| Joey Akpunonu | |
| Fullname: | Joseph Akpunonu[1] |
| Birth Date: | 21 December 2001 |
| Birth Place: | Toledo, Ohio, United States |
| Height: | 6ft 3in[2] |
| Position: | Center-back |
| Currentclub: | Huntsville City FC (on loan from FC Cincinnati) |
| Clubnumber: | 15 |
| Youthyears1: | 2018–2020 |
| Youthclubs1: | Pacesetter SC |
| Collegeyears1: | 2020–2022 |
| College1: | Bowling Green Falcons |
| Collegecaps1: | 48 |
| Collegegoals1: | 8 |
| Years1: | 2021–2022 |
| Caps1: | 22 |
| Goals1: | 1 |
| Years2: | 2023– |
| Clubs2: | FC Cincinnati |
| Caps2: | 1 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2023– |
| Clubs3: | FC Cincinnati 2 |
| Caps3: | 23 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2024 |
| Clubs4: | → Hartford Athletic (loan) |
| Caps4: | 14 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 2024– |
| Clubs5: | → Huntsville City FC (loan) |
| Caps5: | 0 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Pcupdate: | August 10, 2024 |
Joseph Akpunonu (born December 21, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center-back for the USL Championship side Huntsville City FC, on loan from MLS club FC Cincinnati.
Akpunonu went to high school at St. John's Jesuit High School, where he was a three-year letter winner. He played college soccer with the Bowling Green Falcons from 2020 to 2022, where he received 2022 Academic All-America First Team honors in his final year.[3] In the summers, he played with USL League Two side Toledo Villa.[4] In December 2022, he was one of 44 players invited to the 2022 adidas MLS College Showcase.[5] He was drafted 22nd overall in the first round of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft on December 2, 2022, by FC Cincinnati.[6] First assigned to their reserves, he made his professional debut with FC Cincinnati in a 1–0 U.S. Open Cup win over Louisville City FC on April 27, 2023.[7]
On February 6, 2024, Akpunonu joined USL Championship club Hartford Athletic on a season loan for the 2024 season.
Akpunonu is of Nigerian descent.[8] He studied biology at Bowling Green State University, and intends to become a doctor, like his father (Basil Akpunonu),[9] mother (Elizabeth Hoffman),[10] and brother (Peter Akpunonu).[11]).[3] He had a 4.0 grade-point average, and was named to an 11-man Academic All-America First Team just prior to leaving Bowling Green State University.[2]
FC Cincinnati
Individual