Bosun Lawal

Bosun Lawal

Lawal training with Celtic in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Mohammed Bosun Lawal[1]
Date of birth	(2003-05-30) 30 May 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth	Ireland
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Position(s)	Defender, midfielder
Team information
Current team	Stoke City
Number	18
Youth career
	St. Kevin's Boys
	Bohemians
2019–2021	Watford
2021–2023	Celtic
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2023–2024	Celtic	0	(0)
2023–2024	→ Fleetwood Town (loan)	42	(6)
2024–	Stoke City	1	(0)
International career^‡
	Republic of Ireland U15
2019	Republic of Ireland U17	1	(0)
2021–2022	Republic of Ireland U19	7	(0)
2021–2024	Republic of Ireland U21	12	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:30, 14 December 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 01:13, 16 October 2024 (UTC)

Mohammed Bosun Lawal (born 30 May 2003) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender and midfielder for EFL Championship club Stoke City.

Club career

Celtic

Lawal started his football career with the joint youth setup of Irish sides St. Kevin's Boys and Bohemian, playing for the latter at under-19 level.^[3] He joined English Premier League side Watford in 2019.^[3][4] While at Watford, he was named academy player of the year for the 2020–21 season, and earned praise from then-first team captain Troy Deeney, who compared him to Abdoulaye Doucouré.^[5] He was offered a one-year contract by Watford in May 2021, but had attracted interest from Chelsea, Fulham, Norwich City and Scottish side Celtic, with the latter showing the strongest interest.^[6][7][8]

Having rejected the contract offer from Watford, Lawal made the move to Scotland, joining Celtic in July 2021.^[9][10][11] He was assigned to the club's B team, where he impressed with his performances,^[12][13][14] and was linked with a transfer away from the club in December 2022.^[15][16] He was named on the bench for the first team for the first time as Celtic went on to beat St Johnstone 4–1.^[17] He made his senior debut on 21 January 2023, coming on as a late substitute in a 5–0 Scottish Cup win against Greenock Morton.^[18][19]

On 17 August 2023, Lawal signed a new long-term contract with Celtic until the summer of 2026.^[20][21] On the same day, he joined EFL League One club Fleetwood Town on a season-long loan deal, where he would be managed by former Celtic captain Scott Brown.^[22][23] Lawal played 46 times for Fleetwood, scoring six goals as he was unable to help them avoid relegation.^[24]

Stoke City

On 12 August 2024, Lawal signed for EFL Championship club Stoke City on a four-year-contract for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £2 million.^[25][26] It was later revealed that during his medical a stress fracture in his lower back was discovered.^[27]

International career

Lawal has represented the Republic of Ireland from under-15^[3] to under-21 level.^[1]

On 16 June 2023, he scored his first goal for the Irish under-21 national team in a 2–2 draw against Ukraine.^[28]

Personal life

Lawal was born in Ireland and is of Nigerian descent.^[29] His brother, Ola, is also a footballer and currently plays for Marine.^[30]

Career statistics

As of match played 14 December 2024^[17]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup[a]		League Cup[b]		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Celtic	2021–22[31]	Scottish Premiership	0	0	0	0	0	0	1[c]	0	1	0
	2022–23[32]	Scottish Premiership	0	0	1	0	0	0	2[c]	2	2	2
	2023–24[33]	Scottish Premiership	0	0	0	0	0	0	1[c]	0	1	0
	Total		0	0	1	0	0	0	4	2	5	2
Fleetwood Town (loan)	2023–24[33]	EFL League One	42	6	2	0	0	0	2[d]	0	46	6
Stoke City	2024–25[34]	EFL Championship	1	0	0	0	0	0	—		1	0
Career total			43	6	3	0	0	0	6	2	52	8

1. Includes Scottish Cup & FA Cup
2. Includes Scottish League Cup & EFL Cup
3. Appearance(s) in Scottish Challenge Cup for Celtic B
4. Appearances in EFL Trophy

References

1. Bosun Lawal at WorldFootball.net
2. "Bosun Lawal". celticfc.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
3. "Bosun Lawal off to Watford". skbfc.yourclub.ie. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
4. "Bosun Lawal". watfordfc.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
5. Boland, Aaron (13 May 2021). "Irish teenager Bosun Lawal has a big fan in Troy Deeney". sportsnewsireland.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
6. Emmanuel, Ifeanyi (19 May 2021). "Confirmed : Hugely talented Nigerian midfielder offered new deal by Watford". allnigeriasoccer.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
7. Caw, Daniel (14 July 2021). "Who is Bosun Lawal as Celtic close in on silky Watford academy player of the year already pictured at Parkhead". dailyrecord.co.uk. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
8. Gray, Ryan (13 July 2021). "Watford youngster Bosun Lawal set to join Celtic". watfordobserver.co.uk. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
9. "Celtic sign Japan forward Furuhashi". BBC Sport.
10. "Celtic confirm Bosun Lawal signing from Watford as they beat Chelsea and Norwich to youngster". HeraldScotland.
11. Hendry, Mark (15 July 2021). "Celtic beat Chelsea, Norwich and Serie A side to Watford's Bosun Lawal in cut-price deal". glasgowtimes.co.uk. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
12. Hendry, Mark (14 April 2022). "Celtic's Bosun Lawal 'real find' as B-team defender impresses Hoops coach". footballscotland.co.uk. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
13. "Bosun Lawal to have his breakthrough at Celtic this year". OneFootball.
14. "Ben Summers in nod to Tobi Oluwayemi and Bosun Lawal with 'immense' praise". HeraldScotland.
15. Galindo, Alan (20 December 2022). "Celtic starlet Bosun Lawal 'attracting' interest from Brentford and Italian duo". GlasgowLive.
16. "Brentford monitoring Celtic prospect Bosun Lawal - Tribal Football". www.tribalfootball.com.
17. Bosun Lawal at Soccerway
18. "Games played by Bosun Lawal in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
19. "Kyogo reaches 20 goals as Celtic sail past Morton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
20. "Bosun Lawal signs new contract extension with Celtic". Celtic FC. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
21. "Dubliner Bosun Lawal signs long-term deal with Celtic". Independent.ie. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
22. "Bosun Lawal joins Fleetwood on loan until the end of the season". www.fleetwoodtownfc.com. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
23. "Fleetwood sign Celtic defender Lawal on loan". BBC Sport. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
24. "Farewell Fleetwood Town's giant, Bosun Lawal". Back Page Football. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
25. "Potters bag Bosun Lawal". Stoke City. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
26. "Stoke sign Celtic's Lawal on four-year contract". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
27. "Bosun Lawal grateful for Stoke City show of faith as Celtic transfer threw up unexpected drama". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
28. Madden, Jack (16 June 2023). "Brighton's Andrew Moran on target as Ireland U21s salvage draw with Ukraine". The Irish News. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
29. "Bosun Lawal". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
30. Goldthorp, Craig (6 October 2022). "'I was absolutely buzzing' - midfield ace Ola Lawal reveals reaction upon hearing Falkirk wanted to sign him this summer". falkirkherald.co.uk. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
31. "Games played by Bosun Lawal in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
32. "Games played by Bosun Lawal in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
33. "Games played by Bosun Lawal in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
34. "Games played by Bosun Lawal in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.