Joseph Olowu

Joseph Olowu
	Olowu playing for Leyton Orient in 2026
Personal information
Full name	Joseph Olugbenga Olowu
Date of birth	27 November 1999 (age 26)
Place of birth	Ibadan, Nigeria
Position	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Leyton Orient
Number	5
Youth career
2008–2021	Arsenal
Senior career*
Years	Team
2019–2021	Arsenal
2020	→ Cork City (loan)
2021	→ Wealdstone (loan)
2021–2025	Doncaster Rovers
2025–2026	Stockport County
2026–	Leyton Orient
	* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:43, 17 October 2026 (UTC)

Joseph Olugbenga Olowu (born 27 November 1999) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for EFL League One club Leyton Orient.

Early and personal life

Olowu was born in Ibadan, Nigeria, moving to England as a child. He is eligible to represent both England and Nigeria at international level.

Career

Arsenal

Olowu began his career with Arsenal at the age of 8, spending time on loan at Cork City in 2020, and Wealdstone in 2021. He left Arsenal at the end of the 2020–21 season (after 13 years with the club) and went on trial with Manchester United.

Doncaster Rovers

In September 2021, Olowu joined League One side Doncaster Rovers following a successful trial period, signing a contract until January 2022.

In May 2023, Olowu signed a new two-and-a-half year contract.

Following their title-winning campaign, Olowu rejected a new contract with Doncaster Rovers at the end of the 2024–25 season.

Stockport County

In June 2025 it was announced that Olowu would sign for Stockport County on 1 July 2025 on a free transfer, signing a three-year contract.

Leyton Orient

On 21 July 2026, Olowu signed for Leyton Orient for an undisclosed fee.

Career statistics

As of match played 17 October 2026

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Arsenal	2019–20	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2020–21	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Cork City (loan)	2020	League of Ireland Premier Division	15	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	16	1
Wealdstone (loan)	2020–21	National League	13	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	13	0
Doncaster Rovers	2021–22	League One	35	4	1	0	0	0	2	0	38	4
	2022–23	League Two	17	1	0	0	1	0	1	0	19	1
	2023–24	League Two	38	0	2	0	2	0	6	0	48	0
	2024–25	League Two	31	3	4	0	2	0	2	0	39	3
	Total		121	8	7	0	5	0	11	0	144	8
Stockport County	2025–26	League One	31	2	2	0	1	0	7	0	41	2
Leyton Orient	2026–27	League One	10	1	0	0	3	0	1	0	14	1
Career total			190	12	10	0	9	0	19	0	228	12

1 2 3 4 5 6 Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.

Honours

Doncaster Rovers

EFL League Two: 2024–25

Stockport County

EFL Trophy runner-up: 2025–26

Individual

EFL League Two Community Player of the Year: 2024–25

References

1 2 3 Joseph Olowu at Soccerway. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
1 2 3 Murphy, Daniel (7 August 2021). "Who is Joseph Olowu? Former Arsenal defender on trial at Man United". Manchester Evening News.
↑ Mackey, Liam (9 July 2020). "Arsenal's Joseph Olowu back with Cork City". Irish Examiner.
↑ "Olowu extends loan at Cork City". www.arsenal.com.
↑ "Cork City Thrilled Arsenal Have Extended Joseph Olowu's Loan Deal". 10 July 2020.
↑ "Olowu joins Wealdstone on loan". www.arsenal.com.
↑ "Two in, one out at Stones". Wealdstone FC. 1 February 2021.
↑ "Doncaster bring in defender Olowu". BBC Sport. 10 September 2021.
↑ "Olowu ready to go". www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk.
↑ "Joseph Olowu: Doncaster Rovers defender signs new two-and-a-half year deal". BBC Sport. 20 March 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
↑ "Olowu to depart Rovers after rejecting new deal offer". www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk. 13 May 2025. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
↑ "Joseph Olowu: Stockport County sign Doncaster Rovers defender on three-year deal". BBC Sport. 18 June 2025.
↑ "Joseph Olowu: Leyton Orient sign centre-back from Stockport County". BBC Sport. 22 July 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
↑ "Games played by Joseph Olowu in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
↑ "Games played by Joseph Olowu in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
↑ "Games played by Joseph Olowu in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
↑ "Games played by Joseph Olowu in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
↑ "Games played by Joseph Olowu in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
↑ "Games played by Joseph Olowu in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
↑ "Games played by Joseph Olowu in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
↑ "Games played by Joseph Olowu in 2026/2027". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
↑ "League Two: 2024/25: Current table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
"Doncaster: Squad details: 2024/25". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
↑ "Luton Town 3–1 Stockport County: Line-ups". BBC Sport. 12 April 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
↑ "Jack Stacey, Taylor Moore and Joseph Olowu named Divisional winners of Player in the Community award". www.efl.com. 8 April 2025. Retrieved 13 May 2025.

[EFLT-17] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.

[SW-1] 1 2 3 Joseph Olowu at Soccerway. Retrieved 21 December 2021.

[auto-2] 1 2 3 Murphy, Daniel (7 August 2021). "Who is Joseph Olowu? Former Arsenal defender on trial at Man United". Manchester Evening News.

[3] Mackey, Liam (9 July 2020). "Arsenal's Joseph Olowu back with Cork City". Irish Examiner.

[4] "Olowu extends loan at Cork City". www.arsenal.com.

[5] "Cork City Thrilled Arsenal Have Extended Joseph Olowu's Loan Deal". 10 July 2020.

[6] "Olowu joins Wealdstone on loan". www.arsenal.com.

[7] "Two in, one out at Stones". Wealdstone FC. 1 February 2021.

[8] "Doncaster bring in defender Olowu". BBC Sport. 10 September 2021.

[9] "Olowu ready to go". www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk.

[10] "Joseph Olowu: Doncaster Rovers defender signs new two-and-a-half year deal". BBC Sport. 20 March 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2025.

[11] "Olowu to depart Rovers after rejecting new deal offer". www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk. 13 May 2025. Retrieved 13 May 2025.

[12] "Joseph Olowu: Stockport County sign Doncaster Rovers defender on three-year deal". BBC Sport. 18 June 2025.

[13] "Joseph Olowu: Leyton Orient sign centre-back from Stockport County". BBC Sport. 22 July 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.

[14] "Games played by Joseph Olowu in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 December 2021.

[15] "Games played by Joseph Olowu in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 December 2021.

[16] "Games played by Joseph Olowu in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 December 2021.

[18] "Games played by Joseph Olowu in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 March 2023.

[19] "Games played by Joseph Olowu in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 September 2024.

[20] "Games played by Joseph Olowu in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 September 2024.

[21] "Games played by Joseph Olowu in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 August 2025.

[22] "Games played by Joseph Olowu in 2026/2027". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 July 2026.

[23] "League Two: 2024/25: Current table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
"Doncaster: Squad details: 2024/25". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 May 2025.

[24] "Luton Town 3–1 Stockport County: Line-ups". BBC Sport. 12 April 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.

[25] "Jack Stacey, Taylor Moore and Joseph Olowu named Divisional winners of Player in the Community award". www.efl.com. 8 April 2025. Retrieved 13 May 2025.