Jonah Ayunga

Jonah Ananias Paul Ayunga (born 24 May 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Bristol Rovers. Born in England to a Kenyan father and English mother he represents Kenya internationally.

Jonah Ayunga

Personal information
Full name	Jonah Ananias Paul Ayunga[1]
Date of birth	24 May 1997
Place of birth	Beaminster, England
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s)	Forward
Club information
Current team	Bristol Rovers
Number	21
Youth career
2007–2015	Bridport Youth
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2016	Dorchester Town	24	(8)
2016–2018	Brighton & Hove Albion	0	(0)
2016–2017	→ Burgess Hill Town (loan)	10	(1)
2017	→ Sligo Rovers (loan)	21	(4)
2017	→ Galway United (loan)	2	(0)
2018	→ Poole Town (loan)	1	(0)
2018–2019	Sutton United	28	(4)
2018	→ Havant & Waterlooville (loan)	4	(2)
2019–2020	Havant & Waterlooville	30	(17)
2020–	Bristol Rovers	3	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:29, 2 October 2020 (UTC)

Club career

Early career

Ayunga started his career at Bridport Youth in 2007 and was in the squad for the Dorset County under-16s representative team.[2]

In July 2015, Ayunga went on a trial at Dorchester Town and impressed the side in the pre-season.[3] As a result, Ayunga was signed by Dorchester Town, signing a 12-month contract on 19 July 2015.[4] He made his Dorchester Town debut in the opening game of the season, scoring in a 3–0 win over Histon, followed up by scoring in a 4–2 win over Cirencester Town.[5] By the time of his departure, Ayunga made 31 appearances, scoring 7 times during his spell at the club. Dorchester manager, Mark Jermyn described him as "an exciting young talent" and a "strong and powerful center forward".[6]

Brighton & Hove Albion

It was agreed that Ayunga agreed a move to Brighton & Hove Albion on 31 January 2016.[7] The move was confirmed on 1 February 2016 for £40,000, with the transfer fee being touted as "the biggest receipt in the history of Dorchester Town FC".[8]

He made his debut in a 4–1 friendly defeat to Arsenal U21, his coach at Brighton described him as a "good player and natural goal scorer".[9] It wasn't until on 11 April 2016 when he scored his first Brighton & Hove Albion U23, in a 4–1 win over Newcastle United U23.[10]

In the summer pre-season tour of 2016, Ayunga played against his former club, Dorchester Town, which saw Brighton & Hove Albion U21 won 7–0 in July 2016.[11]

On 24 October 2016, Jonah was sent on a month long loan to English 7th tier side Burgess Hill Town,[12] he scored his first goal at Burgess in a 5-1 thumping of Beaconsfield SYCOB[13] After making 10 appearances, Ayunga's loan spell at Burgess Hill Town came to an end.

On 23 January 2017, Ayunga joined Irish side Sligo Rovers on loan for the 2017 campaign.[14] He made his Sligo Rovers debut in the opening game of the season, in a 5–1 loss against Limerick.[15] However, in a follow up match against Dundalk on 4 March 2017, he was sent-off for a second bookable offence, in a 4–0 loss.[16] After returning from suspension, Ayunga then scored his first goal for the club, in a 2–0 win over Bohemians on 8 April 2017.[17] He went on to score two more goals against Drogheda United and Limerick.[18] He went on to make 22 appearances and scoring 4 times in all competitions before his loan has terminated on the 31 July 2017.[19]

On 31 July 2017, Ayunga joined Irish side Galway United on loan for the remainder of the 2017 campaign.[20] He made his Galway United debut on 4 August 2017, in a 2–1 win over Finn Harps.,[21] Ayunga's loan with Galway United was cut short after just 4 games through injury.[22]

Sutton United

Ayunga signed for Sutton United in the summer of 2018, following his release by Brighton.[23] On 4 September 2018, he made his debut during a 1–0 victory over Maidstone United, featuring for 65 minutes before being replaced by Tommy Wright.[24] Just under a month later, he scored his first goal for the club, clinching a 48th-minute winner against promotion hopefuls, Leyton Orient.[25]

On 24 November 2018, Ayunga made the switch to fellow National League side, Havant & Waterlooville on a three-month loan.[26] On the same day, Ayunga went onto net on his debut during a 5–2 victory over Maidstone United, netting Havant's second in the 35th minute.[27] Three days later, he continued his good form, netting a late consolation goal in Havant's 3–1 defeat against Dagenham & Redbridge.[28]

Following his impressive form, Ayunga returned to Sutton prematurely and went onto feature seventeen more times, scoring twice before leaving at the end of the campaign.

Havant & Waterlooville

On 14 May 2019, Ayunga agreed to return to Havant, following their relegation to the National League South.[29] Before the early conclusion of the season, Ayunga had scored seventeen goals in the league, seeing him win the Golden Boot award in a three-way tie along with McQueen of Dartford and Iaciofano of St Albans City.[30] The season ultimately ended in disappointment for Ayunga and Havant as they were defeated 2-1 in the play off semi-final by Dartford after Ayunga had given his side the lead.[31]

Bristol Rovers

On 29 July 2020, Ayunga signed for League One side Bristol Rovers for an undisclosed fee, signing a two-year deal.[32]

He made his debut for the club on 5 September 2020, in a 3-0 League Cup defeat to Ipswich Town, replacing Cameron Hargreaves from the bench at half time.[33] He made his first start for the club the following Tuesday in a 2-2 draw against Walsall in the EFL Trophy, a game in which Ayunga also scored his first goal for the club to level the score.[34]

International career

Ayunga received his first call up to the Kenya national team on 5 August 2016.[35]

Personal life

Ayunga has a younger brother, Solomon, who's also a footballer and they both attended Beaminster school.[2] While at Beaminster school, Ayunga was also in the school's bobsleigh team. [36]

Career statistics

As of match played 26 September 2020

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Dorchester Town	2015–16[37]	Southern League Premier Division	24	8	2	0	—		4[lower-alpha 1]	0	30	8
Brighton & Hove Albion	2016–17[38]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2017–18[38]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
Burgess Hill Town (loan)	2016–17[39]	Isthmian League Premier Division	10	0	0	0	—		3[lower-alpha 2]	1	13	1
Sligo Rovers (loan)	2017[38]	League of Ireland Premier Division	21	4	—		1	0	—		22	4
Galway United (loan)	2017[38]	League of Ireland Premier Division	2	0	2[40]	1[41]	—		—		4	1
Poole Town (loan)	2017–18[38]	National League South	1	0	0	0	—		0	0	1	0
Sutton United	2018–19[38]	National League	28	4	3	0	—		2[lower-alpha 3]	0	33	4
Havant & Waterlooville (loan)	2018–19[38]	National League	4	2	—		—		—		4	2
Havant & Waterlooville	2019–20[38]	National League South	30	17	3	1	—		2[lower-alpha 4]	1	35	19
Bristol Rovers	2020–21[38]	League One	3	0	0	0	1	0	1[lower-alpha 5]	1	5	1
Career total			123	35	10	2	2	0	12	3	147	40

1. One appearance in Southern League Cup, three in FA Trophy
2. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
3. One appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup, one in FA Trophy
4. One appearance in FA Trophy, one in National League South Play Offs
5. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

References

1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Bristol Rovers" (PDF). English Football League. p. 14. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
2. "Siblings in selection for Dorset". Dorset Echo. 17 October 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
3. "Magies: Heath hails ace Ayunga". Dorset Echo. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
4. "Magpies: Ace Ayunga pens Avenue deal and Nicholls is poised to return". Dorset Echo. 19 July 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
5. "Magpies: Perfect start to season for Dorchester Town". Dorset Echo. 9 August 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
   "Magpies: Late penalty seals Dorchester Town's fate in thriller". Dorset Echo. 11 August 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
6. "Magpies: Dorchester Town ace Jonah hailed as a top talent by boss Jermyn". Dorset Echo. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
7. "STATEMENT: Jonah agrees terms with Brighton and Hove Albion". Dorchester Town F.C. 31 January 2016. Archived from the original on 4 November 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
8. "Jonah Ayunga seals move to Brighton and Hove Albion". Dorchester Town F.C. 1 February 2016. Archived from the original on 4 November 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
9. "UNDER-21S FACE ARSENAL TODAY". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 5 February 2016. Archived from the original on 4 November 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
   "U21 REPORT: ARSENAL 4 ALBION 1". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 5 February 2016. Archived from the original on 4 November 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
10. "U21 REPORT: NEWCASTLE 1 ALBION 4". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 11 April 2016. Archived from the original on 4 November 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
11. "Magpies: Top night for Jonah on return to the Avenue". Dorset Echo. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
12. Korir, Patrick. "English side Brighton loans out Kenyan striker".
13. Korir, Patrick. "Ayunga opens account at Burgess Hill".
14. "Jonah Ayunga signs!". Sligo Rovers Official Site. 23 January 2017. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
15. "League Report: Limerick 5 - 1 Sligo Rovers". Extra Time Irish. 24 February 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
16. "Dundalk inflict Sligo's second thrashing in two games". The Irish Times. 4 March 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
17. "Sligo secure all three points against Bohs". The Irish Times. 8 April 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
18. "Ayunga rescues point for Rovers". The Irish Independent. 6 May 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
19. "Sligo Rovers to ramp up efforts to land former Celtic star Paddy McCourt". The Irish Mirror. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
20. "Galway United striker Jonah Ayunga on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion". Extra Times Irish. 31 July 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
21. "Galway boost survival chances against 10-man Finn Harps". RTE Sport. 4 August 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
22. "Broken leg cuts short Jonah Ayunga's loan spell with Galway United". Extra Time Irish. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
23. "Jonah Ayunga - Sutton United Football Club". Sutton United Football Club. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
24. "Maidstone United vs. Sutton United". Soccerway. 4 September 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
25. "Leyton Orient vs. Sutton United". Soccerway. 29 September 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
26. "Jonah Ayunga joins the Hawks on loan". Havant & Waterlooville F.C. 24 November 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
27. "Havant & Waterlooville vs. Maidstone United". Soccerway. 24 November 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
28. "Dagenham & Redbridge vs. Havant & Waterlooville". Soccerway. 27 November 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
29. "Jonah Ayunga joins the Hawks permanently". Havant & Waterlooville F.C. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
30. "Jonah Ayunga Shares Golden Boot". www.havantandwaterloovillefc.co.uk. 27 July 2020.
31. "Havant and Waterlooville play-off semi final". www.havantandwaterloovillefc.co.uk. 25 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
32. "Jonah Ayunga Joins the Gas!". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
33. "Ipswich Town 3-0 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 5 September 2020.
34. "EFL Trophy Match Report: Bristol Rovers 2-2 Walsall FC". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
35. Korir, Patrick. "Tracing Harambee Stars callups Jonah Ayunga and Joshua Lelan".
36. "Proud four on Beaminster School bobsleigh team". Dorset Echo. 24 December 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
37. "Jonah Ayunga". Aylesbury United FC. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
38. Jonah Ayunga at Soccerway. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
39. "Appearances - Jonah Ayunga". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
40. https://www.extratime.ie/matches/detail/31434/2/
41. https://www.extratime.ie/matches/detail/31699/2/