Al-Amin Kazeem

Al-Amin Kazeem
Kazeem in action for St Patrick's Athletic in 2024.
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-04-06) 6 April 2002 (age 22)
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Left-back, winger
Team information
Current team
 St Patrick's Athletic
Number 30
Youth career
2017–2019 Colchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2024 Colchester United 33 (0)
2019–2020 → Maldon & Tiptree (loan) 23 (1)
2024 → Galway United (loan) 20 (0)
2024– St Patrick's Athletic 8 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:59, 25 October 2024 (UTC)

Al-Amin Kazeem (born 6 April 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left-back or winger, for League of Ireland Premier Division club St Patrick's Athletic.

Club career

Maldon & Tiptree loan

Al-Amin Kazeem was signed by Colchester United as a youth player in 2017. He was sent out on loan to Isthmian League side Maldon & Tiptree for the 2019–20 season. He was a part of the side that reached the second round of the FA Cup for the first time in the club's history.[2]

Colchester United

On returning from loan to Colchester United, Kazeem signed a two-year contract with The U's.[1] Kazeem had to wait until the 2022–23 season to get his chance with the first team, making his debut in an EFL Cup game against Ipswich Town. He gained high praise for Colchester manager Wayne Brown, with the manager saying "I don't like to individualize after games but Al-Amin for me making his debut against a real top class (team)...I thought his one for one defending was exceptional."[3]

Galway United loan

On 8 February 2024, Kazeem signed for newly promoted League of Ireland Premier Division side Galway United on a half-season loan.[4] On 30 June 2024, the club announced that Kazeem had departed following the end of his loan spell, turning down a permanent contract offer from Galway after his Colchester United contract had expired on the same day.[5]

St Patrick's Athletic

On 1 July 2024, Kazeem signed a multi-year contract with League of Ireland Premier Division club St Patrick's Athletic.[6][7] He made his debut for the club on 4 June 2024, replacing Anthony Breslin in the 79th minute of a 1–0 loss away to Waterford.[8] On 1 August 2024, he made his first career appearance in European competition, coming off the bench away to Vaduz of Liechtenstein as his side drew 2–2 at the Rheinpark Stadion for a 5–3 aggregate win, to set up a tie with Sabah of Azerbaijan.[9] On 30 September 2024, Kazeem scored his first goal for the club, an 88th minute winner in a 3–2 victory in a Dublin Derby away to rivals Shelbourne which he scored with his first touch of the game having replaced Brandon Kavanagh from the bench a minute earlier.[10] On 8 October 2024, Kazeem was part of the Pats side that defeated St Mochta's 2–1 in the final of the 2023–24 Leinster Senior Cup.[11]

Style of Play

Kazeem plays as a left-back primarily. He is very strong, quick and willing to defend, with his manager Wayne Brown stating after his debut "You've seen his fitness first and foremost but also his physical presence to get out to the ball and want to defend. "That's a rarity nowadays, where you have people who actually want to defend."[3]

International career

Kazeem is eligible to play for both England and Nigeria as he holds dual citizenship for both countries.[12]

Career statistics

As of match played 25 October 2024[13]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Colchester United 2020–21[13] EFL League Two 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0[a] 0 0 0
2021–22[13] 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0[a] 0 0 0
2022–23[13] 20 0 0 0 2 0 — 2[a] 0 24 0
2023–24[13] 13 0 0 0 1 0 — 0[a] 0 14 0
Total 33 0 0 0 3 0 — 2 0 38 0
Maldon & Tiptree (loan) 2019–20[14] Isthmian League North Division 23 1 5 0 — — 5[b] 0 33 1
Galway United (loan) 2024[13] LOI Premier Division 20 0 — — — — 20 0
St Patrick's Athletic 2024[13] LOI Premier Division 8 1 0 0 — 3[c] 0 2[d] 0 13 1
2025[13] 0 0 0 0 — 0[c] 0 0[d] 0 0 0
Total 8 1 0 0 — 3 0 2 0 13 1
Career total 84 2 5 0 3 0 3 0 9 0 104 2
  1. ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in the FA Trophy
  3. ^ a b Appearance(s) in the UEFA Conference League
  4. ^ a b Appearance(s) in the Leinster Senior Cup

Honours

St Patrick's Athletic

References

  1. ^ a b "Al-Amin Kazeem - Defender - First Team Profiles - Colchester United".
  2. ^ "BBC to show Maldon & Tiptree FA Cup tie". BBC Sport.
  3. ^ a b "'He's an exceptional talent' - Al-Amin Kazeem praised after fine debut". 11 August 2022.
  4. ^ Team, Media (8 February 2024). "Al-Amin Kazeem joins Galway United on loan from Colchester United". Galway United.
  5. ^ Naughton, Stephen (30 June 2024). "AL-AMIN KAZEEM DEPARTS GALWAY UNITED". Galway United.
  6. ^ "Kazeem Joins The Saints". www.stpatsfc.com.
  7. ^ Donnelly, Dave. "St Patrick's Athletic gazump Galway United to sign left-back Al-Amin Kazeem from Colchester United". extratime.com.
  8. ^ "Ben McCormack hits winner to haunt St Pat's". Irish Independent. 4 July 2024.
  9. ^ Fallon, John (1 August 2024). "St Pat's draw in Vaduz to set up Conference League third round clash". Irish Examiner.
  10. ^ "Kazeem wins five-goal humdinger for St Pat's against Shels". 30 September 2024.
  11. ^ Team, Extratime. "St Patrick's Athletic crowned Leinster Senior Cup winners". extratime.com.
  12. ^ "Colchester 'Kazeem eyes Flying Eagles the Nation Newspaper". 4 November 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h "England - A. Kazeem - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
  14. ^ "Maldon & Tiptree | Appearances | Al-Amin Kazeem | 2019-2020 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.