Serge Atakayi

Serge Atakayi (born 30 January 1999) is a professional footballer who plays for Finnish club SJK as a forward. Originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he has represented his adopted country of Finland at under-19 level.

Serge Atakayi
Personal information
Full name Serge Atakayi
Date of birth (1999-01-30) 30 January 1999
Place of birth Kinshasa, DR Congo
Playing position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 SJK
Number 45
Youth career
2013–2015 FF Jaro
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 FF Jaro 29 (3)
2015 →JBK (loan) 10 (2)
2016–2019 Rangers 1 (0)
2019 → SJK (loan) 10 (1)
2020– SJK 0 (0)
National team‡
Finland U17
2016 Finland U18 5 (2)
2016–2018 Finland U19 11 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10:45, 24 May 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 10:20, 30 March 2017 (UTC)

Early life

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]

Club career

FF Jaro

Atakayi joined the youth system at FF Jaro in 2013 and made his senior debut for the club in 2015.[2] 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.[3][1]

Rangers

On 31 August 2016, after trial periods with Leicester City and Fulham, he joined Rangers on a three-year contract.[4] He signed a one-year contract extension to tie him to Rangers until 2020 in June 2018.[5] He made his debut against Motherwell in a 7-1 win during November 2018.[6]

SJK

Atakayi left Rangers on 30 December 2019 to join Finnish side SJK for a reported fee of £100,000.[7][8]

International career

Atakayi was born in DR Congo but obtained Finnish citizenship in 2016 and represented Finland at under-15 level.[2] 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.[9][10] He made his debut for the Finland under-19 side on 4 September 2016, in a goalless draw with Romania.[11]

Career statistics
As of match played 20 May 2019[12]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
FF Jaro 2015 Veikkausliiga 1620040202
2016 Ykkönen 1310000131
Total 2930040333
Rangers 2016–17 Scottish Premiership 00000000
2017–18 Scottish Premiership 00000000
2018–19 Scottish Premiership 10000010
Career total 3030040343

References
  1. Berry, Gavin (2 September 2016). "Rangers signing Serge Atakayi and his incredible story of tears, torment and seeking asylum". Daily Record.
  2. "Huippulupaus sai Suomen kansalaisuuden - Pietarsaareen Kinshashan kaduilta [Top Promise Receives Finnish Citizenship]". Yle (in Finnish). 17 May 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  3. "Veikkausliigan historiaa [Veikkausliiga History]". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). 18 May 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  4. "Rangers Academy Transfer Roundup". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  5. Thomson, Nick (15 June 2018). "Hardie Signs New Deal". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club.
  6. "Rangers 7-1 Motherwell". BBC Sport. BBC. 11 November 2018.
  7. "Serge Atakayi Joins SJK". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. 30 December 2019.
  8. "Serge Atakayi set for Rangers permanent exit as Finland return fee revealed". Daily Record. 29 December 2019.
  9. "U18 nimetty Baltic Cupiin [Named U18 Baltic Cup]". Palloliitto (in Finnish). 18 May 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  10. "U18-maajoukkue tasapeliin Liettuaa vastaan [U18-national team draw against Lithuania]". Palloliitto (in Finnish). 2 June 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  11. "U19 ja Romania maalittomaan [U19 and Romania with no goals]". Palloliitto (in Finnish). 4 September 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  12. "S. Atakayi". Soccerway. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
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