Gavin Bazunu

Gavin Okeroghene Bazunu (born 20 February 2002) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Rochdale, on loan from Manchester City. He started his career at Shamrock Rovers, making his first team debut in June 2018 at the age of 16, before joining Manchester City in February 2019.

Gavin Bazunu
Personal information
Full name Gavin Okeroghene Bazunu[1]
Date of birth (2002-02-20) 20 February 2002[2]
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Rochdale
(on loan from Manchester City)
Number 1
Youth career
Shamrock Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018 Shamrock Rovers 4 (0)
2019– Manchester City 0 (0)
2020– → Rochdale (loan) 18 (0)
National team‡
2019 Republic of Ireland U17 2 (0)
2019– Republic of Ireland U21 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:49, 6 February 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13 October 2020

Early and personal life

Born in Dublin,[2] Bazunu is of Nigerian descent.[3]

Club career

Having come through the academy at Shamrock Rovers,[4] Bazunu made his debut for Rovers' first team on 9 June 2018 in a 5–0 win at home to Bray Wanderers, at the age of 16.[2][5] Manager Stephen Bradley stated that despite not wanting to 'throw [young goalkeepers] in that early', Bazunu was 'ready' for his first-team debut.[5] He made 3 further appearances for Shamrock Rovfers in the 2018 League of Ireland Premier Division.[2]

On 6 September 2018, it was announced that Bazunu had joined Premier League club Manchester City for an undisclosed fee reported to be £420,000, though a joining date had not been set, with Bazunu wishing to complete his education in the Irish education system.[6][7] The following month, it was announced he has signed a pre-contract agreement with Manchester City,[8] with it initially agreed he would join the club in summer 2019, before it was moved forward to February 2019.[9] He made his debut for Manchester City's under-18 side on 9 February 2019 against Stoke City U18.[9]

Bazunu was named in Manchester City's Champions League squad for a Round of 16 second leg match against Real Madrid in August 2020.[10] He signed a contract extension until 2024 and joined League One side Rochdale on a season-long loan later that month.[11][12] He started and kept a clean sheet on his debut for Rochdale on 5 September 2020 in a 1–0 EFL Cup victory away to Huddersfield Town,[13] and made his first league appearance the following week in a 3–1 defeat at Swindon Town.[14]

International career

Bazunu has played for the Republic of Ireland at under-17 and under-21 youth levels.[2][15]

Career statistics
As of match played 6 February 2021[2]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Shamrock Rovers 2018 League of Ireland Premier Division 4000002[lower-alpha 1]060
Manchester City 2018–19 Premier League 0000000000
2019–20 Premier League 0000000000
2020–21 Premier League 0000000000
Total 0000000000
Rochdale (loan) 2020–21 League One 180102000210
Career total 220102020270
  1. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League

References
  1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Rochdale" (PDF). English Football League. p. 59. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  2. "Republic of Ireland - G. Bazunu - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
  3. Pyne, Anthony (8 July 2020). "Young, black and Irish - the generation ready to rise". www.rte.ie. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  4. Bray, Joe (4 October 2018). "Who is Gavin Bazunu? New Man City signing in profile". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  5. Quinn, Gavin (11 June 2018). "16-year-old Shamrock Rovers goalkeeper 'ready' for the big stage, claims Bradley". The42. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  6. "Manchester City complete deal to sign Gavin Bazunu from Shamrock Rovers". Sky Sports. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  7. "Manchester City beat Chelsea and Tottenham to sign 16-year-old Irish goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu in record deal". Irish Independent. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  8. Sherlock, Harry (4 October 2018). "Manchester City transfer news: Man City agree record deal to sign teenage goalkeeper". Goal. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  9. Bray, Joe (9 February 2019). "New Man City signing makes debut after move brought forward". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  10. Fitzmaurice, Aidan (4 August 2020). "Irish teenager Gavin Bazunu included in Manchester City's Champions League squad". Irish Independent. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  11. "Academy contracts update". www.mancity.com. Manchester City F.C. 25 August 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  12. "Gavin Bazunu: Manchester City loan goalkeeper to Rochdale for 2020–21 season". BBC Sport. 25 August 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  13. Cooney, Gavin (12 September 2020). "6 young Irish players to watch in England this season". The42. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  14. Connaughton, Gary (14 September 2020). "Irish Player Ratings: In-Depth Roundup Of Our Footballers Abroad". Balls.ie. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  15. Gavin Bazunu at Global Sports Archive
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