Ariyibi: Omogbolahan Gregory (Gboly)

2013-2014 (Leeds Player Details)(Player Details)

Winger

Born: West Virginia, USA: 18-01-1995

Debut: v Nottingham Forest (a) (substitute): 29-12-2013

6’ 11st 5lb (2013)

Though born in West Virginia, of Nigerian parents, he moved to England at an early age and he therefore has dual nationality and is qualified to play for USA or Nigeria. He started his youth career at Southampton in 2005, joining them from local junior side Quarry Rovers. He was part of the highly regarded youth side that produced several first team players for the Saints. He progressed to Southampton's Under-Twenty-One side but was taken into the professional ranks at the end of his apprenticeship. He then had trials with Bolton Wanderers, and played in one game for them in their Under-Twenty-one team, but was not taken on. Eventually, in early July 2013 Ariyibi signed for Leeds United after a short trial spell, being contracted until the end of the 2013-2014 season. on Boxing Day 2013 he was named as an unused substitute against Blackpool and three days later he came on as a sixty-first minute substitute for Michael Brown against Nottingham Forest and three days later on New years Day 2014 he was a half-time substitute for Luke Murphy. It was to be his final appearance in Leeds colours and on 24th March 2014 he was loaned to League One side Tranmere Rovers for the rest of the season. As at Leeds he managed only two substitute appearances, coming on as a forty-second minute replacement for James Wallace on 25th March 2014 in a 1-2 home defeat by Swindon Town, and then as a seventy-fourth minute replacement for Jake Kirby in a 0-0 home draw with Carlisle United four days later. He was not retained by Leeds at the end of the season and was released on 16th May 2014. Ariyibi had the opportunity to join EPL Under-Twenty-One sides in the summer of 2014 but instead chose to join League One team, Chesterfield. On 29th August 2014 he signed a one year deal. He made his debut for them when he started the 0-2 away defeat at Scunthorpe United in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy on 2nd September 2014, and his League debut came as an eighty-ninth minute substitute for Eoin Doyle in a 4-1 home win over the same opposition on 13th September 2014. In the meantime he was called up to the USA Under-Twenty squad for their game in Buenos Aires against Argentina, in which he gained his first cap as a seventy-first minute substitute for Romain Gall in a 1-1 draw on 9th September 2014. There were a few minutes as a substitute in a couple of League games before he made his starting debut, again against Scunthorpe United, in another 0-2 away defeat on 17th February 2015. His first goal came in the 2-3 home defeat by Coventry City on 14th March 2015, when he netted the final goal five minutes before time after coming on for Oliver Banks in the seventieth minute. By the end of the season he had started five League games and come off the bench on twelve more occasions, scoring one goal. He had also made one start in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and come on as a sixty-seventh minute substitute for Daniel Jones in the League One Play-off game at Preston North End on 10th May 2015. On 11th March 2015 his contract was extended and was contracted for a further two seasons, taking him to the summer of 2017.