Mohammed Bosun Lawal (born 30 May 2003) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender and midfielder for EFL Championship club Stoke City.
.jpg) Lawal training with Celtic in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mohammed Bosun Lawal[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 30 May 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | Ireland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Defender, midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Stoke City | ||
| Number | 18 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| St. Kevin's Boys | |||
| Bohemians | |||
| 2019–2021 | Watford | ||
| 2021–2023 | Celtic | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023–2024 | Celtic | 0 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | → Fleetwood Town (loan) | 42 | (6) |
| 2024– | Stoke City | 2 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| Republic of Ireland U15 | |||
| 2019 | Republic of Ireland U17 | 1 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Republic of Ireland U19 | 7 | (0) |
| 2021–2024 | Republic of Ireland U21 | 12 | (1) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:06, 26 December 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 01:13, 16 October 2024 (UTC) | |||
Club career
editCeltic
editLawal started his football career with the joint youth setup of Irish sides St. Kevin's Boys and Bohemian, playing for the latter at under-19 level.[3] He joined English Premier League side Watford in 2019.[3][4] While at Watford, he was named academy player of the year for the 2020–21 season, and earned praise from then-first team captain Troy Deeney, who compared him to Abdoulaye Doucouré.[5] He was offered a one-year contract by Watford in May 2021, but had attracted interest from Chelsea, Fulham, Norwich City and Scottish side Celtic, with the latter showing the strongest interest.[6][7][8]
Having rejected the contract offer from Watford, Lawal made the move to Scotland, joining Celtic in July 2021.[9][10][11] He was assigned to the club's B team, where he impressed with his performances,[12][13][14] and was linked with a transfer away from the club in December 2022.[15][16] He was named on the bench for the first team for the first time as Celtic went on to beat St Johnstone 4–1.[17] He made his senior debut on 21 January 2023, coming on as a late substitute in a 5–0 Scottish Cup win against Greenock Morton.[18][19]
On 17 August 2023, Lawal signed a new long-term contract with Celtic until the summer of 2026.[20][21] On the same day, he joined EFL League One club Fleetwood Town on a season-long loan deal, where he would be managed by former Celtic captain Scott Brown.[22][23] Lawal played 46 times for Fleetwood, scoring six goals as he was unable to help them avoid relegation.[24]
Stoke City
editOn 12 August 2024, Lawal signed for EFL Championship club Stoke City on a four-year-contract for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £2 million.[25][26] It was later revealed that during his medical a stress fracture in his lower back was discovered.[27]
International career
editLawal has represented the Republic of Ireland from under-15[3] to under-21 level.[1]
On 16 June 2023, he scored his first goal for the Irish under-21 national team in a 2–2 draw against Ukraine.[28]
Personal life
editLawal was born in Ireland and is of Nigerian descent.[29] His brother, Ola, is also a footballer and currently plays for Marine.[30]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played 26 December 2024[17]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup[a] | League Cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Celtic | 2021–22[31] | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022–23[32] | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[c] | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| 2023–24[33] | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 2 | ||
| Fleetwood Town (loan) | 2023–24[33] | EFL League One | 42 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | 46 | 6 |
| Stoke City | 2024–25[34] | EFL Championship | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |
| Career total | 44 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 53 | 8 | ||
- ^ Includes Scottish Cup & FA Cup
- ^ Includes Scottish League Cup & EFL Cup
- ^ a b c Appearance(s) in Scottish Challenge Cup for Celtic B
- ^ Appearances in EFL Trophy
References
edit- ^ a b Bosun Lawal at WorldFootball.net
- ^ "Bosun Lawal". celticfc.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ a b c "Bosun Lawal off to Watford". skbfc.yourclub.ie. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "Bosun Lawal". watfordfc.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ Boland, Aaron (13 May 2021). "Irish teenager Bosun Lawal has a big fan in Troy Deeney". sportsnewsireland.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ Emmanuel, Ifeanyi (19 May 2021). "Confirmed : Hugely talented Nigerian midfielder offered new deal by Watford". allnigeriasoccer.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ Caw, Daniel (14 July 2021). "Who is Bosun Lawal as Celtic close in on silky Watford academy player of the year already pictured at Parkhead". dailyrecord.co.uk. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ Gray, Ryan (13 July 2021). "Watford youngster Bosun Lawal set to join Celtic". watfordobserver.co.uk. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "Celtic sign Japan forward Furuhashi". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Celtic confirm Bosun Lawal signing from Watford as they beat Chelsea and Norwich to youngster". HeraldScotland.
- ^ Hendry, Mark (15 July 2021). "Celtic beat Chelsea, Norwich and Serie A side to Watford's Bosun Lawal in cut-price deal". glasgowtimes.co.uk. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ Hendry, Mark (14 April 2022). "Celtic's Bosun Lawal 'real find' as B-team defender impresses Hoops coach". footballscotland.co.uk. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "Bosun Lawal to have his breakthrough at Celtic this year". OneFootball.
- ^ "Ben Summers in nod to Tobi Oluwayemi and Bosun Lawal with 'immense' praise". HeraldScotland.
- ^ Galindo, Alan (20 December 2022). "Celtic starlet Bosun Lawal 'attracting' interest from Brentford and Italian duo". GlasgowLive.
- ^ "Brentford monitoring Celtic prospect Bosun Lawal - Tribal Football". www.tribalfootball.com.
- ^ a b Bosun Lawal at Soccerway
- ^ "Games played by Bosun Lawal in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ "Kyogo reaches 20 goals as Celtic sail past Morton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ "Bosun Lawal signs new contract extension with Celtic". Celtic FC. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ^ "Dubliner Bosun Lawal signs long-term deal with Celtic". Independent.ie. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- ^ "Bosun Lawal joins Fleetwood on loan until the end of the season". www.fleetwoodtownfc.com. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- ^ "Fleetwood sign Celtic defender Lawal on loan". BBC Sport. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Farewell Fleetwood Town's giant, Bosun Lawal". Back Page Football. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
- ^ "Potters bag Bosun Lawal". Stoke City. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
- ^ "Stoke sign Celtic's Lawal on four-year contract". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
- ^ "Bosun Lawal grateful for Stoke City show of faith as Celtic transfer threw up unexpected drama". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
- ^ Madden, Jack (16 June 2023). "Brighton's Andrew Moran on target as Ireland U21s salvage draw with Ukraine". The Irish News. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ^ "Bosun Lawal". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
- ^ Goldthorp, Craig (6 October 2022). "'I was absolutely buzzing' - midfield ace Ola Lawal reveals reaction upon hearing Falkirk wanted to sign him this summer". falkirkherald.co.uk. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Bosun Lawal in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
- ^ "Games played by Bosun Lawal in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
- ^ a b "Games played by Bosun Lawal in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
- ^ "Games played by Bosun Lawal in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.