Who is Favour Fawunmi? Meet the Nigerian-eligible winger making waves at Oldham

Favour Fawunmi is emerging as one of the young attackers to watch in English football after delivering an impressive performance for Oldham Athletic in their 4-1 victory over Cheltenham Town.

The 20-year-old produced the standout performance on October 17, helping Oldham secure a convincing League Two win with a goal and two assists.

Fawunmi is currently on loan at Oldham from Stoke City, having previously developed in the academy of Premier League club West Ham United.

Although he is still at an early stage of his senior career, his development through English football has already included youth-team silverware, opportunities in the professional game and experience across different levels of the English league system.

Who is Favour Fawunmi? The Nigerian-eligible winger’s background

His full name is Favour Ayobamide Daniel Fawunmi, born on April 26, 2006, in England. He is eligible to represent Nigeria through his Nigerian heritage, although his international preference has not been confirmed.

The left-footed attacker is capable of operating on the wing and in attacking midfield. His game is built around carrying the ball, taking on defenders and creating opportunities for teammates.

Speaking after joining Oldham in August 2026, Fawunmi outlined the qualities he hopes to bring to the team.

“I’m someone who likes to carry the ball; I like to create chances,” he said in Oldham’s announcement of his arrival. “Hopefully I’ll score some goals and get a few assists as well.”

Those ambitions were reflected in his performance against Cheltenham, when he was directly involved in three of Oldham’s goals.

From West Ham’s academy to Stoke City

Fawunmi joined West Ham United’s academy at U15 level and progressed through the club’s youth system.

He became part of the Hammers’ U18 team that won the FA Youth Cup in 2023. His youth record was also productive. Fawunmi scored 17 goals in 44 appearances for West Ham’s U18s over two seasons

In February 2025, he joined Stoke City after leaving West Ham, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Championship club.

He made his senior debut for Stoke as a substitute against Cardiff City in the FA Cup in February 2025. The opportunity marked an important step in his transition from academy football to the professional game.

However, regular first-team minutes remained difficult to secure, prompting Stoke to send him out on loan to gain experience.

Leyton Orient loan and Oldham Athletic breakthrough

Fawunmi spent the second half of the 2025–26 campaign on loan at Leyton Orient in League One, where he made seven league appearances, but failed to score a goal.

He returned to Stoke before moving to Oldham Athletic on a season-long loan in August 2026.

The move gave the winger an opportunity to play more regularly and continue developing against senior opposition. Oldham manager Micky Mellon described him as an exciting attacking prospect, highlighting his pace, creativity and ability to make things happen in the final third.

Fawunmi’s performance against Cheltenham offered an early indication of what he can contribute.

The performance was significant because it combined goalscoring with chance creation, two aspects of attacking play that Fawunmi identified as strengths when he joined the club.

Could Favour Fawunmi play for the Super Eagles?

Fawunmi’s Nigerian eligibility makes his progress relevant to the Super Eagles, particularly as Nigeria continue to monitor young players developing outside the country’s domestic league.

However, eligibility alone does not mean a player has chosen Nigeria or is close to receiving a call-up. There is currently no statement confirming Fawunmi’s international ambitions.

For now, his priority is to establish himself in senior football and turn his potential into consistent performances at Oldham.

Any discussion of an international future will depend on his development and a clearer indication of his intentions.