Michael Obafemi F Blackpool (loan from Burnley) b.2000

[zero]

Returned to parent club Burnley, who have let Nathan Redmond and John Joe Shelvey go, made four of their five on-loan players permanent and are negotiating new contracts with Egan-Riley, Brownhill and Barnes (burnleyfootballclub.com). I wonder what's next for Obafemi, as Burnley return to the Premier League.

difficult to see him not tumbling down the leagues. he can't stay fit and has a reputation for having a questionable attitude. league one next - if he's lucky.

[pineapple stu]

Linked with a move to Turkey - https://turkish-football.com/kasimpasa-close-in-on-burnley-forward-michael-obafemi/

Better than I thought he'd do to be honest

[Eirambler]

Has the feeling of the kind of transfer that sees him back in the UK after six months, having not been paid for four of them.

[zero]

He's on the path to oblivion. Non league uk football awaits, or jacking it in altogether.

[Trequartista20]

I slightly hesitate to post a balls.ie link, but quoting a Turkish journalist, they claim the deal is now in doubt over unpaid wages. https://www.balls.ie/football/michael-obafemi-move-burnley-dispute-636416

[pineapple stu]

Even for Turkey, that's quick

[Eirambler]

Surprisingly the issue seems to be at Burnley. If he thinks it's hard to get paid at Burnley, he'll be in for a shock in Istanbul.

[pineapple stu]

Linked with Bochum in the German second tier (https://www.balls.ie/football/michael-obafemi-ireland-european-move-639129). Which actually isn't a bad level. They were relegated from the Bundesliga last year.

The article makes an interesting claim in saying "However, his career has been badly mismanaged since [spring/summer 2023]" - not sure that's quite how I'd have phrased it.

[Eirambler]

Mismanaged by the player himself most likely. There's a talented player there, but I'd question whether we'll ever see that talent again. The first thing the manager at Bochum should do is try to contact Russell Martin (who I accept has other problems to deal with at the moment) and find out how he got a tune out of Obafemi at Swansea. Because if he could ever be brought back into that condition, he could absolutely do well at his next club.

[nigel-harps1954]

Has joined Blackpool on loan, currently 20th in League One.

[pineapple stu]

Already at last chance saloon you'd have to imagine. Three sub appearances at Bochum this season - and I don't think he's been injured, transfermarkt (https://www.transfermarkt.com/michael-obafemi/leistungsdaten/spieler/444208) says he was an unused sub more often than not - would indicate the attitude/application problems are still very much there.

[tetsujin1979]

It's a strange move. Blackpool's problem hasn't been scoring goals - they've 32 in 26 games this season, more than any other team lower than 16th, but have conceded 39 goals, the second worst in the division.

[Eirambler]

Likely a cheap, low risk, loan from Blackpool's point of view. Amazingly he still has 18 months left on his Burnley deal, so he might feel there's no need for him to put any particular effort in just yet to turn things around.

[pineapple stu]

Has started his first two games at Blackpool, though with little impact, and comment on the Blackpool forum is that he's fit and overweight. Probably to be expected given his lack of game time this season - or equally, it could be the reason for his lack of game time this season, which would be really concerning A possible confirmation of a lack of professionalism at Bochum.

But let's see how the next few weeks go. if he gets back to form, there's still a chance of upward progression. If not, then...

[Eirambler]

I don't think anything Obafemi does is particularly concerning from an Irish point of view at this stage - he has long since crossed the line into irrelevance. A talented lad with a terrible attitude it seems. He may knuckle down next season as it will be his final year getting paid by Burnley. But by the time his contract runs out he'll be 27 and most likely headed for non-league or an unserious overseas division.

Unfortunately the early career comparisons to *checks page 1 of the thread* Constance Markievicz didn't come to pass in the end. I suppose, if any of our players were going to be compared to Constance Markievicz, it should probably be Johnny Kenny.