Oluwatunmise Sobowale (born 19 March 1999) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a wing-back for EFL League Two club Swindon Town.

Tunmise Sobowale
Personal information
Full name Oluwatunmise Sobowale[1]
Date of birth (1999-03-19) 19 March 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Waterford, Ireland
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[2]
Position(s) Wing back
Team information
Current team
Swindon Town
Number 2
Youth career
Waterford
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Waterford 5 (0)
2018 Hércules 0 (0)
2018 Finn Harps 7 (1)
2020–2023 Waterford 67 (4)
2021Athlone Town (loan) 10 (0)
2023–2024 Shrewsbury Town 29 (0)
2024– Swindon Town 20 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:31, 26 December 2024 (UTC)

Career

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Born in Waterford,[2] Sobowale came through the academy of local League of Ireland side Waterford, and in May 2016 won the SFAI U17 Munster Schools Cup with his school side Mount Sion, beating Cork school Nagle Community College 2–1 in the final, alongside his brother Timi.[3]

Sobowale began his senior career with Waterford, making his debut in 2016 before moving to Spanish side Hércules.[4] He moved to Finn Harps in July 2018.[5][4] He scored on his debut for Finn Harps in a 3–0 win over Longford Town on 13 July 2018.[6] Sobowale returned to his hometown club Waterford in July 2020.[7] In July 2021, he signed for League of Ireland First Division side Athlone Town on loan until the end of the season.[8]

In July 2023, Sobowale was sold to EFL League One club Shrewsbury Town for an undisclosed fee.[9][10] He made his debut for the club on 9 August 2023, coming off the bench in the 77th minute of a 2–1 EFL Cup defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road.[11] He was released by Shrewsbury at the end of the 2023–24 season.[12]

On 10 June 2024, EFL League Two side Swindon Town announced the signing of Sobowale, with effect from 1 July.[13][14]

Personal life

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His younger brother Timi Sobowale is also a professional footballer.[15] The pair played together for the first time at senior level when Timi joined Waterford in 2022.[16]

Career statistics

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As of match played 26 December 2024[17]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Waterford 2016 LOI First Division 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
2017 LOI First Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 2 0
Total 5 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 6 0
Hércules 2017–18 Segunda División B 0 0 0 0 0 0
Finn Harps 2018 LOI First Division 7 1 2 0 0 0 1[b] 0 10 1
Waterford 2020 LOI Premier Division 13 0 1 0 14 0
2021 LOI Premier Division 11 0 1 0 12 0
2022 LOI First Division 24 3 4 0 4[c] 0 32 3
2023 LOI First Division 19 1 1[a] 0 20 1
Total 67 4 6 0 0 0 5 0 71 4
Athlone Town (loan) 2021 LOI First Division 10 0 10 0
Shrewsbury Town 2023–24[18] League One 29 0 3 0 1 0 2[d] 0 35 0
Swindon Town 2024–25[19] League Two 20 0 2 0 1 0 3[d] 0 26 0
Career total 138 5 13 0 2 0 12 0 165 5

References

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  1. ^ Campbell, Paula. "New signing who had been playing in Spain and ex-Derry player on target as Harps win to boost promotion hopes". derrynow.com.
  2. ^ a b "Tunmise Sobowale". TNT Sports.
  3. ^ Clancy, Michelle (11 May 2016). "Mount Sion crowned Munster champions in fine style".
  4. ^ a b "Tunmise Sobowale – Defender – First Team – Shrewsbury Town". shrewsburytown.com.
  5. ^ Dempsey, Andrew. "Finn Harps sign Irish underage international Sobowale from Spanish club Hercules". extratime.com.
  6. ^ McNulty, Chris (13 July 2018). "Debut goal for Sobowale as Finn Harps defeat Longford and go third". Donegal Daily.
  7. ^ "Tunmise Sobowale | Stats | History | Career Details | Images | extratime.com – The Home of Irish Football – Extratime.com". extratime.com.
  8. ^ "Athlone Town Complete Double Loan Swoop". Midlands 103.
  9. ^ "Shrewsbury sign Waterford wing-back Sobowale". BBC Sport. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Sobowale Joins Shrewsbury". Waterford FC.
  11. ^ "Match Report | Leeds United 2–1 Shrewsbury Town". shrewsburytown.com.
  12. ^ "Retained and Released List 2024". www.shrewsburytown.com.
  13. ^ "Town sign Tunmise Sobowale". www.swindontownfc.co.uk.
  14. ^ "Tunmise Sobowale: Swindon Town sign defender from Shrewsbury". BBC Sport. 11 June 2024.
  15. ^ "Sobowale brothers linked with moves to new clubs". Waterford News & Star. 21 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Waterford FC announce signing of Timi Sobowale". Waterford FC. 1 September 2022.
  17. ^ Tunmise Sobowale at Soccerway. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  18. ^ "Games played by Tunmise Sobowale in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  19. ^ "Games played by Tunmise Sobowale in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 October 2024.