Kayode Odejayi

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title: "Kayode Odejayi" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1982-births", "living-people", "footballers-from-ibadan", "yoruba-sportspeople", "nigerian-men's-footballers", "nigeria-men's-international-footballers", "men's-association-football-forwards", "expatriate-men's-footballers-in-england", "bristol-city-f.c.-players", "forest-green-rovers-f.c.-players", "cheltenham-town-f.c.-players", "barnsley-f.c.-players", "scunthorpe-united-f.c.-players", "colchester-united-f.c.-players", "rotherham-united-f.c.-players", "accrington-stanley-f.c.-players", "tranmere-rovers-f.c.-players", "stockport-county-f.c.-players", "english-football-league-players", "national-league-(english-football)-players", "guiseley-a.f.c.-players", "21st-century-nigerian-sportsmen", "nigerian-expatriate-men's-footballers"] description: "Nigerian footballer (born 1982)" topic_path: "technology/web" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayode_Odejayi" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Nigerian footballer (born 1982) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox football biography"]

Field	Value
name	Kayode Odejayi
image	Kayode Odejayi 12-04-2014 1.jpg
image_size	200
caption	Odejayi playing for Accrington Stanley in 2014
fullname	Olukayode Ishmael Odejayi{{Cite book
editor-first	Barry J.
editor-last	Hugman
title	The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11
year	2010
publisher	Mainstream Publishing
isbn	9781845966010
page	316 }}
birth_date	{{Cite book
editor-first	Barry J.
editor-last	Hugman
title	The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10
year	2009
publisher	Mainstream Publishing
isbn	978-1-84596-474-0}}
birth_place	Ibadan, Nigeria
height
position	Striker
youthyears1	–1999
youthclubs1	Bristol City
years1	1999–2002
years2	2001
years3	2002–2003
years4	2003–2007
years5	2007–2010
years6	2009
years7	2009
years8	2010–2012
years9	2012–2014
years10	2013–2014
years11	2014–2015
years12	2015–2017
years13	2017–2019
clubs1	Bristol City
clubs2	→ Forest Green Rovers (loan)
clubs3	Forest Green Rovers
clubs4	Cheltenham Town
clubs5	Barnsley
clubs6	→ Scunthorpe United (loan)
clubs7	→ Colchester United (loan)
clubs8	Colchester United
clubs9	Rotherham United
clubs10	→ Accrington Stanley (loan)
clubs11	Tranmere Rovers
clubs12	Stockport County
clubs13	Guiseley
caps1	6
goals1	0
caps2	6
goals2	1
caps3	38
goals3	13
caps4	148
goals4	30
caps5	72
goals5	4
caps6	6
goals6	1
caps7	14
goals7	6
caps8	101
goals8	11
caps9	42
goals9	5
caps10	32
goals10	8
caps11	40
goals11	5
caps12	70
goals12	8
caps13	66
goals13	7
totalcaps	641
nationalyears1	2008
nationalteam1	Nigeria
nationalcaps1	1
nationalgoals1	0
club-update	12:31, 25 October 2020 (UTC)
nationalteam-update	23:14, 18 July 2015 (UTC)
::

| name = Kayode Odejayi | image = Kayode Odejayi 12-04-2014 1.jpg | image_size = 200 | caption = Odejayi playing for Accrington Stanley in 2014 | fullname = Olukayode Ishmael Odejayi{{Cite book | editor-first = Barry J. | editor-last = Hugman | title = The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11 | year = 2010 | publisher = Mainstream Publishing | isbn = 9781845966010 | page = 316 }} | birth_date = {{Cite book | editor-first = Barry J. | editor-last = Hugman | title = The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10 | year = 2009 | publisher = Mainstream Publishing | isbn = 978-1-84596-474-0}} | birth_place = Ibadan, Nigeria | height = | currentclub = | clubnumber = | position = Striker | youthyears1 = –1999 | youthclubs1 = Bristol City | years1 = 1999–2002 | years2 = 2001 | years3 = 2002–2003 | years4 = 2003–2007 | years5 = 2007–2010 | years6 = 2009 | years7 = 2009 | years8 = 2010–2012 | years9 = 2012–2014 | years10 = 2013–2014 | years11 = 2014–2015 | years12 = 2015–2017 | years13 = 2017–2019 | clubs1 = Bristol City | clubs2 = → Forest Green Rovers (loan) | clubs3 = Forest Green Rovers | clubs4 = Cheltenham Town | clubs5 = Barnsley | clubs6 = → Scunthorpe United (loan) | clubs7 = → Colchester United (loan) | clubs8 = Colchester United | clubs9 = Rotherham United | clubs10 = → Accrington Stanley (loan) | clubs11 = Tranmere Rovers | clubs12 = Stockport County | clubs13 = Guiseley | caps1 = 6 | goals1 = 0 | caps2 = 6 | goals2 = 1 | caps3 = 38 | goals3 = 13 | caps4 = 148 | goals4 = 30 | caps5 = 72 | goals5 = 4 | caps6 = 6 | goals6 = 1 | caps7 = 14 | goals7 = 6 | caps8 = 101 | goals8 = 11 | caps9 = 42 | goals9 = 5 | caps10 = 32 | goals10 = 8 | caps11 = 40 | goals11 = 5 | caps12 = 70 | goals12 = 8 | caps13 = 66 | goals13 = 7 | totalcaps = 641 | totalgoals = 103 | nationalyears1 = 2008 | nationalteam1 = Nigeria | nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | club-update = 12:31, 25 October 2020 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = 23:14, 18 July 2015 (UTC)

Olukayode Ishmael "Kayode" Odejayi (born 21 February 1982) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker, most recently for Guiseley. He is a former Nigeria international.

Club career

Born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Odejayi started his career as a trainee at Bristol City and then moved on to Football Conference side Forest Green Rovers in 2002. 2002–03 turned out to be one of Rovers' best ever season since their foundation in 1890, and Odejayi was a key figure, scoring 13 goals as the club finished ninth.

Cheltenham Town

Bobby Gould signed Odejayi in the summer of the 2002/03 season for Cheltenham Town. His first two seasons were a struggle but in his third season (2005–06) he played almost every game as Cheltenham went on to reach the play-off final, winning 1–0 against fancied Grimsby Town. He came to national attention in January 2006 when Cheltenham faced Newcastle United in the FA Cup 4th round. Odejayi gained plaudits after the game and he was linked with a move to Championship team Plymouth Argyle however the move never materialised.

Barnsley

On 31 May 2007, Odejayi moved to Barnsley for a fee of £200,000, a Cheltenham record for a sale of a player. Forest Green Rovers received a windfall from the transfer as part of the terms of Odejayi's Cheltenham deal.

He scored in the Reds' first friendly against Morecambe in a 2–1 defeat. He then bagged a brace against Portuguese side Louletano DC in a 3–2 win. In a 3–1 victory against Buxton he bagged his fourth goal in three.

Odejayi netted his first competitive goal for Barnsley against Scunthorpe United which effectively sealed a 2–0 victory for the Reds.

In January 2009, there was talk of him being pursued by Barnsley's South Yorkshire neighbours, Rotherham United.

Scunthorpe United (loan)

On 26 February he was loaned to Scunthorpe. He played in 6 games scoring 1 goal against Walsall.{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/7908310.stm |title=Scunthorpe 1–1 Walsall |publisher=BBC |date=3 March 2009 |access-date=1 January 2010}}

Colchester United (loan)

He was loaned to Colchester United on 16 September 2009 on a three-month emergency loan. He made a big impression at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, winning two penalties in his first game against Hartlepool United and then scoring a brace against high flying Charlton Athletic. He also went on to score against Huddersfield Town, Leyton Orient, Wycombe Wanderers, Bromley and Oldham Athletic.

He set up John-Joe O'Toole's first Colchester goal in a 1–1 draw at Tranmere Rovers, whilst Odejayi also assisted Simon Hackney's goal against Bromley in the FA Cup. His loan spell ended on 19 December with him having scored seven goals in sixteen games, six of which came in the Football League. When the January transfer window opened, Odejayi's loan form resulted in him being signed by Aidy Boothroyd on a permanent deal, thus also becoming Aidy's first permanent signing for Colchester United.

Colchester United

On 24 December 2009 it was announced that Odejayi had signed for an undisclosed fee on a deal that would end in June 2012. Odejayi scored his first goal as a full-time Colchester player in a 2–1 win against Carlisle where he came off the bench to score the winner in stoppage time to keep the U's in their promotion hunt. He added two further goals against Bristol Rovers and Yeovil before getting an injury after coming on as a sub against Walsall. Odejayi was named as Colchester United's official player-of-the-season for the 2011–12 season, having led the front-line with power and strength all campaign.

Rotherham United

On 15 May, Rotherham United completed the much-rumoured signing of Odejayi after talks with Steve Evans. He joined the Millers officially on 1 July. His first goal for the club came in the 3–0 win against Burton Albion on 18 August 2012, this was also the opening day of the New York Stadium, and, on his league debut for the club. His second came soon after to gain a point against Chesterfield, on 25 August 2012. However, only 5 goals all season grew to fans frustration as Alex Revell and Daniel Nardiello became the preferred striking partnership.

On 10 September 2013, Odejayi joined League Two side Accrington Stanley on a three-month loan. On 1 January 2014, the loan was extended till the end of the 2013–14 League Two season.

Tranmere Rovers

On 26 June 2014, following Odejayi's departure from Rotherham United, he signed a one-year deal with Tranmere Rovers. At the end of the season, that saw Tranmere Rovers relegate out of League Two, Odejayi was released by the club.

Stockport County

Following Odejayi's release from Tranmere, he signed for National League North side Stockport County on 15 July 2015.

Guiseley

In July 2017 he signed for Guiseley.

International career

In May 2008, Odejayi made his first appearance for the Nigerian national team, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–1 friendly draw against Austria.

Career statistics

Club

::data[format=table title="Appearances and goals by club, season and competition"] | Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Total | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | Total | 44 | 14 | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 48 | 14 | Total | 148 | 30 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 174 | 34 | Total | 72 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | 81 | 5 | Total | 115 | 17 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 126 | 19 | Total | 42||5||2||0||1||0||0||0||45||5 | Total | 70 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 73 | 9 | Career total | 593 | 93 | 38 | 5 | 15 | 2 | 17 | 3 | 663 | 103 | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Bristol City | 1999–2000 | Second Division | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2000–01 | Second Division | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Football League Trophy]] | 0 | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2001–02 | Second Division | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Forest Green Rovers (loan) | 2001–02 | Football Conference | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Forest Green Rovers | 2002–03 | Football Conference | 38 | 13 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 40 | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Cheltenham Town | 2003–04 | Third Division | 30 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2004–05 | League Two | 32 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2005–06 | League Two | 41 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | Football League Trophy]], three in League Two play-offs | 0 | 56 | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2006–07 | League One | 45 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 51 | 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Barnsley | 2007–08 | Championship | 39 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 44 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2008–09 | Championship | 28 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 30 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2009–10 | Championship | 5 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Scunthorpe United (loan) | 2008–09 | League One | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Colchester United | 2009–10 | League One | 28 | 9 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 32 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2010–11 | League One | 44 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2011–12 | League One | 43 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Rotherham United | 2012–13 | League Two | 42 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2013–14 | League One | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Accrington Stanley (loan) | 2013–14 | League Two | 32 | 8 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Tranmere Rovers | 2014–15 | League Two | 40 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 46 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Stockport County | 2015–16 | National League North | 40 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 40 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2016–17 | 30 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 2Appearances in the FA Trophy | 1 | 33 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Guiseley | 2017–18 | National League | 18 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 21 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

International

References

1. (31 May 2007). "Tykes sign Cheltenham's Odejayi". BBC Sport.
2. (15 September 2007). "Davey: Luck on our side". Sky Sports.
3. (13 February 2009). "RUFC - Millers make cash offer for Odejayi?". vitalfootball.co.uk.
4. (24 December 2007). "Odejayi makes permanent move". Colchester United F.C..
5. (25 April 2012). "Kayode Odejayi scoops main award". EADT}}{{Dead link.
6. (10 September 2013). "Accrington Stanley: Rotherham's Kayode Odejayi joins on loan". BBC Sport.
7. (26 June 2014). "Kayode Odejayi: Tranmere Rovers sign ex-Rotherham United striker". BBC Sport.
8. (6 May 2015). "Rovers Release Seven". Tranmere Rovers F.C..
9. (15 June 2015). "Young's view on Odejayi". Stockport County F.C..
10. (20 July 2017). "Guiseley net Nigerian international striker Kayode Odejayi who once shocked Chelsea in FA Cup". Telegraph & Argus..
11. "Kayode Odejayi". AFS Enterprises.
12. {{Soccerbase season. 19157. 1999
13. {{Soccerbase season. 19157. 2000
14. {{Soccerbase season. 19157. 2001
15. {{Soccerbase season. 19157. 2002
16. {{Soccerbase season. 19157. 2003
17. {{Soccerbase season. 19157. 2004
18. {{Soccerbase season. 19157. 2005
19. {{Soccerbase season. 19157. 2006
20. {{Soccerbase season. 19157. 2007
21. {{Soccerbase season. 19157. 2008
22. {{Soccerbase season. 19157. 2009
23. {{Soccerbase season. 19157. 2010
24. {{Soccerbase season. 19157. 2011
25. {{Soccerbase season. 19157. 2012
26. {{Soccerbase season. 19157. 2013
27. {{Soccerbase season. 19157. 2014
28. {{Soccerway. kayode-odejayi/15996. Kayode Odejayi
29. {{NFT player
30. (28 May 2006). "Grimsby 0–1 Cheltenham". BBC Sport.
31. "Colchester United Player of the Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk.

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