Akinkunmi Amoo has marked a turning point in his career, scoring his first professional goal in over three years during Shanghai Jiading Huilong’s 2-1 win over Foshan Nanshi in China League One. The 23-year-old Nigerian midfielder’s powerful right-footed strike in the 37th minute secured all three points for his new side.
Once one of Nigeria’s brightest youth prospects, Amoo’s career derailed after a criminal conviction in Denmark led to a prison sentence and a six-year entry ban from the country. His €4.4 million transfer to FC Copenhagen in 2022 had made him one of Nigeria’s most expensive young exports, but legal troubles abruptly stalled his rise.
Following a brief, uneventful spell with Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus, Amoo joined Shanghai Jiading Huilong in February 2025. He debuted in April after more than 400 days without competitive football, gradually earning minutes off the bench.
Sunday’s match-winner was more than just a goal — it was a moment of redemption. It ended a personal drought dating back to his last goal for FC København in March 2022 and came in his eighth appearance for the Chinese club.
Despite his turbulent past, Amoo had once drawn attention from European giants like Ajax, Leicester City, and Valencia. His nomination for the 2022 CAF Young Player of the Year showed his early promise before off-field issues overshadowed his talent.
Now playing in China, Amoo seems determined to rebuild his career step by step. With his first goal finally secured, he’ll hope to reignite the potential that once made him a Nigerian football prodigy.