 Delfouneso training withAston Villa in 2008 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nathan Abayomi Delfouneso[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1991-02-02)2 February 1991 (age 34)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Tyseley,Birmingham, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2008 | Aston Villa | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008–2014 | Aston Villa | 31 | (2) |
| 2011 | →Burnley (loan) | 11 | (1) |
| 2012 | →Leicester City (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2012–2013 | →Blackpool (loan) | 41 | (6) |
| 2013–2014 | →Blackpool (loan) | 11 | (0) |
| 2014 | →Coventry City (loan) | 14 | (3) |
| 2014–2015 | Blackpool | 38 | (3) |
| 2015–2016 | Blackburn Rovers | 15 | (1) |
| 2016 | →Bury (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Swindon Town | 18 | (1) |
| 2017–2020 | Blackpool | 125 | (24) |
| 2020–2022 | Bolton Wanderers | 55 | (6) |
| 2022 | →Bradford City (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Accrington Stanley | 4 | (0) |
| 2023 | AFC Fylde | 7 | (1) |
| 2023–2024 | Chorley | 0 | (0) |
| 2024 | Hednesford Town | 5 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2006–2007 | England U16 | 8 | (3) |
| 2007–2008 | England U17 | 4 | (3) |
| 2008–2010 | England U19 | 25 | (9) |
| 2010–2012 | England U21 | 18 | (4) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2024 | AFC Fylde (caretaker) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:40, 16 April 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11:21, 21 March 2021 (UTC) | |||
Nathan Abayomi Delfouneso (born 2 February 1991) is an English professionalfootballer who plays as astriker.
Having graduated fromAston Villa's academy Delfouneso broke into their first team in 2008, mainly being an impact substitute over the next few years, he scored 9 goals in 52 appearances, including two goals in the club's 2008-09UEFA Cup campaign. Delfouneso had a series of loan moves toFootball League Championship sides while at Aston Villa, followed by permanent spells atBlackpool,Blackburn Rovers andSwindon Town. He signed for Blackpool for a fourth time in 2017.
Delfouneso was a regularEngland youth international, playing a total of 54 matches and scoring 19 goals atU16,U17,U19 andU21 levels.
Born inTyseley,Birmingham, Delfouneso, a product of theAston Villa Academy, became a regular for both the club's reserve and academy teams in the 2006–07 season. He made his debut for the reserve team in March 2007, just a month after turning 16. His late goal gave Villa a 2–1 win againstPortsmouth. In October, he scored his first goal in a 1–1 draw withReading. In February 2008, Delfouneso signed his first professional contract with Aston Villa, a few days after he was given the number 14 shirt for the first team - it was later reported in French magazineOnze Mondial that the number was chosen due to Delfouneso's admiration of strikerThierry Henry. He travelled with the squad for the game atFulham, but missed out on the final 16.[3] By the end of the 2007–08 season, Delfouneso had made 41 appearances for the Academy team, scoring 22 goals in the process.
Delfouneso made his competitive first-team début as a substitute in the away leg of theUEFA Cup second round match against Icelandic teamFH Hafnarfjörður. This made Delfouneso the youngest player to represent Villa in European competition, at the age of 17 years and 195 days. He also came on in the second leg atVilla Park. He made his first competitive start in a UEFA Cup tie againstMŠK Žilina, scoring with a left-footed volley after just half an hour.[4] He scored again in his second start on 17 December, netting a consolation goal away atHamburger SV.[5]
Delfouneso made his first domestic senior appearance on 4 January 2009, in anFA Cup tie againstGillingham atPriestfield Stadium, which Villa won 2–1. He scored his first domestic senior goal a month later, on 4 February in an FA Cup fourth round replay againstDoncaster Rovers at Villa Park, which Villa won 3–1.[6] His performance was rewarded with high praise from bossMartin O'Neill. On 16 February, it was reported thatCrystal Palace managerNeil Warnock was interested in taking Delfouneso toSelhurst Park on loan. O'Neill refused, declaring that Warnock's chances of acquiring the striker were "not a prayer".[7] Delfouneso made his league debut againstTottenham Hotspur as a second-half substitute forGabriel Agbonlahor, on 15 March.[8] He was given a second run-out during Villa's 3–3 draw withEverton, creating two good chances for himself, but failed to score. On 13 May, Delfouneso ended the season by picking up both Villa's Players' Young Player of the Year and Supporters' Young Player of the Year. Eight days later, Delfouneso scored the opening goal in a 3–1 victory overSunderland in thePremier Reserve League final.
On 6 November 2009, Delfouneso signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract with Aston Villa, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2011–12 season. In January 2010, O'Neill said that Delfouneso, along with fellow youngstersMarc Albrighton andCiaran Clark, were the subject of many loan offers from various other clubs. However, he went on to emphasise his confidence that the trio were good enough to remain as vital squad members on the fringes of Aston Villa's first team.[9] He scored his first league goal on 18 April, after coming off the bench againstPortsmouth in a 2–1 victory atFratton Park.
On 6 November 2010, Delfouneso started his first Premier League game against Fulham due toEmile Heskey,John Carew and Agbonlahor being injured. He completed 88 minutes of the match, which ended as a 1–1 draw. On 10 November, Delfouneso scored his second Premier League goal in a 3–2 win againstBlackpool atVilla Park. By the end of this campaign for Villa, he made 16 appearances and scored two goals in all competitions. On 20 May 2014,Aston Villa announced via theirTwitter page that Delfouneso, along with Marc Albrighton, had been released from his contract and would be a free agent for the start of the2014–15 season.[10]
On 8 March 2011, Delfouneso signed forBurnley of theFootball League Championship until the end of the season. He made his debut the same day, playing atHull City'sKC Stadium. Delfouneso scored past on-loan Aston Villa teammateBrad Guzan just five minutes into his first start forThe Clarets.[11] On 23 January 2012, Delfouneso signed a one-month loan deal withLeicester City. He made five appearances forthe Foxes, all as a substitute, but did not manage to score a goal.
On 31 August 2012, Delfouneso signed a one-year loan deal withChampionship sideBlackpool.[12] He made his debut the following day as a 66th-minute substitute in a 1–0 defeat to Leicester City at theKing Power Stadium.[13] He scored his first goals for the club on 18 September, scoring twice in a 4–1 win againstMiddlesbrough.[14] On 16 August 2013 it was confirmed that Delfouneso had re-signed on loan with Blackpool on a six-month deal.[15] He played eleven league games in his second spell atBloomfield Road, before returning to his parent club on 2 January 2014.
On 30 January 2014, Delfouneso joinedCoventry City on loan for the remainder of the2013–14 season.[16] Delfouneso struggled for fitness during his spell and managed only two league goals in 14 appearances. His first came against Walsall in March, with his second and last goal for Coventry coming in a 2–1 defeat atBramall Lane at the end of the 2013–14 season. He was also credited for a goal againstWolverhampton Wanderers that was later awarded as aDanny Batth own-goal.[17]
After two previous loan spells at Bloomfield Road, Delfouneso signed a one-year contract with Blackpool, with the option of a second, in July 2014.[18] He made his first start for the club in his new spell with them on 9 August.[19] He was released in May 2015.[20]
On 6 August 2015, following Delfouneso's release from Blackpool, he signed forBlackburn Rovers on a one-year deal and was handed the number 7 shirt. On 11 August 2015, he scored his first Rovers goal with a header againstShrewsbury Town in a 2–1 defeat at Ewood Park in theFootball League Cup first round. He also found the back of the net at Huddersfield on 15 August 2015, his second goal for the Rovers, in a Championship clash.[21] On 18 March 2016, Delfouneso joined Bury on loan until 19 April.[22]
On 18 August 2016, Delfouneso signed forSwindon Town until the end of the 2016–17 season.[23]
On 21 January 2017, Delfouneso re-joinedBlackpool on a permanent deal for the second time and fourth time overall, signing a deal until the end of the 2016–17 campaign.[24] His contract was extended by Blackpool at the end of the 2017–18 season after they exercised an option.[25]
In May 2019 he signed a new two-year contract with Blackpool.[26]
On 6 August 2020, Delfouneso joinedBolton Wanderers on a two-year deal.[27] After scoring four goals in pre-season[28][29][30] his competitive debut came on 5 September in Bolton's first match of the season, a 1–2 home defeat againstBradford in the first round of theEFL Cup.[31] He scored his first competitive goal on 3 October, scoring Bolton's second goal in a 2–1 win againstHarrogate Town.[32]
On 31 January 2022, Delfouneso joinedEFL League Two sideBradford City on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season.[33] On 3 May, Bolton confirmed that he would be released at the end of his contract.[34]
On 20 September 2022, Delfouneso signed for League One clubAccrington Stanley on a short-term contract.[35] On 20 January 2023, Delfouneso left the club.[36]
On 18 March 2023, Delfouneso signed forAFC Fylde on a short-term contract.[37]
On 16 February 2024, he joinedHednesford Town along with four other players after a short spell withChorley.[38][39]
On the international scene, Delfouneso first came to notice playing for theEngland U16 team – collecting eight caps and scoring three goals during this period, two were scored in the 2006 Victory Shield. In October 2007, Delfouneso marked his debut for theEngland U17 team with a hat-trick in a 6–0 victory overMalta.
Delfouneso made his debut for theEngland U19 team on 8 October 2008 in a UEFA Championship Qualifying tie againstAlbania. The striker came on as an 18th-minute substitute and netted the second goal in a comfortable 3–0 victory. He added another brace to his tally in the semi-final match againstFrance to put England through to the final of the2009 UEFA Under-19 Championship.
On 22 February 2010, Delfouneso received his first call up to theEngland under-21 squad, On 3 March 2010, he scored on his debut for them against Greece in a 2–1 defeat.
Delfouneso was named in the final 18-man squad for the2010 UEFA Under-19 Championship, which took place in France.
Delfouneso scored his second U-21 international goal againstIceland atDeepdale in a 2–1 friendly defeat in March 2011.
He scored his third goal for the England under-21 team on 5 September 2011 in a 4–1 win againstIsrael atOakwell.[40]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Aston Villa | 2008–09[41] | Premier League | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6[a] | 2 | 13 | 3 |
| 2009–10[42] | Premier League | 9 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 3 | |
| 2010–11[43] | Premier League | 11 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 17 | 2 | |
| 2011–12[44] | Premier League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 8 | 1 | ||
| 2012–13[45] | Premier League | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Total | 31 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 52 | 9 | ||
| Burnley (loan) | 2010–11[43] | Championship | 11 | 1 | — | — | — | 11 | 1 | |||
| Leicester City (loan) | 2011–12[44] | Championship | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| Blackpool (loan) | 2012–13[45] | Championship | 41 | 6 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 43 | 7 | ||
| 2013–14[46] | Championship | 11 | 0 | — | — | — | 11 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 52 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 54 | 7 | |||
| Coventry City (loan) | 2013–14[46] | League One | 14 | 3 | — | — | — | 14 | 3 | |||
| Blackpool | 2014–15[47] | Championship | 38 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 40 | 3 | |
| Blackburn Rovers | 2015–16[48] | Championship | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 16 | 2 | |
| Bury (loan) | 2015–16[48] | League One | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| Swindon Town | 2016–17[49] | League One | 18 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4[c] | 1 | 24 | 3 |
| Blackpool | 2016–17[49] | League Two | 18 | 5 | — | — | 2[d] | 1 | 20 | 6 | ||
| 2017–18[50] | League One | 40 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4[c] | 0 | 46 | 9 | |
| 2018–19[51] | League One | 39 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 7 | |
| 2019–20[52] | League One | 28 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 35 | 7 | |
| Total | 125 | 24 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 146 | 29 | ||
| Bolton Wanderers | 2020–21[53] | League Two | 44 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 47 | 8 |
| 2021–22[54] | League One | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5[c] | 2 | 20 | 2 | |
| Total | 55 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 67 | 10 | ||
| Bradford City (loan) | 2021–22[54] | League Two | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Accrington Stanley | 2022–23[55] | League One | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Fylde | 2022–23[56] | National League North | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | 7 | 1 | |||
| Career total | 384 | 48 | 26 | 12 | 15 | 2 | 28 | 6 | 453 | 68 | ||
Aston Villa
Blackpool
England U16
England U19
Individual
