Bukayo Saka
 Saka playing for England at the 2022 FIFA World Cup | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Bukayo Ayoyinka Temidayo Saka | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 5 September 2001 | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Ealing, England | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Right winger[2] | ||||||||||||||||
| Club information | |||||||||||||||||
Current team | Arsenal | ||||||||||||||||
| Number | 7 | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| Watford | |||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2018 | Arsenal | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 2018– | Arsenal | 144 | (35) | ||||||||||||||
| National team‡ | |||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | England U16 | 6 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | England U17 | 9 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2018 | England U18 | 5 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | England U19 | 10 | (4) | ||||||||||||||
| 2020 | England U21 | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2020– | England | 30 | (11) | ||||||||||||||
Honours
| |||||||||||||||||
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:01, 28 October 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22:33, 12 September 2023 (UTC) | |||||||||||||||||
Bukayo Ayoyinka T. M. Saka[3] (born 5 September 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger, for Premier League club Arsenal and the England national team.
Early life
[change | change source]Saka was born in Ealing, Greater London to Nigerian parents,[4] and went to the Edward Betham Church of England Primary School[5] before Greenford High School,[6] where he gained high grades in his GCSEs.[7] Prior to joining Arsenal, Saka played youth football for local club Greenford Celtic.[8] His parents moved to London from Nigeria as migrants.[9]
His name "Bukayo" comes from the Yoruba language spoken in southern Nigeria, meaning "adds to happiness".[10]
Club career
[change | change source]Saka had played for the youth teams of Watford.[11] He joined Arsenal's Hale End academy[12] at the age of seven.[13] Once he turned 17 years old, Saka was given a contract by Arsenal and moved up to the under-23 side.[12]
On 29 November 2018, Saka made his first senior appearance for Arsenal in their Europa League match against Vorskla Poltava.[14]
2019–20: Breakthrough and FA Cup win
[change | change source]Saka scored his first senior goal on 19 September, against German side Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Europa League. He also finished the match with two assists in a 3–0 win.[15] Saka was rewarded for his efforts in Germany with his first Premier League start, in a 3–2 home win over Aston Villa.
On 1 July 2020, Saka signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal.[16]
2020–21: Arsenal Player of the Season
[change | change source]On 15 April, Saka scored a goal and helped Arsenal to a 4–0 victory over Slavia Prague in the quarter final of the Europa League. Because of this, he was named as the Europa League Player of the Week.[17][18]
International career
[change | change source]Saka represented England at under-16, under-17,[19] under-18,[20] under-19 and under-21 level.[21]
On 1 October, Saka was called up to the England senior squad for the first time,[22] and made his international debut as one of the starters in a 3–0 victory over Wales.[23]
On 1 June 2021, he was named in the 26-man squad for UEFA Euro 2020. On 2 June 2021, in a friendly against Austria, Saka scored his first senior international goal, the only goal in a 1–0 win.[24] He started in England's third Euro 2020 group stage match on 22 June 2021 against the Czech Republic, and was named the man of the match.[25] On 11 July 2021, in the tournament final against Italy, Saka was brought on as a substitute for Kieran Trippier. Following full time and extra time, Saka was chosen to take the team's fifth penalty during the following shoot-out, his first penalty kick at senior level.[26] Saka's shot was saved by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and, as a result, Italy won the shoot-out and the tournament.[27] Saka faced racist abuse online after missing the penalty.[28][29]
Career statistics
[change | change source]Club
[change | change source]- As of match played 28 October 2023
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Arsenal U21 | 2018–19[30] | — | — | — | — | — | 4[a] | 1 | 4 | 1 | ||||
| Arsenal | 2018–19[31] | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | |
| 2019–20[32] | Premier League | 26 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6[b] | 2 | — | 38 | 4 | ||
| 2020–21[33] | Premier League | 32 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9[b] | 2 | 1[c] | 0 | 46 | 7 | |
| 2021–22[34] | Premier League | 38 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 43 | 12 | |||
| 2022–23[35] | Premier League | 38 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8[b] | 1 | — | 48 | 15 | ||
| 2023–24[36] | Premier League | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[d] | 1 | 1[c] | 0 | 13 | 5 | |
| Total | 144 | 35 | 10 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 28 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 192 | 43 | ||
| Career total | 144 | 35 | 10 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 28 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 196 | 44 | ||
- ↑ Appearances in EFL Trophy
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Appearance in FA Community Shield
- ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
International
[change | change source]- As of match played 12 September 2023[37]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 2020 | 4 | 0 |
| 2021 | 10 | 4 | |
| 2022 | 10 | 3 | |
| 2023 | 6 | 4 | |
| Total | 30 | 11 | |
- As of match played 12 September 2023
- England score listed first, score column indicates score after each Saka goal[37]
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 June 2021 | Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, England | 5 |  Austria |
1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly | [38] |
| 2 | 5 September 2021 | Wembley Stadium, London, England | 11 |  Andorra |
4–0 | 4–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | [39] |
| 3 | 9 October 2021 | Estadi Nacional, Andorra la Vella, Andorra | 12 | Andorra |
2–0 | 5–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | [40] |
| 4 | 15 November 2021 | Stadio Olimpico di San Marino, Serravalle, San Marino | 14 |  San Marino |
10–0 | 10–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | [41] |
| 5 | 21 November 2022 | Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar | 21 |  Iran |
2–0 | 6–2 | 2022 FIFA World Cup | [42] |
| 6 | 4–0 | |||||||
| 7 | 4 December 2022 | Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar | 23 |  Senegal |
3–0 | 3–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup | [43] |
| 8 | 26 March 2023 | Wembley Stadium, London, England | 26 |  Ukraine |
2–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying | [44] |
| 9 | 19 June 2023 | Old Trafford, Manchester, England | 28 |  Macedonia |
2–0 | 7–0 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying | [45] |
| 10 | 4–0 | |||||||
| 11 | 5–0 |
Honours
[change | change source]Arsenal
- FA Cup: 2019–20[46]
- FA Community Shield: 2020,[47] 2023[48]
- UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2018–19[49]
England
- UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2020[50]
Individual
- England Men's Player of the Year: 2021–22,[51] 2022–23
- Premier League Player of the Month: March 2023[1]
- PFA Team of the Year: 2022–23 Premier League[52]
- PFA Young Player of the Year: 2022–23[52]
- Arsenal Player of the Season: 2020–21,[53] 2021–22[54]
- IFFHS Men's Youth (U20) World Team: 2021[55]
- London Football Awards Men's Young Player of the Year: 2023[56]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Bukayo Saka: Overview". Premier League. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ↑ Dowdeswell, Andrew (9 July 2020). "Arsenal: Where is Bukayo Saka's best position?". Pain in the Arsenal. Fansided. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ↑ "Bukayo Saka". England Football Online. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- ↑ Oludare, Shina (8 July 2020). "Saka: Ikpeba wants Arsenal star invited to Super Eagles". Goal.com. Perform Group. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- ↑ "Issue 33 – 17th June 2019.pdf" (PDF).
- ↑ Watts, Charles; Clementine, Katherine (13 December 2018). "Arsenal FC's Bukayo Saka: The young Ealing-born player making his senior debut". MyLondon. Reach. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- ↑ Ellery, Ben. "England star Bukayo Saka was a real role model, says PE teacher". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
- ↑ "'I'm crying writing this': Final good luck messages for England's stars - by those who know them best". The Telegraph. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
- ↑ "10 things you may not know about Bukayo Saka – Arsenal's new number 7". GiveMeSport. 2020-07-24. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
- ↑ Hendrix, Hale (2019-10-05). "Bukayo Saka Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts". LifeBogger. Archived from the original on 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
- ↑ Berrill, Lewis (9 July 2021). "Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho's time at Watford FC". Watford Observer. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Wheatley, Chris (20 November 2018). "Meet Bukayo Saka: The latest Arsenal academy star making a name for himself". Goal.com. Perform Group. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- ↑ "Why Saka could be a future Arsenal captain". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ↑ "Vorskla vs Arsenal". Soccerway.
- ↑ "Arsenal beat Eintracht in opener" – via www.bbc.com.
- ↑ "Bukayo Saka signs new long-term contract". Arsenal F.C. 1 July 2020.
- ↑ Dean, Sam; Zeqiri, Daniel (2021-04-15). "Impressive Arsenal tear Slavia Prague apart to set up Unai Emery reunion". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
- ↑ "Saka bags Europa League award after Slavia Prague display". Yardbarker. 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
- ↑ "Bukayo Saka at UEFA U17". UEFA. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
- ↑ "England U18s beat hosts France to seal Limoges title with three wins from three games". The Football Association. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
- ↑ "Bukayo Saka at UEFA U19". UEFA. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
- ↑ "England squad: Dominic Calvert-Lewin called up but Mason Greenwood and Phil Foden left out". BBC Sport. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ McNulty, Phil (8 October 2020). "England 3–0 Wales". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
- ↑ McNulty, Phil (2 June 2021). "England 1-0 Austria: Bukayo Saka seals win with first international goal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- ↑ "Euro 2020 - 'More to come from us' - Gareth Southgate praises England and 'fabulous' Bukayo Saka". Eurosport. 22 June 2021.
- ↑ Wallace, Sam (2021-07-12). "Bukayo Saka is a teenager who had never taken a penalty - so why was he asked to do it now?". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2021-07-12.
- ↑ "England lose shootout in Euro 2020 final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
- ↑ "England 'disgusted' by racism aimed at players". ESPN.com. 2021-07-12. Retrieved 2021-07-12.
- ↑ "PM & FA condemn racist abuse of players". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2021-07-12.
- ↑ "B. Saka: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 23 January 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- ↑ "Games played by Bukayo Saka in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- ↑ "Games played by Bukayo Saka in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- ↑ "Games played by Bukayo Saka in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ↑ "Games played by Bukayo Saka in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
- ↑ "Games played by Bukayo Saka in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ↑ "Games played by Bukayo Saka in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 "Bukayo Saka: Internationals". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Archived from the original on 25 June 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ↑ "England vs. Austria 1–0: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ↑ "England vs. Andorra 4–0: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 5 September 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- ↑ "Andorra vs. England 0–5: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
- ↑ "San Marino vs. England 0–10: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ↑ "England vs. Iran 6–2: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 21 November 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
- ↑ "England vs. Senegal 3–0: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 4 December 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ↑ "England vs. Ukraine 2–0: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
- ↑ "England vs. North Macedonia 7–0: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 19 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ↑ McNulty, Phil (1 August 2020). "Arsenal 2–1 Chelsea". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- ↑ Sanders, Emma (29 August 2020). "Arsenal 1–1 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 29 August 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
- ↑ Rose, Gary (6 August 2023). "Arsenal 1–1 Manchester City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
- ↑ Bevan, Chris (29 May 2019). "Chelsea 4–1 Arsenal". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 2 June 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
- ↑ McNulty, Phil (11 July 2021). "England lose shootout in Euro 2020 final". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
- ↑ "Bukayo Saka wins England men's POTY award for 2022". The Football Association. 23 September 2022. Archived from the original on 23 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ↑ 52.0 52.1 "Erling Haaland: Manchester City forward wins PFA men's Player of the Year award". BBC Sport. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ↑ "Arsenal Player of the Season: In first place..." Arsenal F.C. 4 June 2021. Archived from the original on 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ↑ "Arsenal Player of the Season: In first place..." Arsenal F.C. 8 June 2022. Archived from the original on 8 June 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ↑ "IFFHS MEN'S YOUTH (U20) WORLD TEAM OF THE YEAR 2021". International Federation of Football History & Statistics. 9 December 2021. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ↑ "Quartet honoured at London Football Awards". Arsenal F.C. 13 March 2023. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.