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Siriki Dembélé

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Siriki Dembélé
Dembélé with AFC Bournemouth in 2022
Personal information
Full name Ben Siriki Dembélé[1]
Date of birth (1996-09-07) 7 September 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Bouaflé, Ivory Coast
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Position(s) Winger, striker
Team information
Current team
 Oxford United
Number 23
Youth career
2009–2013 Dundee United
2015–2016 Ayr United
2016–2017 Nike Football Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2018 Grimsby Town 36 (4)
2018–2022 Peterborough United 129 (26)
2022–2023 AFC Bournemouth 19 (2)
2023 → Auxerre (loan) 12 (0)
2023–2024 Birmingham City 34 (6)
2024– Oxford United 8 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 09:58, 3 November 2024 (UTC)

Ben Siriki Dembélé (born 7 September 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a left winger or striker for EFL Championship club Oxford United.

Dembélé is known for his speed, taking on players with his dribbling ability, and holding the ball bringing others into play. At the age of 12, Dembélé started his career with Dundee United's youth system. He then moved to playing in their academy. Dembélé returned south of the border joining the Nike Football Academy in May 2016; he had trials with Championship clubs Barnsley and Huddersfield Town in September 2016. In May 2017, Dembélé moved to Grimsby Town signing his first professional contract. On 22 June 2018, he joined Peterborough United on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee. He joined AFC Bournemouth in January 2022 on a three-and-a-half-year deal and spent the second half of the 2022–23 season on loan to French Ligue 1 club Auxerre before returning to the Championship with Birmingham City in July 2023. A year later, after Birmingham's relegation, he joined Oxford United.

Dembélé was born in Ivory Coast, and is also eligible to represent England and Scotland at international level.

Club career

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Early career

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Dembélé was born in Bouaflé, Ivory Coast.[3] He relocated with his family to London before moving to Govan, Scotland, in 2004.[4][5] He attended Lourdes Secondary School in Glasgow, and started his career with Dundee United where he spent three years in their youth system.[4][6] He then moved to Ayr United in their U20s academy team in 2015.[7][8]

Several amateur players including Dembélé attended the 'Nike Most Wanted' 2016 trials, where he won a place at the Nike Football Academy; he was the only Scottish player selected for the St George's Park outfit, developing his skills in front of elite coaches and mentors.[4][9][10] While at the academy, he had trials with EFL Championship clubs Barnsley in August and Huddersfield Town in September 2016 and was due to sign for them, however, due to suffering an injury he was out for four months and went back to the Nike Academy in January 2017.[6]

Grimsby Town

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After training and featuring in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Barnsley at Blundell Park, Dembélé joined EFL League Two side Grimsby Town on 25 May 2017 on a one-year contract, the club having the option to retain him for a second year.[11][12] He did have the opportunity to trial with fellow League Two club Stevenage, Dembélé said: "I still had a few clubs to go before making my decision, but once I found out I was joining this club to sign my very first professional contract it felt amazing."[13]

He made his full professional debut with Grimsby on 5 August 2017, in their 3–1 victory at Chesterfield, where he ran at pace through the midfield beating three men and placed a through ball to Sam Jones, which put Grimsby into a 2–0 lead.[14] Dembélé scored his first goal for Grimsby in the 2–1 win at Port Vale on 7 October 2017, a through ball from Luke Summerfield, which Dembélé latched onto and rounded the keeper to win the game.[15] Ten days later, he scored a brace in a 3–2 victory at Cheltenham Town.[16]

Dembélé was awarded EFL Young Player of the Month for October 2017.[17]

In June 2018, Dembélé submitted a transfer request.[18]

Dembélé with AFC Bournemouth in 2022

Peterborough United

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Dembélé joined Peterborough United on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee on 22 June 2018.[19] Despite handing in a transfer request in January 2021[20] stating personal reasons and a desire to play at a higher level, he was part of the team that won promotion to the EFL Championship from EFL League One in the 2020/21 season.[21]

AFC Bournemouth

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On 31 January 2022, Dembélé joined EFL Championship club AFC Bournemouth on a three-and-a-half-year contract, for an undisclosed fee.[22] Commenting on the move amidst interest from other clubs, Dembélé stated that Bournemouth was his top choice because of the higher chance of promotion and the club's style of play.[23] He scored his first goal for the club in his second appearance; a last minute winner against Blackpool on 12 February 2022.[24]

Loan to Auxerre

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On 31 January 2023, Dembélé moved to Ligue 1 club Auxerre on loan until the end of the season.[25]

Birmingham City

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Dembélé signed for Championship club Birmingham City on 14 July 2023; the fee was undisclosed.[26]

Oxford United

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Dembélé joined Oxford United of the Championship on 29 August 2024 on a long-term contract.[27] The fee was undisclosed but it was widely reported that Oxford broke their transfer record to sign him, meaning the fee would have surpassed the £650,000 the club paid for Marvin Johnson in 2016, with Birmingham thought to have valued the player at between £1 million and £1.5 million.[28][29][30]

Style of play

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Dembélé is ambipedal although mainly right footed; he primarily plays on the left wing in 4–3–3 and 4–2–3–1 formations. He prefers to play as a striker in a 4–4–2 formation. Dembélé is known for his speed, taking on players with his dribbling skills and holding the ball bringing others into play.[6]

Personal life

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Dembélé has a younger brother, Karamoko, who is also a professional footballer. Both are eligible to play for England, Scotland or Ivory Coast.[31] Dembélé is a Muslim, and observes Ramadan while continuing his football career.[32]

Career statistics

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As of match played 2 November 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Grimsby Town 2017–18[33] League Two 36 4 1 0 1 0 1[a] 0 39 4
Peterborough United 2018–19[34] League One 38 5 4 1 1 0 4[a] 1 47 7
2019–20[35] League One 25 5 1 0 0 0 4[a] 1 30 6
2020–21[36] League One 42 11 2 1 1 0 1[a] 1 46 13
2021–22[37] Championship 24 5 1 0 0 0 — 25 5
Total 129 26 8 2 2 0 9 3 148 31
AFC Bournemouth 2021–22[37] Championship 13 2 — — — 13 2
2022–23[38] Premier League 6 0 1 0 2 0 — 9 0
Total 19 2 1 0 2 0 — 22 2
Auxerre 2022–23[39] Ligue 1 12 0 0 0 — — 12 0
Birmingham City 2023–24[40] Championship 33 6 3 0 1 0 — 37 6
2024–25[41] League One 1 0 0 0 — — 1 0
Total 34 6 3 0 1 0 — 38 6
Oxford United 2024–25[41] Championship 8 0 0 0 — — 8 0
Career total 238 38 13 2 6 0 10 3 270 43
  1. ^ a b c d Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

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AFC Bournemouth

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2019" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  2. ^ "Siriki Dembele: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Siriki Dembélé". Ligue 1. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "EFL Exclusive: Africa, England, Scotland, England – Siriki Dembele's route to professional football". English Football League (EFL). 8 December 2017. Archived from the original on 10 December 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  5. ^ Pattullo, Alan (5 October 2016). "Scotland call for Celtic 'wonderkid' Karamoko Dembele". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 8 October 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  6. ^ a b c Dean, Matt (26 May 2017). "Siriki Dembélé: "I think I was born ready."". BBC Radio Humberside. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  7. ^ McClurkin, Calum (30 November 2015). "Academy 20s edge out Dumbarton". Ayr United Football Academy. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  8. ^ "Ayr United 3–2 Airdrieonians". Airdrieonians F.C. 20 December 2015. Archived from the original on 11 April 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  9. ^ "Nike News – Nike Most Wanted 2016 Forecasts Tomorrow's Football Stars". Nike. 2 May 2016. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  10. ^ "Nike Academy 2016-17". The Nike Academy on Facebook. 2 May 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2017.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ Findlater, James (26 May 2017). "Grimsby Town sign former triliast Siriki Dembélé on one-year contract". Grimsby Telegraph. Archived from the original on 26 May 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  12. ^ Findlater, James (21 June 2017). "Sam Kelly and Siriki Dembélé can take Grimsby Town to next level, says Paul Wilkinson". Grimsby Telegraph. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  13. ^ "Dembele Signs For The Mariners". BBC Sport. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  14. ^ "Chesterfield 1–3 Grimsby". BBC Sport. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  15. ^ "Port Vale 1–2 Grimsby". BBC Sport. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  16. ^ "Cheltenham 2–3 Grimsby". BBC Sport. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  17. ^ a b Woodcock, Ian (22 November 2017). "Siriki Dembele: Grimsby Town striker wins EFL Young Player of the Month award". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  18. ^ "Grimsby Town forward submits transfer request". Peterborough United. 5 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  19. ^ "Dembele Makes Posh Move". Peterborough United. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  20. ^ Swann, Alan (4 January 2021). "Peterborough United star hands in a transfer request". Peterborough Telegraph. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  21. ^ "Peterborough United 3-3 Lincoln City: Jonson Clarke-Harris' 96th-minute penalty seals Posh promotion". BBC Sport. 1 May 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  22. ^ "AFC Bournemouth secure signing of Siriki Dembélé". AFC Bournemouth. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  23. ^ "Ronaldinho fan Dembele looking to 'get fans off their seats' at Cherries". Daily Echo. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  24. ^ "Blackpool 1-2 Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 12 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  25. ^ "Siriki Makes Temporary Move To France". AFC Bournemouth. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  26. ^ "Siriki Dembele: Birmingham City sign winger from Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  27. ^ "Siriki Dembele joins Oxford United". Oxford United F.C. 29 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  28. ^ "Birmingham City winger Dembele joins Oxford United". BBC Sport. 29 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  29. ^ "Oxford United sign Siriki Dembele from Birmingham City". Oxford Mail. 29 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  30. ^ "Motherwell to rake in around £750,000 as Marvin Johnson homes in on £3m Middlesbrough switch". Daily Record. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  31. ^ "Scotland Under-16s call up 13-year-old Celtic youngster Karamoko Dembele". BBC Sport. 19 October 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  32. ^ "Siriki on life as a footballer during Ramadan". AFC Bournemouth. 4 April 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  33. ^ "Games played by Siriki Dembélé in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  34. ^ "Games played by Siriki Dembélé in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  35. ^ "Games played by Siriki Dembélé in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  36. ^ "Games played by Siriki Dembélé in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  37. ^ a b "Games played by Siriki Dembélé in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  38. ^ "Games played by Siriki Dembélé in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  39. ^ "S. Dembélé". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  40. ^ "Games played by Siriki Dembélé in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  41. ^ a b "Games played by Siriki Dembélé in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  42. ^ "AFC Bournemouth 1-0 Nottingham Forest". BBC Sport. 3 May 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
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