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Serge Atakayi

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Serge Atakayi
Personal information
Full name Serge Atakayi
Date of birth (1999-01-30) 30 January 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Kinshasa, DR Congo
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 KTP
Number 45
Youth career
2013–2015 Jaro
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Jaro 29 (3)
2015 → JBK 10 (2)
2016–2019 Rangers 1 (0)
2019 → SJK (loan) 10 (1)
2020–2022 SJK 28 (1)
2021 → TPS (loan) 13 (3)
2022–2023 St Patrick's Athletic 23 (4)
2023 → Waterford (loan) 12 (0)
2024– KTP 1 (0)
International career‡
2014 Finland U15 2 (0)
2015 Finland U17
2016 Finland U18 5 (2)
2016–2018 Finland U19 11 (0)
2019 DR Congo U23 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:22, 4 October 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14:02, 26 October 2022 (UTC)

Serge Atakayi (born 30 January 1999) is a Congolese professional footballer who plays as a winger for Ykkösliiga club KTP. Originally from the DR Congo, he represented Finland up to the under-19 level before representing DR Congo at under-23 level.

Early life

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Atakayi, originally from Democratic Republic of the Congo, applied for asylum in Finland alongside other members of his youth football team when visiting the country in 2010.[1][2][3][4]

Club career

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FF Jaro

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Atakayi joined the youth system at FF Jaro in 2013 and made his senior debut for the club in 2015.[5] He became the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Finnish top flight when he scored against HIFK on 17 May 2015, aged 16 years and 107 days.[6][1]

Rangers

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On 31 August 2016, after trial periods with Leicester City and Fulham, he joined Rangers on a three-year contract.[7] He signed a one-year contract extension to tie him to Rangers until 2020 in June 2018.[8] He made his debut against Motherwell in a 7–1 win during November 2018 but suffered a broken ankle in the game.[9][3]

SJK

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Atakayi left Rangers on 30 December 2019 to join Finnish side SJK for a reported fee of £100,000.[10][11] Atakayi played in 19 games on the 2020 season and scored once. On 4 June 2021 it was told by SJK-head coach Jani Honkavaara that Atakayi had not been training with the team since February because of attitude problems. [12] Atakayi only played in one Finnish Cup game for SJK in the 2021 season. On 28 July 2021 he moved to TPS on loan.[13]

St Patrick's Athletic

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On 15 July 2022 it was announced that Atakayi had signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club St Patrick's Athletic on an 18 month contract for an undisclosed fee.[14] He made his debut on the same day, in a 1–1 draw with Dundalk at Richmond Park.[15] His first goal for the club came on 4 August 2022 when he scored an 87th minute winner away to CSKA Sofia in the UEFA Europa Conference League Third qualifying round.[16] On 14 August 2022, he scored the winning goal against Sligo Rovers at Richmond Park in what was his first league start for the club.[17] On 19 August 2022, he scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory away to UCD, his third goal in his last four games.[18] On 14 October 2022, he opened the scoring in a 3–1 win over Dublin rivals Bohemians.[19] He followed that up a week later by again opening the scoring in another Dublin derby, this time away to Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.[20] In December 2023, it was announced that Atakayi had been released by the club at the end of his contract, following his loan spell with Waterford.[21]

Waterford loan

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On 1 July 2023, Atakayi signed for League of Ireland First Division side Waterford on loan until the end of the season.[22] He made 14 appearances in all competitions as his side earned promotion back to the League of Ireland Premier Division via the playoffs.[23]

KTP

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On 25 August 2024, Atakayi signed with Kotkan Työväen Palloilijat (KTP) in Finnish second-tier Ykkösliiga.[24] He made one appearance before the end of the season, as they won the 2024 Ykkösliiga to gain promotion to the Veikkausliiga.[25]

International career

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Finland

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Atakayi was born in DR Congo but obtained Finnish citizenship in 2016 and represented Finland at under-15 level.[5] In June 2016, Atakayi represented Finland at under-18 level in the Baltic Cup and scored in a 2–2 draw with Lithuania on 2 June 2016.[26][27] He made his debut for the Finland under-19 side on 4 September 2016, in a goalless draw with Romania.[28]

DR Congo

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While living in Glasgow, Atakayi become close friends with compatriot Youssouf Mulumbu who was playing for Celtic at the time and was a senior international for DR Congo. Mulumbu spoke with Atakayi about changing his international allegiance to his birth country.[29] In March 2019, Atakayi was called up to the DR Congo U23 team for two 2019 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualification fixtures against Morocco U23.[30] The first leg at home in Kinshasa represented a first opportunity for Atakayi to return home to see his family since seeking asylum from the country in 2010.[4]

Career statistics

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As of match played on 28 September 2024[31]
Club Season League Cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
FF Jaro 2015 Veikkausliiga 16 2 0 0 4 0 — — 20 2
2016 Ykkönen 13 1 0 0 0 0 — — 13 1
Total 29 3 0 0 4 0 — — 33 3
JBK 2015 Kakkonen 10 2 0 0 0 0 — — 10 2
Rangers 2016–17 Scottish Premiership 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0
2017–18 Scottish Premiership 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1[c] 0 1 0
2018–19 Scottish Premiership 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1[c] 0 2 0
2019–20 Scottish Premiership 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3[c] 1 3 1
Total 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 6 1
SJK (loan) 2019 Veikkausliiga 10 1 0 0 — — — 10 1
SJK 2020 Veikkausliiga 19 1 5 0 — — — 24 1
2021 Veikkausliiga 0 0 1 0 — — — 1 0
2022 Veikkausliiga 9 0 2 0 5 0 0 0 — 16 0
Total 38 2 8 0 5 0 0 0 — 51 2
TPS (loan) 2021 Ykkönen 13 3 0 0 — — — 13 3
St Patrick's Athletic 2022 LOI Premier Division 13 4 1 0 — 3[d] 1 — 17 5
2023 LOI Premier Division 10 0 — — — 0[e] 0 10 0
Total 23 4 1 0 — 3 1 0 0 27 5
Waterford (loan) 2023 LOI First Division 12 0 2 0 — – 0 0 14 0
KTP 2024 Ykkösliiga 1 0 — — — – 1 0
Career total 127 14 11 0 9 0 3 1 5 1 155 16
  1. ^ Includes Finnish Cup, Scottish Cup, FAI Cup
  2. ^ Includes Finnish League Cup, Scottish League Cup
  3. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in Scottish Challenge Cup for Rangers B
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  5. ^ Appearances in the Leinster Senior Cup

Honours

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KTP

References

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  1. ^ a b Berry, Gavin (2 September 2016). "Rangers signing Serge Atakayi and his incredible story of tears, torment and seeking asylum". Daily Record.
  2. ^ "Saints' Serge Atakayi reflects on fleeing home and seeking asylum, aged just 10". independent.
  3. ^ a b "New St Pat's winger Serge Atakayi on leaving family behind in Congo, seeking asylum, and breaking an ankle on his Rangers debut". independent.
  4. ^ a b McCadden, Mark (18 July 2022). "St Pat's new signing on his "crazy" life so far". Irish Mirror.
  5. ^ a b "Huippulupaus sai Suomen kansalaisuuden - Pietarsaareen Kinshashan kaduilta [Top Promise Receives Finnish Citizenship]". Yle (in Finnish). 17 May 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  6. ^ "Veikkausliigan historiaa [Veikkausliiga History]". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). 18 May 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  7. ^ "Rangers Academy Transfer Roundup". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  8. ^ Thomson, Nick (15 June 2018). "Hardie Signs New Deal". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club.
  9. ^ "Rangers 7-1 Motherwell". BBC Sport. BBC. 11 November 2018.
  10. ^ "Serge Atakayi Joins SJK". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. 30 December 2019.
  11. ^ "Serge Atakayi set for Rangers permanent exit as Finland return fee revealed". Daily Record. 29 December 2019.
  12. ^ "Serge Atakayin pelit SJK:ssa pelattu, Honkavaaran mukaan muutkin muutokset mahdollisia: "Aiomme olla aktiivisia siirtoikkunassa"". ilkkapohjalainen.fi. Ilkka-Pohjalainen. 4 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Atakayi lainasopimuksella Ykköseen". 28 July 2021.
  14. ^ "Serge Signs For The Saints". www.stpatsfc.com.
  15. ^ "Spoils shared but Dundalk boss Stephen O'Donnell sees red on Richmond return". independent.
  16. ^ "Atakayi's late goal gives St Pat's famous away victory in Sofia". The Irish Times.
  17. ^ Buttner, Paul (14 August 2022). "Ten man St Pat's beat Sligo as Atakayi scores first league goal". Irish Examiner.
  18. ^ Buttner, Paul (19 August 2022). "Clinical Atakayi earns Saints win over Students" – via www.rte.ie.
  19. ^ Geraghty, Darryl. "St Pat's keep up bid for Europe with win over Bohs at packed Richmond Park". The42.
  20. ^ Sneyd, David. "Shamrock Rovers on brink of Premier Division title after another perfect storm". The42.
  21. ^ Dempsey, Andrew. "Thijs Timmermans among trio to depart St Patrick's Athletic". extratime.com.
  22. ^ "Blues sign Serge". Waterford FC.
  23. ^ Barry, Stephen (10 November 2023). "Waterford win promotion in extra-time against Cork City" – via www.rte.ie.
  24. ^ VEIKKAUSLIIGAHISTORIAN NUORIN MAALINTEKIJÄ KTP:HEN - "SAMANTYYLINEN KUIN BANZA, KTP, 25 August 2024
  25. ^ KTP varmisti sarjanousun Veikkausliigaan, Yle, 6 October 2024
  26. ^ "U18 nimetty Baltic Cupiin [Named U18 Baltic Cup]". Palloliitto (in Finnish). 18 May 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  27. ^ "U18-maajoukkue tasapeliin Liettuaa vastaan [U18-national team draw against Lithuania]". Palloliitto (in Finnish). 2 June 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  28. ^ "U19 ja Romania maalittomaan [U19 and Romania with no goals]". Palloliitto (in Finnish). 4 September 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  29. ^ McCadden, Mark (7 October 2022). "St Pat's ace is eager for another chance to shine in Europe". Irish Mirror.
  30. ^ "CAN U23 : la liste de la RDC contre le Maroc avec O. Mandanda". Afrik-Foot. 8 March 2019.
  31. ^ "S. Atakayi". Soccerway. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  32. ^ KTP varmisti sarjanousun Veikkausliigaan, Yle, 6 October 2024
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