# Deji Sotona

Ayodeji Sotona (born 7 December 2002) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for National League club Eastleigh.

## Club career
### Early career

Sotona was born in Waterford, but moved to Mullingar as a child, where he joined local side Mullingar Athletic. At a young age, he joined the Mullingar Harriers Athletic Club, picking up several provincial and national sprinting medals, including an All-Ireland bronze medal in 2013. He then went on to play for Leixlip United.
At the age of 13, he began attracting attention from English sides Manchester City and Manchester United, eventually signing with the latter. While at Manchester United, Sotona was named as the club's fastest player, ahead of first team members Diogo Dalot, Marcus Rashford and Daniel James. After four years with the club, in which he trained with the first team, he rejected the offer of a three-year extension to his contract, and left the club as a free agent in September 2020.

### Nice

After a phone call with Patrick Vieira, who was managing Nice at the time, Sotona decided to join the French side at the expiration of his contract with Manchester United. Vieira had promised first-team football, but after he was sacked in December 2020, new manager Adrian Ursea assigned Sotona to the reserves.
With the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting the footballing schedule, he struggled for game time, and when a return to England with Brentford B presented itself in January 2022, Sotona took the opportunity, and joined on a six-month loan deal. On 9 August 2022, Sotona signed for Scottish club Kilmarnock on a season-long loan. He returned to Nice in January 2023.

### Burnley

On 30 January 2023, Sotona moved to Burnley, playing for their academy squad until the end of the season.

### Doncaster Rovers

On 14 July 2023, Sotana moved to Doncaster Rovers on a free transfer following his release from Burnley.
On 24 November 2023, he joined National League North club Boston United on loan until 13 January 2024. Following the expiration of the previous agreement, his loan was extended until the end of the season. He was part of the Boston Utd squad that gained promotion to the National League via the play offs.
Following the completion of the season, Sotona returned to Doncaster where he was placed on the transfer list.

### Eastleigh

On 25 June 2024, Sotona joined National League side Eastleigh for an undisclosed fee. On 10 August 2024, his debut for the Spitfires, he suffered an Anterior cruciate ligament injury that was expected to rule him out for the remainder of the season.

## International career

Sotona is eligible to represent the Republic of Ireland, Nigeria and England at international level. He has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-15 and under-16 level.

## Career statistics

    As of end of 2023–24 season
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Manchester United U23 | 2019–20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Nice | 2020–21 | Ligue 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nice | 2021–22 | Ligue 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nice | 2022–23 | Ligue 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kilmarnock B (loan) | 2022–23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Kilmarnock (loan) | 2022–23 | Scottish Premiership | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Burnley | 2022–23 | EFL Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Doncaster Rovers | 2023–24 | EFL League One | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| Boston United (loan) | 2023–24 | National League North | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 22 | 2 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 27 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 37 | 4 |
Notes
* ↑ Includes FA Cup, Coupe de France and Scottish Cup
* ↑ Includes EFL Cup and Scottish League Cup
* 1 2 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
* ↑ Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
* ↑ Appearance(s) in National League North play-offs

## Honours

Boston United
* National League North play-offs: 2024