Semi Ajayi

Oluwasemilogo Adesewo Ibidapo Ajayi (born 9 November 1993) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a defender or defensive midfielder for EFL Championship club West Bromwich Albion and the Nigeria national football team.

Club Career

Charlton Athletic

Born to Nigerian parents, Ajayi began his football career as a youth product of the Charlton Athletic academy. After progressing through the Charlton Athletic ranks, he was offered his first professional contract in January 2012.

In November 2012, Ajayi joined Dartford on a short-term loan for twenty-eight days. Shortly after, he made his Dartford debut, in a 4–0 win over Kingstonian in the FA Trophy and then scored his first goal for the side, in a 3–2 loss against Tamworth. Ajayi played 3 games and scored 1 goal before returning to his parent club in late-December.

After returning to Charlton Athletic, Ajayi played for the reserve side for the rest of the season and helped win the Professional Development League 2. Along the way, he was as an unused substitute in the senior side for a game against Blackpool on 12 January 2013.

Arsenal

Shortly before he was due to make his debut for the Charlton first team, Ajayi caught the eye of Premier League team Arsenal. Ajayi joined the Arsenal Academy on a two-year deal after impressing as a trialist with the club in September 2013.

Ajayi made his Arsenal U21 debut as a trialist against Blackburn Rovers on 30 August 2013, scoring with a header, in a 3–0 win. Ajayi, who first figured for Arsenal's senior team in a friendly against Boreham Wood, made the Arsenal bench four times during the 2014–15 season. He was an unused substitute in games against Hull City, Stoke City and Newcastle in the Premier League, as well as in the home League Cup defeat by Southampton.

Cardiff City

On 25 March 2015, Ajayi joined Championship team Cardiff City on loan until the end of the 2014–15 season but did not feature