] Scottish Premiership 12 1 0 0 0 0 3[d] 0 15 1
Career total 49 1 0 0 4 0 2 0 7 0 62 1
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup, Scottish Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup, Scottish League Cup
  3. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  4. ^ 1 appearance in Europa League, 1 appearance in Conference League

Honours

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Brentford B

England U19

References

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  1. ^ "Updated squad lists for 2020/21 Premier League". www.premierleague.com. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Daniel Oyegoke". 11v11.com. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Daniel Oyegoke at Soccerway. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  4. ^ a b Lammie, Freddie (7 September 2020). "Daniel Oyegoke – Better Late Than Never". The Secret Scout. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  5. ^ a b "First-year scholars confirmed for next season". www.arsenal.com. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Daniel Oyegoke has NEVER liked Tottenham as Hearts new boy tells all ahead of clash with Ange and Co". Daily Record. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Daniel Oyegoke joins Brentford". www.arsenal.com. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Daniel Oyegoke signs for Brentford B". www.brentfordfc.com. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Oyegoke joins MK Dons on loan". www.brentfordfc.com. Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Daniel Oyegoke returns to Brentford". www.brentfordfc.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  11. ^ "Report: Boreham Wood 0–2 Brentford". www.brentfordfc.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
    "Report: Stuttgart 2 Brentford 1". www.brentfordfc.com. Archived from the original on 20 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  12. ^ a b c d "Oyegoke departs Brentford". www.brentfordfc.com. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  13. ^ "Oyegoke makes Bradford loan move". www.brentfordfc.com. Archived from the original on 28 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  14. ^ "Daniel Oyegoke Stats, Goals, Records, Assists, Cups and more". FBref.com. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
    "Cox denied clean sheet on Bristol Rovers debut". www.brentfordfc.com. Archived from the original on 7 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  15. ^ a b "Games played by Daniel Oyegoke in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  16. ^ "City uncertainty for Oyegoke after shoulder operation". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 23 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  17. ^ "Bradford City boss provides update on Brentford defender plus latest on Aston Villa and West Brom loanees". The Yorkshire Post. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Premier League clubs publish 2023/24 retained lists". www.premierleague.com. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  19. ^ "Daniel Oyegoke signs for Hearts". www.heartsfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  20. ^ a b "Games played by Daniel Oyegoke in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  21. ^ "England MU19s squad set for training camp in May". England Football. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  22. ^ "Oyegoke features as England Under-19s draw in Germany". www.brentfordfc.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  23. ^ "Cox and Oyegoke in England Under-19 squad". www.brentfordfc.com. Archived from the original on 30 August 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  24. ^ a b Veevers, Nicholas. "England U19s 3–1 Israel". The Football Association. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  25. ^ "Oyegoke earns first England U20s call". www.mkdons.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  26. ^ "Edwards graduates to England Under 20s after silverware-ladened Under 19 career". Peterborough Telegraph. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  27. ^ "Cox and Oyegoke knocked out of U20 World Cup". www.brentfordfc.com. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  28. ^ Daniel Oyegoke at WorldFootball.net
  29. ^ "Aldenham are the Investec ISFA U15 Champions 2018". Aldenham Senior School. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  30. ^ "Games played by Daniel Oyegoke in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  31. ^ "Games played by Daniel Oyegoke in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  32. ^ "Games played by Daniel Oyegoke in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
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