Benik Afobe

Benik Afobe

Afobe playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2015
Personal information
Full name Benik Tunani Afobe[1]
Date of birth (1993-02-12) 12 February 1993[1]
Place of birth Leyton, England
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current team
 Bournemouth
Number 9
Youth career
2001–2010 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2015 Arsenal 0 (0)
2010–2011 → Huddersfield Town (loan) 28 (5)
2012 → Reading (loan) 3 (0)
2012–2013 → Bolton Wanderers (loan) 20 (2)
2013 → Millwall (loan) 5 (0)
2014 → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 12 (2)
2014–2015 → Milton Keynes Dons (loan) 22 (10)
2015–2016 Wolverhampton Wanderers 46 (22)
2016– Bournemouth 16 (4)
National team
2008 England U16 3 (4)
2009–2010 England U17 23 (11)
2010–2012 England U19 10 (7)
2012–2013 England U21 2 (1)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 04:19, 4 September 2016 (UTC).


Benik Tunani Afobe (born 12 February 1993) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Bournemouth.

He made his debut for the Arsenal Reserves at the age of 16 and scored 20 goals in 13 appearances for Arsenal's under 18 squad. He signed a professional contract with Arsenal in February 2010, and was loaned to various clubs before signing for Wolverhampton Wanderers in January 2015. A year later, he signed for Bournemouth for £10 million.

Afobe was part of the England squad that won the 2010 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in May 2010.[3]

Club career

Arsenal

Youth & Reserves

Afobe was born in Leyton, London.[1] He joined the Arsenal F.C. Academy when he was six; he was playing for Sunday league team Eclipse FC in Dagenham when he was spotted by an Arsenal scout – Gary Nott. He joined Arsenal on 1 May 2001. He scored 40 goals for the U-16s in 2007–08,[4][5] 11 goals in 13 appearances in 2008–09, and 21 goals in 24 appearances for Arsenal U-18 in 2009–10.[6] He was voted Arsenal's U-18 player of the season.[7] Afobe signed a professional contract with Arsenal in February 2010, after reportedly being targeted by Barcelona.[8][9] The Guardian called him "powerful and racy"[10] and commented that he "is already being furtively whispered up as the next, next big thing."[11]

Huddersfield Town (loan)

On 2 November 2010, he agreed on terms to join League One club Huddersfield Town on loan until December 2010.[12] He made his debut as a substitute the same night, coming on in the 64th minute for Joe Garner in the 2–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough Stadium.[13] After the game, Huddersfield manager Lee Clark praised Afobe, calling him "another fantastic young player from the Arsenal production line."[14] Afobe scored his first goals in professional football as Huddersfield beat Rotherham United 5–2 away from home in the Football League Trophy. He made it 3–1 with a clinical header inside the box, before finishing off the scoring with a well-taken finish in the second half.[15]

Following a broken leg to Anthony Pilkington, Afobe got an extended run in the Huddersfield starting line-up in the second half of the season which saw him pick up four Man of the Match awards in a row, which also included 5 goals and a number of important assists, taking Huddersfield's unbeaten record from December to 24 league games. Despite his and Huddersfield's great form, they narrowly missed out on automatic promotion and lost in the final of the play-offs. In total he made 32 appearances with 8 goals and 10 assists for the Terriers.[16][17]

2011–12 season

Afobe impressed on his first-team debut for Arsenal in the 2011 Emirates Cup against American side New York Red Bulls. He came on for the injured Jack Wilshere on 7 minutes, however he was then substituted on 74 minutes for Andrey Arshavin as he had a groin injury. Afobe made his return from injury in August for the Reserves in a 2–1 win against Man Utd Reserves,[18] however went off after just 22 minutes, ruling the striker out for over six months. Afobe made a goalscoring return for the Reserves in a 5–0 win against Norwich Reserves on 21 February, entering the field as a first-half substitute. Afobe also missed a penalty in the match.[19]

On 22 March 2012, Afobe agreed to join Championship club Reading on loan until the end of the season, and made three appearances in the side that secured the Championship title and promotion to the Premier League.

2012–13 season

On 3 August 2012, Football League Championship club Bolton Wanderers confirmed that Afobe had joined on a season-long loan.[20][21] Afobe made his debut the following day, coming on as a substitute in Bolton's 3–0 friendly defeat at Portsmouth.[22] On 7 August, he scored a hat trick in Bolton's penultimate pre-season friendly as they beat Tranmere Rovers 3–1.[23] He made his competitive debut on 18 August, coming on as a second-half substitute for Kevin Davies, in Bolton's 2–0 defeat at Burnley. After making two more substitute appearances, he made his starting debut in the League Cup defeat at Crawley Town on 28 August, scoring in the process.[24] His first league goal for Bolton came on 23 October as he scored the first in a 2–2 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers.[25] On 31 January 2013, Bolton cut short his deal and he returned to Arsenal.[26]

On 8 February 2013, Afobe joined Millwall on loan until the end of the season,[27] but that deal was cancelled one month later due to an knee injury and he returned to Arsenal and underwent surgery.[28]

2013–14 season

Afobe returned from injury in late October 2013, after an eight-month period on the sidelines. He scored the only goal on his return to action in a win for an Arsenal XI against the Nike Academy.[29]

On 30 January 2014, Afobe joined Sheffield Wednesday for the rest of the 2013–14 campaign.[5] Afobe made his debut, in a 1–0 win over Barnsley on 1 February 2014.[30] He then scored his first goal and set up a goal in the next game, in a 2–0 win over Reading.[31] He then scored his second goal of the season on 29 March 2014, in a 4–1 loss against Watford.[32] After making twelve appearance and scoring twice, it announced that Afobe returned to Arsenal as a result of his conclusion on his loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday.[33]

2014–15 season

Afobe joined MK Dons on loan until the end of the season.[34] Afobe made his debut for the club, at 2–2 in an eventual 4–2 win over Gillingham on the opening day of the 2014–15 season.[35] Afobe then scored his first league goal for the club, in a 1–0 win over Chesterfield on 19 August 2014.[36]

Afobe then scored two goals in a 4–0 win over Manchester United in the League Cup second round after coming on as a substitute.[37] In third round, he scored two more goals to help his team to pass Bradford City and to go in fourth round.[38] On 29 November, Afobe scored a hat trick in a 6–0 win over Colchester United.[39]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

On 14 January 2015 Afobe signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers for a reported £2 million,[40] and was assigned the number 12 shirt, which was previously used by loanees Yannick Sagbo and Danny Graham.[41] He scored in his debut for the club three days after signing, entering as a substitute for James Henry and walking the ball into the net in added time to confirm a 2–0 home win against Blackpool.[42] He ended the season having scored 13 goals during 21 appearances for Wolves, but the team was denied a play-off place by goal difference.

Afobe scored the opening goal of the season for his club in a 2–1 win away to Blackburn Rovers.[43] As the summer 2015 transfer window drew to a close, he was the subject of interest from newly promoted Premier League club Norwich City, who reportedly entered a series of bids.[44] In response, Wolves issued a statement to say that "neither Benik nor any of Wolves’ first team forward players, will be sold this season".[45] Afobe remained a Wolves player at the close of the summer transfer window and went on to score 10 goals before the turn of the year. During the January transfer window, Afobe again attracted interest from the Premier League with Bournemouth's bid of a reported £10 million ultimately being accepted.[46]

In the aftermath of Afobe's departure, Wolves' head of football development and recruitment Kevin Thelwell told fans: "Benik was no longer trying to play for us. That was undermining everything we were trying to achieve"; chief executive Jez Moxey added that "[Afobe] insisted on moving. We were forced into doing a deal that we didn't want to do".[47] Afobe himself responded via social media: "I did my best. It was hard for us all. I asked to leave but only because I wanted to play in the Premier League, but I never told my team-mates or disrupted the changing room".[47]

Bournemouth

On 10 January 2016, after numerous attempts to sign him, Afobe joined Bournemouth on a four-and-a-half year deal on an undisclosed fee reported to be a club record £10 million.[48]

He made his debut two days later, starting in a 1–3 loss to West Ham United at Dean Court. Despite missing good opportunities to score, manager Eddie Howe said of his new signing "The pleasing thing was that he was at the end of those chances and we know with his quality he'll put them away."[49] In his next game on 16 January, Afobe scored his first Bournemouth and Premier League goal, putting in Charlie Daniels' cross to open a 3–0 home win over Norwich City.[50]

International career

Afobe playing for England U19s in 2012

Afobe captained England under-12s at the Junior World Cup in France in 2005.[51][52] In 2008, Afobe was part of the England under-16 team that won the Victory Shield, scoring four goals in three games,[53][54] equalling Michael Owen's England under-16 record.[55] He was also part of the England under-17 squad that won the 2010 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.[3][56] The Guardian's sports blog called him "among the best of the crop" and "a prolific striker".[57] He joined the England under-19 squad in August 2010.[58]

In June 2011, Afobe was called up to the England under-20 team for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia. However he was withdrawn from the squad by Arsenal to join the first team pre-season camp in Germany. Afobe was also called up to replace Manchester United's Danny Welbeck from England u21s in August, however he pulled out due to a groin injury.

On 18 June 2015, he was called up to replace injured Saido Berahino at the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.[59]

He also qualifies to represent DR Congo through his parents.[60] He was called up to the DR Congo national team, for 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Angola.[61]

Career statistics

As of match played 4 September 2016
Club statistics
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Huddersfield Town (loan) 2010–11[62] League One 28531—4[lower-alpha 1]2358
Reading (loan) 2011–12[63] Championship 30———30
Bolton Wanderers (loan) 2012–13[64] Championship 2022011—233
Millwall (loan) 2012–13[64] Championship 50———50
Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 2013–14[65] Championship 12210——132
Milton Keynes Dons (loan) 2014–15[66] League One 221032461[lower-alpha 2]13019
Total 901993575310932
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2014–15[67] Championship 2113———2113
2015–16[68] Championship 259—21—2710
Total 46220021004823
Bournemouth 2015–16[69] Premier League 15400——154
2016–17[70] Premier League 100010—20
Total 1640010—174
Career total 152 45 9 3 8 8 5 3 174 59
  1. ↑ One appearance and two goals in Football League Trophy, three in Football League One play-offs
  2. ↑ Appearance in Football League Trophy

Honours

Club

Arsenal
Milton Keynes Dons

International

England

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Ben Afobe". Barry Hugman's Footallers. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  2. ↑ "Player Profile: Benik Afobe". Premier League. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
  3. 1 2 Magowan, Alistair (31 May 2010). "England U-17s beat Spain to win European Championship". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  4. ↑ "Beni joined arsenal ink Afobe". Arsenal.com. April 2008. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
  5. 1 2 "Benik Afobe joins Sheffield Wednesday". Sheffield Wednesday FC. 30 January 2014. Archived from the original on 28 August 2014.
  6. ↑ "2009/10 Player Review: Benik Afobe". Arsenal F.C. 14 June 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  7. ↑ Lewis, Alex (12 August 2010). "Three more Arsenal starlets with an England future". The First Post. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  8. ↑ Dawson, Alan (22 February 2010). "Barcelona Target Benik Afobe Signs Professional Contract With Arsenal". Goal.com. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  9. ↑ "Leyton teen signs for Premier League Arsenal". East London and West Essex Guardian Series. 24 February 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
  10. ↑ James, Stuart (9 August 2010). "The teams that block England's path to Euro 2012 qualification". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 9 August 2010.
  11. ↑ "The season preview: Arsenal". The Guardian. London. 9 August 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2010.
  12. ↑ "Terriers loan Arsenal starlet". Sky Sports. 2 November 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  13. ↑ "Sheff Wed 0 – 2 Huddersfield". BBC Sport. 2 November 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  14. ↑ "Lee Clark hails 'complete' Huddersfield Town". BBC Sport. 2 November 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  15. ↑ "Rotherham 1–5 Huddersfield". BBC Sport. 9 November 2010. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
  16. ↑ "Brighton 2–3 Huddersfield". Huddersfield Town F.C. 30 April 2011. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  17. ↑ "Huddersfield 4–4 Brentford". Huddersfield Town F.C. 7 May 2011. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  18. ↑ "Reserves: Arsenal 2–1 Man United". Arsenal F.C. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  19. ↑ "Reserves:Norwich 0–5 Arsenal". Arsenal F.C. 21 February 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  20. ↑ "Afobe Joins on Loan". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 3 August 2012.
  21. ↑ "Afobe joins Bolton on loan for the season". Arsenal.com. 3 August 2012.
  22. ↑ "Report: Portsmouth 3 Wanderers 0". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 4 August 2012.
  23. ↑ "Report: Tranmere 1 Wanderers 3". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 7 August 2012.
  24. ↑ "Crawley 2–1 Bolton". BBC Sport. 28 August 2012.
  25. ↑ McLoughlin, Brendan (23 October 2012). "Wolverhampton 2 Bolton Wanderers 2: match report". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  26. ↑ "Afobe returns to Arsenal". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 1 February 2013. Archived from the original on 28 August 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  27. ↑ "Benik Afobe: Arsenal striker agrees Millwall loan move". BBC Sport. 8 February 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  28. ↑ "Benik Afobe: Knee injury curtails Millwall loan spell". BBC Sports. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  29. ↑ "Picture special: Benik Afobe's comeback". Arsenal.com. 30 October 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  30. ↑ "Sheffield Wednesday 1–0 Barnsley". BBC Sport. 1 February 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  31. ↑ "Reading 0–2 Sheffield Wednesday". BBC Sport. 8 February 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  32. ↑ "Sheffield Wednesday 1–4 Watford". BBC Sport. 29 March 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  33. ↑ "Sheffield Wednesday reveal player list". Sheffield Wednesday FC. 6 March 2014. Archived from the original on 28 August 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  34. ↑ "Afobe arrives at stadiummk". Milton Keynes Dons F.C. 4 August 2014. Archived from the original on 28 August 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  35. ↑ "Milton Keynes Dons 4 – 2 Gillingham". BBC Sport. 9 August 2014.
  36. ↑ "Chesterfield 0 – 1 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  37. ↑ "Report: MK Dons 4–0 Man Utd". Keynes Dons F.C. 26 August 2014. Archived from the original on 28 August 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  38. ↑ "MK Dons 2–0 Bradford City: Benik Afobe strikes twice to keep superb cup run going". Daliy Mail. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  39. ↑ "Milton Keynes Dons 6-0 Colchester United". BBC Sport. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  40. ↑ "Harry Kane? Wolves' Benik Afobe leads country's scoring charts". BBC Sport. 20 March 2015.
  41. ↑ "Afobe deal done!". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 14 January 2015.
  42. ↑ "Wolves 2–0 Blackpool". BBC Sport. 17 January 2015.
  43. ↑ "Wolves victorious in the season opener". BBC Sport. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  44. ↑ "Benik Afobe: Norwich City's third bid rejected by Wolves". BBC Sport. 26 August 2015.
  45. ↑ "Statement: Benik Afobe". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 19 August 2015.
  46. ↑ "Benik Afobe: Bournemouth agree deal with Wolves". BBC Sport. 9 January 2016.
  47. 1 2 "Wolves: Benik Afobe 'hurting' at claims he did not try at Molineux". BBC Sport. 11 February 2016.
  48. ↑ "AFC Bournemouth complete signing of Benik Afobe from Wolverhampton Wanderers". A.F.C. Bournemouth. 10 January 2016.
  49. ↑ Lewis, Aimee (12 January 2016). "Bournemouth 1-3 West Ham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  50. ↑ Osborne, Chris (16 January 2016). "Bournemouth 3-0 Norwich". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  51. ↑ Trainis, Neil (26 February 2006). "Living the dream that's brave Benik". Barking and Dagenham Post. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
  52. ↑ McLoughlin, Josh (30 January 2014). "Can Arsenal striker fill the void left at Sheffield Wednesday?". Here Is The City. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  53. ↑ "Lions win Victory Shield". The Football Association. 28 November 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  54. ↑ "Afobe wins it for Lions". The Football Association. 31 October 2008. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
  55. ↑ Troup, Jon (28 November 2008). "Gunner make history at 15". The Sun. London. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
  56. ↑ Lavery, Glenn (17 May 2010). "Silverware wanted: Benik Afobe reveals Young Lions' hunger for Euro glory". The Football Association. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  57. ↑ Taylor, Louise (31 May 2010). "England turn the tables on Spain with new brand of possession football". Guardian.co.uk. London: The Sport Blog. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  58. ↑ Veevers, Nicholas (12 August 2010). "Blake names squad for Slovakia". The Football Association. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  59. ↑ "Saido Berahino withdraws from U21 Euro squad through injury". The Football Association. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  60. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3186447/Wolves-ace-Benik-Afobe-targeting-repeat-performance-outgunned-Harry-Kane-bid-Championship-promotion.html
  61. ↑ http://www.leopardsfoot.com/leopards-liste-des-27-contre-l-angola/
  62. ↑ "Games played by Benik Afobe in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  63. ↑ "Games played by Benik Afobe in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  64. 1 2 "Games played by Benik Afobe in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  65. ↑ "Games played by Benik Afobe in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  66. ↑ "Games played by Benik Afobe in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  67. ↑ "Games played by Benik Afobe in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  68. ↑ "Games played by Benik Afobe in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  69. ↑ "Games played by Benik Afobe in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  70. ↑ "Games played by Benik Afobe in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  71. ↑ "Akobe the hero as Arsenal win Premier Academy League". Football Talk.com. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  72. ↑ "Benik Afobe: Wolves expect star striker to stay at Molineux". BBC Sport. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  73. ↑ "England U17s beat Spain to win European Championship". BBC.
  74. ↑ "Technical report" (PDF). UEFA.com. Retrieved 26 April 2012.

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