Signing News – Jonathan Afolabi
Shamrock Rovers confirm the signing of Jonathan Afolabi on a multi year deal.
The hugely exciting forward signs from KV Kortrijk of Belgium. Jonathan played his some of his schoolboy football years (2009/2010) with the Hoops, so it’s a Rovers Return for the now 26 year old.
Speaking to club media about the signing, head coach Stephen Bradley had the following to say:
Was Jonathan a target of yours for a while?
“He has been for some time. I was laughing about it with Jonathan and his agent this morning. We’re delighted to get this done because Jonathan had options here and also away in Belgium and England. So we’re delighted he sees the next step of his career at this club. Jonathan is a really good age, a really good profile for us and is someone I feel will complement the team and vice versa. We know he’s a player of really high ability who I believe will help us kick on to the next level.”
Is Jonathan in the mould of an out and out centre forward?
“Yes, he is. We’ve seen it many times, he has a bit of everything, but he’s definitely one who likes to play more central than a lot of our forwards would. There’s a reason we’ve tried so hard to get Jonathan, so well done to Ronan Finn who worked tirelessly on it and to get it done in time for Europe which is big for us. Jonathan will be a really important player for us.”
He has plenty of LOI experience and is still a young man. Will that knowledge help him settle?
“There won’t be any real bedding-in period. He had an injury this year, but he has worked hard to come back from it and has been training the last while. He won’t be ninety minutes ready yet, but it won’t be much in terms of mentally getting his head around it, being here as he understands what the league is about.”
Quotes from the player himself:
How does it feel to be back at the club where your journey began?
“It’s a great feeling. I played here for a few years when I was younger, so it’s nice to be back at Rovers, obviously a good few years later.”
The fans will be familiar with you, your style of play. You had an outstanding spell here in the League of Ireland before moving abroad. Do you feel you have maybe unfinished business back in this league?
“Yeah, I always have the same goals everywhere I go. It’s just unfortunate with injuries in the last year. So everywhere I go, I want to score goals.”
Stephen Bradley has been a long admirer of yourself and has spoke about wanting to work with you. So how important was that maybe in your decision to come here?
“Yeah, definitely. He’s laid out a very clear plan for me and it aligns with what I want as well. It was a very easy decision in the end because it’s someone that wants the best for you. So in that sense, the call was very easy. It didn’t really take much to convince me.”
Jonathan Afolabi Profile:
Jonathan Afolabi returns to the club he played with as a youth footballer.
Jonathan moved to Southampton’s Premier League academy before signing for Celtic in 2019. He had loan spells at Dunfermline, Dundee, Ayr United and Airdrieonians and then signed for Bohemians in 2022. Jonathan had a productive spell at Bohs, finishing joint LOI Premier Division top scorer in 2023 and making the end of season LOI Team of the Year.
KV Kortrijk signed Jonathan from Bohemians in January 2024 and his most recent playing spell was on loan at Cambuur.
Jonathan has played for Ireland at under 19 and under 21 level.
