Jordan Obita

Jordan Obita
Personal information
Full name Jordan John Obita[1]
Date of birth (1993-12-08) 8 December 1993
Place of birth Oxford, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position Left-back, Winger
Club information
Current team
 Reading
Number 11
Youth career
2002–2010 Reading
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010– Reading 118 (1)
2012 → Barnet (loan) 5 (0)
2012 → Gillingham (loan) 6 (3)
2012 → Portsmouth (loan) 8 (1)
2013 → Oldham Athletic (loan) 8 (0)
National team
2010 England U18 1 (1)
2011 England U19 6 (0)
2014 England U20 2 (1)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14:31, 21 November 2016 (UTC).


Jordan John Obita (born 8 December 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays for Championship club Reading.

Club career

Early career and loans

Born in Oxford,[2] Obita had trials with his hometown club but chose instead to sign for Reading, joining their Academy at the age of eight.[3] He played initially as a central midfielder but competition for places and his abundance of pace meant he was moved out to the wing.[4] He made his first team debut for Reading aged 16 in the first round of the League Cup against Torquay United on 11 August 2010, coming on as a 113th-minute substitute for Michail Antonio.[5] He travelled with the first team squad for Reading's pre-season trip to Slovenia prior to the 2011–12 season and made his first senior start in a League Cup game against Charlton Athletic in August that season.[6][7]

On 27 January 2012 he signed for League Two side Barnet on loan, making his debut for the club the following day against Crewe Alexandra.[8][9] After one month with Barnet he joined Gillingham on a similar arrangement and scored his first professional goal against his former loan side.[10][11] He scored twice in the next game against Cheltenham Town and made a further three appearances before returning to Reading in April after turning down the chance to extend his stay.[12][13] During his loan spell he was also nominated for 2011–12 Football League Championship Apprentice of the Year though he ultimately lost out to Coventry City's Gael Bigirimana.[14]

In August Obita signed for League One club Portsmouth on a one-month loan,[15] adding that he "didn't have to think twice" about joining the club.[16] Later that evening he made his debut against Colchester United and scored a late equaliser with his first touch.[17] His loan was extended for a second month in September though he eventually returned to Reading a few days early following a death in his family.[18][19] He left on loan again in January 2013, signing a one-month agreement with Oldham Athletic.[20] He scored his first goal for the club in their televised FA Cup fifth round tie against Everton the following month.[21] After expressing an interest in extending his stay with the club,[22] his loan was renewed for a second month after which he returned to Reading.[23][24] Despite the option of remaining at Oldham, Obita ended his spell early with a view to impressing incoming Reading manager Nigel Adkins and breaking into the first team.[2]

First team breakthrough

He made his first Reading appearance for two years in their heavy 6–0 League Cup defeat to Peterborough United in August 2013 before making his league debut a month later at Derby County.[25][26][27] After securing his place in first team squad for the following games he expressed his desire to play in a central midfield role, a position he played in during his formative Academy years.[4] In November he scored his first goal for the club with the winner in a 3–2 victory away at Nottingham Forest and the following month signed a new contract until the summer of 2017.[28][29] In the second half of the season, the absence of Wayne Bridge through long term injury,[30] and the inability of Stephen Kelly and Shaun Cummings to cement their place in his stead,[31][32] saw Obita move to left-back for the game against Watford. He helped the team keep a clean sheet in a 1–0 win and provided the assist for Kaspars Gorkšs' early winner.[33] He retained his place for the next game, a 7–1 win against Bolton Wanderers, and from then on was a regular in the team, making 22 of his 36 appearances after his move to full-back.[34] He was praised by club captain Jobi McAnuff who described his adaptation to the left-back role as "fantastic",[35] and was voted as the club's Player of the Season for 2013–14 by the fans.[36] Obita signed a new contract, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2018, on 30 July 2015.[37]

International career

Obita has represented England at under-18 and under-19 level.[38]

In May 2014 he was called up by the England under-20s and under-21s for the Toulon Tournament and a game against Wales.[39] He was an unused substitute for the game against Wales but started the first game of the Toulon Tournament and scored the opener in a 3–0 win over Qatar.[40]

Career statistics

As of match played 19 November 2016.[41]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Reading 2010–11 Championship 00001000 10
2011–12 Championship 000010— 10
2012–13 Premier League 000000— 00
2013–14 Championship 3411010— 361
2014–15 Championship 4306020— 510
2015–16 Championship 2603010— 300
2016–17 Championship 1500030— 180
Total 11811009000 1371
Barnet (loan) 2011–12 League Two 5000001[lower-alpha 1]0 60
Gillingham (loan) 2011–12 League Two 63000000 63
Portsmouth (loan) 2012–13 League One 81000000 81
Oldham Athletic (loan) 2012–13 League One 80210000 101
Career total 14551218010 1666
  1. ↑ Appearance in the Football League Trophy

Honours

Reading

References

  1. ↑ "List of Players Registered as Scholars in Accordance with Rule C.3 Between 01/07/2010 and 31/07/2010" (PDF). The Football Association. July 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  2. 1 2 Watts, Charles (14 October 2013). "Bold move pays off for Royals starlet Obita". Reading Post. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  3. ↑ "Jordan Obita", The Royal: Reading v Doncaster Rovers, Reading F.C., 19 October 2013
  4. 1 2 "Obita urges Reading FC boss to play him down the middle". Reading Chronicle. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  5. ↑ "Torquay 0–1 Reading (aet)". BBC Sport. 11 August 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
  6. ↑ "Reading FC squad feel benefit of pre-season tour". Reading Post. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  7. ↑ "Charlton Athletic 2–1 Reading". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  8. ↑ "Reading prospect Jordan Obita joins Barnet on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  9. ↑ "Barnet 2–0 Crewe Alexandra". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  10. ↑ "Gills make Obita loan swoop". Sky Sports. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  11. ↑ "Gillingham 3–1 Barnet". BBC Sport. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  12. ↑ "Cheltenham 0–3 Gillingham". BBC Sport. 17 March 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  13. ↑ "Hess: We've Given Them A Bit Of A Rest". Gillingham F.C. Archived from the original on 8 April 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  14. ↑ "Bigirimana is Kitbag.com Apprentice of the Year for the Championship". The Football League. 11 March 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  15. ↑ "Obita joins Portsmouth on loan". Reading Chronicle. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  16. ↑ "Obita happy with Pompey loan". Sky Sports. 22 August 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  17. ↑ "Colchester United 2–2 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  18. ↑ "Loan update". Reading F.C. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
  19. ↑ "Obita quits Pompey after family tragedy". Portsmouth News. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  20. ↑ "Latics sign Obita". Oldham Athletic A.F.C. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  21. ↑ "Oldham 2–2 Everton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  22. ↑ "Obita set to stay". Oldham Athletic A.F.C. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  23. ↑ "Obita extends stay". Oldham Athletic A.F.C. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  24. ↑ "Obita back at Reading". Oldham Athletic A.F.C. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  25. ↑ "Adkins shuffles pack for Peterborough clash". Reading F.C. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  26. ↑ "Peterborough United 6–0 Reading". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  27. ↑ "Obita and Baird start". Reading F.C. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  28. ↑ "Nigel Adkins delighted as Jordan Obita's first goal for Reading seals victory over Forest". Sky Sports. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  29. ↑ "Obita puts pen to paper". Reading F.C. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  30. ↑ "Bridge & Morro injury update". Reading F.C. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  31. ↑ Smith, Anthony (16 November 2013). "Reading FC defender Kelly aims to Bridge the defensive gap". Reading Chronicle. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  32. ↑ "Games played by Shaun Cummings in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  33. ↑ "Watford 0–1 Reading". Reading F.C. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  34. ↑ "Games played by Jordan Obita in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  35. ↑ Watts, Charles (29 January 2014). "Reading FC skipper hails the 'scary' form of Jordan Obita". Reading Post. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  36. 1 2 "Obita wins Player of the Season". Reading F.C. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  37. ↑ "Obita signs new Royals contract". http://www.readingfc.co.uk/. Reading F.C. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015. External link in |website= (help)
  38. ↑ "Jordan Obita". The Football Association. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  39. ↑ Watts, May (6 May 2014). "Reading FC star Jordan Obita to receive England call-up". Reading Post. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  40. ↑ Veevers, Nicholas (22 May 2014). "England U21s breeze past Qatar to start Toulon in style". The Football Association. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  41. ↑ "Jordan Obita career statistics". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
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