Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Michael Folabi Dokunmu[1] | ||
Date of birth | 9 April 2006 | ||
Place of birth | Kimberley, South Africa[1] | ||
Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Vitesse | ||
Number | 58 | ||
Youth career | |||
Little Kickers | |||
Old Parks | |||
Randburg FC | |||
SuperSport United | |||
2020– | Vitesse | ||
International career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2023– | South Africa U17 | 2 | (1) |
Michael Folabi Dokunmu (born 9 April 2006) is a South African professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Dutch side Vitesse.
Dokunmu was born in Kimberley, South Africa, to a Nigerian father and a South African mother.[2]
Dokunmu started his career at a number of youth clubs in South Africa before joining professional side SuperSport United.[2] In December 2019, his mother accepted a job in the Netherlands, and Dokunmu's family moved to the country.
The following summer, he went on trial with Eredivisie side Vitesse, before being accepted into their academy.[2] He signed his first professional contract with the club in August 2022.[2][3] He became Vitesse's third-youngest debutant, behind Brahim Darri and Mitchell van Bergen, when he appeared in a friendly game against SC Heerenveen.[2]
Eligible to represent South Africa and Nigeria through his parents, as well as the Netherlands, he was called up to the under-17 side of the latter for a training camp in January 2023.[2][4] However, in April of the same year, he switched his international allegiance to South Africa, and was called up to their under-17 side ahead of the 2023 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.[5] He stated that he had chosen to represent South Africa as it was his birthplace, and that he hoped to represent the nation's senior squad in future.[5]
His brother, Ethan, is also a footballer, and currently also plays in the academy of Vitesse.[2]