Ireland U-21 star Lawal aiming to repay parents’ faith in him
Celtic defender is flourishing on loan at Fleetwood and family support is key
The first word you see on Bosun Lawal’s Instagram profile is grateful. When the Ireland U-21 defender puts his green jersey on next Friday in San Marino, his mind won’t be too far from his parents back in Blanchardstown.
Back at his family home, they will watch this latest Euro 2025 qualifier with immense pride. The truth is, they are the reason he plays football. They are the reason he’s reached this point in his flourishing career.
His family’s story is a familiar one on these shores, of young people emigrating from home in search of a better life for themselves and their children. It’s a tale that every family across Ireland can relate to.
Around two decades after his parents left Nigeria for Ireland, in 2019 it was Lawal’s turn to depart Dublin and sign for Watford aged just 16.
Two years later he swapped Vicarage Road for Glasgow to join Celtic’s academy and having made his first-team debut last year, his next step last August was a season-long loan at League One Fleetwood Town.
The 20-year-old has impressed in his first season, starting 31 league games to date as the Lancashire side, currently 22nd, fight for survival. Amidst his breakthrough campaign, the sacrifices his parents made to help him achieve his dream aren’t lost on the young defender.
Thankful
“They supported me big time, taking me to training and taking me all over Ireland. They even took days off work to do it for me and my brother. I’m really thankful for it,” said Lawal in an exclusive interview with the Irish Independent, ahead of the U-21s’ Euro 2025 qualifier away to San Marino on Friday.
“They grew up in Nigeria and moved to Ireland around 1999/2000. They had me and my older brother Ola (a 22-year-old midfielder with Falkirk) in Ireland and that’s how it all started really. There were a lot of sacrifices from them, coming to Ireland to find a better life for our family, which they have done. We’re thankful for it.”
It’s clear that repaying his parent’s sacrifices provides the centre-half with a burning desire to succeed in the game.
“That’s what it’s about. That’s why I play this game, so I can give back to my familyforeverythingtheydidforus.They are the reason why I do it,” said Lawal, who has been capped nine times at U-21 level and previously captained Tom Mohan’s U-19s.
“My parents never miss an U-21s game, they are always there supporting. I’m so thankful and just want to keep making them proud.
“Growing up, I think my Dad was more the cool guy on the sideline, he wouldn’t say a word.
“Whenever we had big games I would look over, he’d just give me a look and I’d know, ‘I need to sort myself out here’. I think my Mum was more the one making all the noise on the sidelines!”
In October 2021, Luton Town winger Chiedozie Ogbene became the first African-born player to be capped by Ireland at senior level, having been born in Nigeria in 1997 before his family moved to Cork in 2005.
Other senior internationals such as Gavin Bazunu, Andrew Omobamidele and Adam Idah also have Nigerian heritage and in 2021, former Ireland boss Stephen Kenny spoke about how the national side now reflects a modern, more inclusive Ireland.
“The international team reflects what’s happening around the country. Football, more than any other sport, reaches all strands of society and certainly we want the international team to represent everyone,” said Kenny.
Hoping to make that step up to the senior side himself in the near future, Lawal feels a huge sense pride every time he wears the jersey of the country that took his family in all those years ago.
“Ireland is a very diverse country with a lot of different nationalities within it. Players from different backgrounds and descents all playing for the national team, the country that took their family in, it really reflects Ireland as a good place. It represents Ireland as a whole,” said Lawal.
“There is massive pride every time I wear the jersey, I’m always honoured. I always feel so proud wearing it because Ireland took my family in. To play for the U-21s and repaying the country back, I just feel honoured every time I put it on.
“It (seeing others make the senior breakthrough) gives you great hope in the system, that anything can happen, you can get called up anytime depending on how you are doing with your club. It gives everyone great hope and that’s what we need.”
After playing his underage football with Hartstown Huntstown, Corduff, St Kevin’s and Bohemians, the defender cut his teeth across the water at Watford and won academy Player of the Year before making the move north to Celtic in July 2021.
His first-team debut followed as he featured regularly for Celtic B, and his progress was rewarded last August with a new contract until the summer of 2026. First-team opportunities for Irish players at Celtic Park have been scarce in recent years but his fellow defender Liam Scales has broken that glass ceiling this season. Dubliner Lawal hopes to follow in those footsteps soon at Parkhead.
Interested
“Being an Irish boy, I’ve always watched Celtic play and heard so much about how big a club they are,” he said, after involved with Brendan Rodgers’ side in pre-season last summer.
“Celtic are a big club and came in for me so I was interested straight away. I just want to progress and hopefully break into the first-team to make a name for myself and my family.
“The contract was a big boost. I had been doing well in the academy and training with the first team but I felt like it was time for me to get out and get good first team experience.”
Although Fleetwood have spent much of the campaign at the foot of the League One table, Lawal has been a mainstay, despite the club being on their third manager of the season.
“Celtic are happy with the progress I’m making,” said Lawal, who has hit three goals in his last six starts ahead of today’s clash with Charlton, before he links up with Jim Crawford’s U-21s.
“The reason Celtic sent me out on loan was to play games, learn and hopefully come back ready to play for the first team. I’m enjoying it right now and just thankful it’s all coming together.”
“I’ve learned I can play in a lot of different positions comfortably.
“My issue was always my concentration, so I think that has come on leaps and bounds too.”
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