Najeeb Yakubu

Najeeb Yakubu (born 1 May 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Super League club Persijap Jepara. Born in Ghana, he plays for the Niger national team.

Najeeb Yakubu

Personal information
Date of birth	(2000-05-01) 1 May 2000 (age 25)
Place of birth	Accra, Ghana
Height	1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)[1]
Position(s)	Right-back
Team information
Current team	Persijap Jepara
Number	55
Youth career
	UniStar Academy
0000–2017	New Town Youth
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018	Niger Tornadoes
2018–2024	Vorskla Poltava	66	(2)
2022–2023	→ Ilves (loan)	17	(0)
2024–2025	Prishtina	17	(0)
2025–	Persijap Jepara	0	(0)
International career‡
2017	Ghana U17	9	(0)
2022–	Niger	15	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 June 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18 November 2024

Club career

On 20 April 2022, Yakubu joined CD Lugo in Spain under the special FIFA regulations related to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, he only participated in training and did not appear in any league games.^[2][3]

In August 2022 he once again suspended his contract with Vorskla under the same regulations, this time until 30 June 2023, and moved to Ilves in Finnish Veikkausliiga.^[4][5]

International career

Born in Ghana, Yakubu is of Nigerien descent.

He has expressed interest in playing for the Ukraine national team.^[6]

He was called up to the Niger national team for a set of friendlies in March 2022.^[7] He debuted with Niger as a late substitute in a 3–0 friendly loss to Egypt on 23 September 2022.^[8]

Career statistics

Club

As of 27 November 2024^[9][10]

Club	Season	League			Cup[a]		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Vorskla Poltava	2018–19	Ukrainian Premier League	5	1	1	0	2[b]	0	–		6	1
	2019–20	Ukrainian Premier League	13	1	2	0	–		–		15	1
	2020–21	Ukrainian Premier League	19	0	2	0	–		–		21	0
	2021–22	Ukrainian Premier League	16	0	1	0	2[c]	0	–		19	0
	2022–23	Ukrainian Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	–		0	0
	2023–24	Ukrainian Premier League	13	0	2	0	–		–		15	0
	Total		66	2	8	0	4	0	0	0	78	2
Ilves (loan)	2022	Veikkausliiga	8	0	–		–		–		8	0
	2023	Veikkausliiga	9	0	1	0	–		1[d]	0	11	0
	Total		17	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	19	0
Prishtina	2024–25	Kosovo Superleague	9	0	0	0	–		–		9	0
Career total			92	2	9	0	4	0	1	0	106	2

Notes

1. Includes Ukrainian Cup and Suomen Cup
2. Appearances in the UEFA Europa League
3. Appearances in the UEFA Europa Conference League
4. Includes Finnish League Cup

International

As of match played 18 November 2024^[11]

Niger
Year	Apps	Goals
2022	2	0
2023	7	0
2024	6	0
Total	15	0

Honours

Ilves

• Finnish Cup: 2023

External links

• Najeeb Yakubu at UAF and archived FFU page (in Ukrainian)
• Najeeb Yakubu at Soccerway