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Ayodele AdeleyeNigerian footballer, defender.
Date of Birth: 25.12.1988
Country:  Nigeria |
Content:
- Del Adeleyi: Nigerian Football Legend
- Rise to Prominence and Interest from Everton
- Relegation and Departure to Donetsk
- International Career
Del Adeleyi: Nigerian Football Legend
Early Career in Nigeria and Rotterdam's SpartaDel Adeleyi emerged as a promising Nigerian footballer, honing his skills with the Shooting Stars team in 2006. That summer, he made the momentous move to Dutch club Rotterdam's Sparta. His debut in the Eredivisie, the Dutch top flight, came in February 2007 against esteemed rivals PSV (1:1). Despite Sparta's 13th-place finish that season, Adeleyi's performance in the play-offs for the Intertoto Cup, where he scored a crucial goal against NEC, showcased his burgeoning talent.
Rise to Prominence and Interest from Everton
The 2007/08 season saw Adeleyi establish himself as a cornerstone of Sparta's defense, featuring in 22 league matches. His impressive displays caught the attention of English Premier League giants Everton, fueling speculation of a potential transfer. In 2009, Adeleyi broke his goal-scoring drought in the Eredivisie, netting a vital goal against ADO Den Haag.
Relegation and Departure to Donetsk
As Sparta faced relegation from the Eredivisie in the 2009/10 season, Adeleyi remained a consistent performer, making 28 appearances and scoring one goal. In June 2010, he signed a three-year contract with Ukrainian club Metallurg Donetsk as a free agent, with a special clause allowing teams to buy him out if he received a significant offer after the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
International Career
Adeleyi's international career began with Nigeria's youth teams. He participated in the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where Nigeria reached the final but fell to Argentina (2:1). Adeleyi appeared in three matches during the tournament. His Olympic debut came in 2008 in Beijing, where Nigeria reached another final, this time losing to Argentina (0:1). He played in all six matches of the Olympic tournament.
Adeleyi's senior national team debut came in 2009 in a friendly against Ireland (1:1). He was subsequently selected in Lars Lagerbäck's squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
