One-time Nigeria U-23 invitee, Joshua Oluwaferanmi Oluwayemi, has joined Australian A-League side, Wellington Phoenix, Soccernet.ng reports.
The England-born Nigerian goalkeeper started his career with Tottenham Hotspur while spending time on loans with Portsmouth and Maidenhead United. He eventually left Spurs last year and joined Finnish side, FC Lahti.
After six months in Finland, the 1.85m tall goalkeeper travelled to the other side of the world to join Wellington Phoenix on a one-year deal.
In an official announcement on the club’s official website, Phoenix’s head coach, Giancarlo Italiano, was delighted to have the Nigerian goalkeeper on board.
“Josh has a fantastic presence. He’s got a good command of his box, communicates well and is very good with his feet,” Italiano said. Being able to play out from the back was a big factor when we looked at goalkeepers. Stylistically, I’m not going to change as a coach and it’s very important we keep building on what we did last season. I think Josh will add to the way we want to play. His presence in the box is going to be very valuable,” the 41-year-old gaffer said.
The 23-year-old goalkeeper was also delighted to have joined The Nix, and is keen to make a mark on the team when the season starts.
“Ruben (Parker) sent me clips of how the Phoenix played last season and it was very, very exciting. It seemed like all of the players were in tune with how they played. Seeing their game style and quality is what compelled me to come over to play on the other side of the world. The A-League is a brilliant league, and Wellington as a team did very well last season. I’m chuffed to be joining a bunch of lads with quality and a team that has done so well,” the former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper added.
Oluwayemi had several offers to stay in Europe but revealed why he opted to move away from home.
“Before the move to Finland, I had other options within the U.K., but I wanted to challenge myself and show another side of my football that I think I possess. I want to continue to show others and myself the level I can get to whilst playing that style in terms of playing out from the back, that sweeper-keeper role. I hope to have a very strong impact on the team, be a livewire for my teammates and improve upon last season. I’m excited to get to work, play my heart out for the fans, and show what I’m about,” Oluwayemi concluded.
Alongside John Noble and Stanley Nwabali, Oluwayemi was a part of the home-based Super Eagles team that took on Mexico in a friendly three years ago. The Mexicans won the game, 4-nil.
