By:
Graeme Hanna
Michael Obafemi has moved to EFL League One side Blackpool, following a failed loan in the 2. Bundesliga with VFL Bochum.
It is the Dublin-born player’s fourth loan spell over the last two years and an indictment of his failed progress.
After breaking through at Southampton, a bright future beckoned, but things haven’t materialised as expected.
Obafemi joins the struggling Seasiders with a point to prove, and although he isn’t quite in last-chance saloon for his career overall, he needs to make an impact if he is to make the best of his ability and have any chance of returning to the international fold.
Michael Obafemi joins his fourth loan club in two years
Blackpool are the seventh club of the 25-year-old’s career and after flopping in Germany, he needs to find a spark.
Bochum terminated Obafemi’s loan after just four months and 20 minutes of 2.BL action, but Blackpool boss Ian Evatt has backed his new player.
“Michael is very talented and for us to be able to bring in a player of his quality is really exciting,” he said.
“He has a point to prove and is desperate to get back to where he was in his career not too long ago. That can only bode well for us.”
As for the man himself, he appeared to be in a reflective mood, stating:
“I’ve learned a lot about myself recently and it’s a great time for me to come back to the UK.
“I’m here to score goals and try and help the side climb up the table and get to where it needs to be.”
https://twitter.com/BlackpoolFC/status/2013939632434745539
Obafemi career downturn since Burnley move
Michael Obafemi signed for Burnley in January 2023 for £4 million, but everything after that has been on a downward trajectory.
15 goals in 51 appearances for Swansea City between 2021 and 2023 has been the striker’s high point so far, but after then-manager Russell Martin questioned him and the subsequent move to Turf Moor, his career has unravelled.
Michael Obafemi earned his first senior cap for the Republic of Ireland under Martin O’Neill, over seven years ago, then had to wait until June 2022 for his second appearance under Stephen Kenny.
10 appearances followed, but injury and a drastic loss of form and prominence mean he is out of the Ireland picture and Obafemi has not yet been called up under Heimir Hallgrimsson.
The Icelandic coach will now be firming up plans for the massive World Cup playoff game against the Czech Republic in March, but the new Blackpool signing is not likely to be in consideration, regardless of how he starts his stint at Bloomfield Road.
This week, FIFA confirmed that the Republic of Ireland have retained their place in the World Ranking list, with the Boys In Green occupying 59th place, while the Czechs are 16 places in front.
Image credit: blackpoolfc/X
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