Bosun Lawal

Bosun Lawal
Lawal training with Celtic in 2024
Personal information
Full name Mohammed Bosun Lawal[1]
Date of birth (2003-05-30) 30 May 2003 (age 21)
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 0 (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 17:51, 12 August 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 01:13, 16 October 2024 (UTC)

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.

Club career

[edit]

Celtic

[edit]

Lawal 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

[edit]

On 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

[edit]

Lawal 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

[edit]

Lawal 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 27 April 2024[17]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
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 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Career total 42 6 3 0 0 0 6 2 51 8
  1. ^ Includes Scottish Cup & FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes Scottish League Cup & EFL Cup
  3. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in Scottish Challenge Cup for Celtic B
  4. ^ Appearances in EFL Trophy

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Bosun Lawal at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ "Bosun Lawal". celticfc.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "Bosun Lawal off to Watford". skbfc.yourclub.ie. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Bosun Lawal". watfordfc.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  5. ^ Boland, Aaron (13 May 2021). "Irish teenager Bosun Lawal has a big fan in Troy Deeney". sportsnewsireland.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  6. ^ Emmanuel, Ifeanyi (19 May 2021). "Confirmed : Hugely talented Nigerian midfielder offered new deal by Watford". allnigeriasoccer.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Gray, Ryan (13 July 2021). "Watford youngster Bosun Lawal set to join Celtic". watfordobserver.co.uk. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  9. ^ "Celtic sign Japan forward Furuhashi". BBC Sport.
  10. ^ "Celtic confirm Bosun Lawal signing from Watford as they beat Chelsea and Norwich to youngster". HeraldScotland.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "Bosun Lawal to have his breakthrough at Celtic this year". OneFootball.
  14. ^ "Ben Summers in nod to Tobi Oluwayemi and Bosun Lawal with 'immense' praise". HeraldScotland.
  15. ^ Galindo, Alan (20 December 2022). "Celtic starlet Bosun Lawal 'attracting' interest from Brentford and Italian duo". GlasgowLive.
  16. ^ "Brentford monitoring Celtic prospect Bosun Lawal - Tribal Football". www.tribalfootball.com.
  17. ^ a b Bosun Lawal at Soccerway
  18. ^ "Games played by Bosun Lawal in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  19. ^ "Kyogo reaches 20 goals as Celtic sail past Morton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  20. ^ "Bosun Lawal signs new contract extension with Celtic". Celtic FC. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  21. ^ "Dubliner Bosun Lawal signs long-term deal with Celtic". Independent.ie. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  22. ^ "Bosun Lawal joins Fleetwood on loan until the end of the season". www.fleetwoodtownfc.com. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  23. ^ "Fleetwood sign Celtic defender Lawal on loan". BBC Sport. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  24. ^ "Farewell Fleetwood Town's giant, Bosun Lawal". Back Page Football. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  25. ^ "Potters bag Bosun Lawal". Stoke City. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  26. ^ "Stoke sign Celtic's Lawal on four-year contract". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  27. ^ "Bosun Lawal grateful for Stoke City show of faith as Celtic transfer threw up unexpected drama". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ "Bosun Lawal". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  30. ^ 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.
  31. ^ "Games played by Bosun Lawal in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  32. ^ "Games played by Bosun Lawal in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  33. ^ a b "Games played by Bosun Lawal in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  34. ^ "Games played by Bosun Lawal in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
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