Kay Banjo


Olakunle "Kay" Banjo is an American soccer player.

Career

Youth and college

Banjo played four years of college soccer, three year at Towson University, before moving to University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2014. Banjo finished his degree at Towson after the university's soccer program was dissolved and enrolled at UMBC as a graduate student. In 2013, Banjo scored two goals for the Screaming Eagles of the Maryland International Soccer League as the team defeated the Maryland Bays 4–2 in the Rowland Cup final, Maryland's qualifying tournament for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The victory put the club within two wins of the tournament proper. The team defeated the Aegean Hawks 1–0 in the next round to put them within one win of the tournament. However, the Screaming Eagles were determined to have fielded multiple players who were not cleared by the USSF and the victory was given to the Hawks prior to the semi-final match.

Professional

On January 15, 2015, Banjo was selected 38th overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by Vancouver Whitecaps FC. However, he was not signed by the club.
Banjo signed his first professional contract on November 23, 2016, joining United Soccer League side Pittsburgh Riverhounds ahead of their 2017 season. He made his first professional career start on April 13, 2017 against Saint Louis FC. He scored his first career goal in the fifth minute of the match, an eventual 1–2 defeat.

Personal

Banjo is a dual citizen of the United States and Nigeria.