{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Short description|Irish footballer (born 2002)}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Roland Idowu |image = |image_size = |caption = |fullname = |birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|1|21|df=y}} |birth_place = Dublin, Ireland |height = |position = Midfielder |currentclub = St Mirren |clubnumber = 7 |youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = St Joseph's Boys |youthyears2 = 2018–2020 |youthclubs2 = Southampton |youthyears3 = 2020–2021 |youthclubs3 = Cardiff City |years1 = 2021 |clubs1 = Bohemians |caps1 = 5 |goals1 = 0 |years2 = 2022–2023 |clubs2 = Waterford |caps2 = 63 |goals2 = 14 |years3 = 2024–2025 |clubs3 = Shrewsbury Town |caps3 = 9 |goals3 = 0 |years4 = 2024–2025 |clubs4 = → St Mirren (loan) |caps4 = 31 |goals4 = 4 |years5 = 2025– |clubs5 = St Mirren |caps5 = 26 |goals5 = 0 |club-update = 20:55, 25 May 2026 (UTC) }} '''Roland Idowu''' (born 21 January 2002) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Scottish Premiership club St Mirren.
==Club career== ===Early career=== Born in Dublin, Idowu spent his early career with St Joseph's Boys, Southampton and Cardiff City.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/player/11127426/roland_idowu/|title=Roland Idowu | Stats | History | Career Details | Images | extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football - Extratime.com|website=www.extratime.com}}</ref>
He returned to Ireland in August 2021, signing for Bohemians,<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/roland-idowu-5535835-Aug2021/|title=Bohs sign Irish underage international Idowu following release by Cardiff|first=The 42|last=Team|date=30 August 2021|website=The 42}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/ireland-underage-star-roland-idowu-24871941|title=Ireland underage star Roland Idowu joins Bohemians from Cardiff City|first=Michael|last=Scully|date=30 August 2021|website=Irish Mirror}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/keith-long-hails-new-bohs-signing-roland-idowu-as-a-very-good-addition/40803210.html|title=Keith Long hails new Bohs signing Roland Idowu as a 'very good addition'|date=30 August 2021|website=Independent.ie}}</ref> before moving to Waterford in January 2022.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/28617/roland-idowu-signs-for-waterford/|title=Roland Idowu signs for Waterford|first=Ryan|last=Kilbane|website=extratime.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://waterford-news.ie/2022/01/28/blues-add-roland-idowu-for-2022-season/|title=Blues add Roland Idowu for 2022 season|date=28 January 2022|website=Waterford News & Star}}</ref>
===Shrewsbury Town=== In December 2023 it was announced that he would sign for English club Shrewsbury Town in January 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67658296|title=Shrewsbury sign Waterford midfielder Idowu|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/shrewsbury-town-fc/2023/12/06/shrewsbury-town-set-to-sign-waterford-midfielder-roland-idowu/|title=Shrewsbury Town set to sign Waterford midfielder Roland Idowu|first=Jonny|last=Drury|date=6 December 2023|website=www.shropshirestar.com}}</ref>
On 24 June 2024, Idowu joined Scottish Premiership side St Mirren on a season-long loan deal.<ref> {{cite web|url=https://www.stmirren.com/all-news/5451-roland-idowu-joins-on-loan-from-shrewsbury-town|title=Roland Idowu joins on loan from Shrewsbury Town|website=www.stmirren.com|date=24 June 2024|accessdate=24 June 2024}}</ref>
=== St Mirren === Idowu signed for St Mirren on a permanent deal in May 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title='Creative outlet' Idowu signs permanent St Mirren deal as eight depart |website=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cdj9x2yv9d2o |date=22 May 2025 |access-date=23 May 2025}}</ref>
==International career== Idowu represented Ireland at under-16, under-17, and under-18 youth levels.<ref name="auto"/> He represented Ireland at the UEFA European Under-17 Championship.<ref name="auto1"/>
==Style of play== He is described as an attacking midfielder, who can also operate on the wing.<ref name="auto2"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021/0830/1243756-bohemians-sign-midfielder-roland-idowu-from-cardiff/|title=Bohemians sign midfielder Roland Idowu from Cardiff|date=30 August 2021|website=www.rte.ie}}</ref>
==Personal life== Idowu has Nigerian heritage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=23899|title=Nigerian Wonderkid Poised To Face Manchester United In Prestigious Tournament | All Nigeria Soccer|website=www.allnigeriasoccer.com}}</ref> He is close friends with Tunmise Sobowale, with the two being teammates at both Waterford and Shrewsbury.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/shrewsbury-town-fc/2023/12/20/new-boy-roland-idowu-backed-to-make-a-big-impact-for-shrewsbury-town/|title=New boy Roland Idowu backed to make a big impact for Shrewsbury Town|first=Ollie|last=Westbury|date=20 December 2023|website=www.shropshirestar.com}}</ref>
== Career statistics == {{Updated|match played 25 May 2026}}<ref>{{soccerway|roland-idowu/575161|access-date=4 June 2024}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |Bohemians |2021 |LOI Premier Division |5||0||1||1||colspan="2"|—||0||0||6||1 |- |rowspan="3"|Waterford |2022 |rowspan="2"|LOI First Division |30||5||4||1||colspan="2"|—||0||0||34||6 |- |2023 |33||9||2||0||colspan="2"|—||4{{efn|Appearances in League of Ireland promotion/relegation play-offs}}||0||39||9 |- !colspan="2"|Total !63!!14!!6!!1!!0!!0!!4!!0!!73!!15 |- |rowspan="3"|Shrewsbury Town |2023–24 |rowspan="2"|EFL League One |9||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||10||0 |- |2024–25 |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !9!!0!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!10!!0 |- |St Mirren (loan) |2024–25 |Scottish Premiership |31||4||0||0||1||0||3{{efn|Appearances in the UEFA Conference League}}||0||35||4 |- |St Mirren |2025–26 |Scottish Premiership |26||0||4||2||6||1||2{{efn|Appearances in the relegation play-offs}}||0||38||3 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !134!!18!!12!!4!!7!!1!!9!!0!!161!!23 |} {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{St Mirren F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Idowu, Roland}} Category:2002 births Category:Living people Category:Association footballers from Dublin (city) Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Southampton F.C. players Category:Cardiff City F.C. players Category:Bohemian F.C. players Category:Waterford F.C. players Category:Shrewsbury Town F.C. players Category:St Mirren F.C. players Category:League of Ireland players Category:English Football League players Category:Black Irish sportspeople Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen Category:Irish people of Nigerian descent Category:Scottish Professional Football League players