Ademide Solanke (born 9 January 2008) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a left back for Premier League club AFC Bournemouth. He is a Republic of Ireland youth international.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ademide Solanke | ||
| Date of birth | 9 January 2008 | ||
| Place of birth | Portarlington, County Laois | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position | Full back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Bournemouth | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2019 | Newbridge Town | ||
| 2019–2025 | Shamrock Rovers | ||
| 2025–2026 | Lorient | ||
| 2026– | Bournemouth | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024 | Shamrock Rovers | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022 | Republic of Ireland U15 | ||
| 2023 | Republic of Ireland U16 | ||
| 2023–2025 | Republic of Ireland U17 | 14 | (1) |
| 2026– | Republic of Ireland U19 | 2 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 6 April 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 6 April 2026 (UTC) | |||
Early life
editSolanke grew up in Portarlington, County Laois. He later moved with his family to County Kildare before they settled in Newcastle, County Dublin. He is of Nigerian descent.[2][3]
Youth career
editHe spent time with Newbridge Town, before spending six years in the Shamrock Rovers academy.[3][4]
He moved to French club Lorient at the start of 2025.[5] In January 2026, Solanke joined fellow Black Knight owned club, Premier League side AFC Bournemouth.[6][7]
International career
editSolanke has been capped at multiple youth levels for the Republic of Ireland.
He featured for the Republic of Ireland U17s at the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship[8] in Hungary when he was only 15 as Ireland reached the quarter-finals, in which Solanke made his only appearance at the tournament, coming on as a second-half substitute in Ireland's 0–3 defeat at the hands of Spain.[9]
He represented the U17s once again at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup[10] in Qatar where he started in almost all of Ireland's games as they reached the round of 16.[6][failed verification]
Solanke made his debut for the Republic of Ireland U19s on 19 March 2026, in a 2027 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifier against Scotland which ended in a 3–3 draw.[11]
References
edit- ↑ "Ade Solanke". Soccerway. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ↑ "Laois teenager trades France for the Premier League as he signs for Bournemouth". laoistoday.ie. 19 January 2026. Archived from the original on 8 February 2026. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
- 1 2 Fitzmaurice, Aidan (30 October 2025). "Ireland U-17 Ade Solanke: It's a huge moment for Irish football, it's an honour". Irish Independent. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
Solanke's family, who came to Ireland from Nigeria, travelled around Ireland, spending time in Laois and Kildare before settling in Dublin. He found a football home at Shamrock Rovers, after a spell with Newbridge Town, spending six years in the Hoops academy before he moved to Lorient at the start of this year.
- ↑ "'I am over the moon' – Ireland U-17's Ade Solanke joins Bournemouth". Irish Independent. 15 January 2026. Archived from the original on 12 April 2026. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ↑ "Shamrock Rovers Talent Ade Solanke to Join FC Lorient Before Dream Premier League Move". lansdowneroar.ie. 25 February 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
- 1 2 "'Been a long time coming' - Solanke joins on long-term deal". BBC Sport. 15 January 2026. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ↑ "Ade Solanke joins from FC Lorient on long-term deal". afcb.co.uk. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
- ↑ "U17 EUROs Ireland squad announced for U17 EUROs". fai.ie. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
- ↑ "Spain 3-0 Republic of Ireland". uefa.com. 27 May 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ↑ "Ireland squad named for FIFA Under-17 World Cup". FAI.ie. Football Association of Ireland. 21 October 2025. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
- ↑ "Republic of Ireland 3-3 Scotland". uefa.com. UEFA. 19 March 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.