Obafemi Awodesu: From Undrafted to Houston Dynamo's Newest Star
(image via Aldo Canale)
This past Saturday, Obafemi Awodesu made his debut for the Houston Dynamo at home against FC Dallas. While his debut performance was impressive, the question remains: Who is Obafemi Awodesu? We had the chance to chat with him this week and get to know the player on and off the field.
“Yeah, it’s been a super long journey,” Awodesu said about his path to the Dynamo first team. Obafemi hails from Philadelphia, where he began his soccer journey in the Philadelphia Union academy. He initially played as a winger, idolizing players like Ronaldinho, before transitioning to center back, where he now plays for Houston. He left the Union academy just a year before current teammate Jack McGlynn entered, although they share several mutual friends.
After departing the Union academy, Obafemi began his college soccer career at Penn State. Over his four years, he started 61 games and made four substitute appearances. In both of his final two seasons, he was named the All-Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and earned a spot on the First Team All-Big Ten. He also proved to be an offensive threat, scoring six goals during his college career. Though he was expected to be a high pick in the 2024 MLS Superdraft, he fell down the draft boards and ultimately went undrafted. “I had a really good senior season and thought I was going to get drafted top five, but ended up going undrafted,” Femi told us.
Pat Onstad, however, quickly recognized the talent of a player who should have been drafted and invited him to try out with the Dynamo. “I didn’t think about any other options,” Awodesu said. “Houston was the only place I wanted to be because they were the first people to reach out. And you know, I want to go where I’m appreciated.” He impressed the coaching staff during the Dynamo’s preseason trip to Mexico, earning an MLS NEXT Pro contract with the second team for the 2024 season, along with an option year.
Obafemi started his career in Houston playing with Dynamo 2 in MLS NEXT Pro. He quickly became one of the first names on the team sheet, even though the team had a slow start to the season. He made his debut against Sporting Kansas City II in a 2-1 loss. It wasn’t until their seventh game of the season that they picked up their first win in regulation against Real Monarchs, where Obafemi delivered a stellar defensive performance alongside Isaac Mwakutuya. The team gained momentum with a second consecutive win, which also marked Obafemi’s first professional clean sheet in a 2-0 win against St. Louis II. He followed that up with his first goal against Tacoma Defiance, although the game ended in a 3-2 defeat. Obafemi went on to start every game that season, tying the league lead with 2,520 minutes played, which earned him a first-team contract.
On January 17, 2025, Obafemi officially signed with the Houston Dynamo first team for the 2025 season, with two option years. He mentioned that short contracts with option years put a lot of pressure on him, adding fuel to his desire to perform at a higher level this season. “There’s always going to be that pressure in professional sports,” Awodesu said about signing with the first team. “One thing I’ve realized is that you never really make it. You know, I was like, ‘Oh, you signed your first professional contract,’ and you think you’ve made it. But now it’s onto the next thing, so I’m just taking it day by day, keeping myself focused on getting better. The goal is to earn a long-term contract. Obviously, I would be lying if I said that wasn’t on my mind at times, but you know, I have to start with the little goals and stepping stones.”
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
He mentioned that he’s already learned a lot this preseason working with teammates like Erik Sviatchenko, Artur, and Griffin Dorsey, who have all taken the time to teach him more about playing the game at a high level. “Erik has taught me a ton. Artur gives me a lot of confidence,” Femi said of his teammates helping him out. “He tells me to communicate, and he really wants to bring that out of me. Erik’s experience speaks for itself. He’s played in the Champions League, and he’s always giving me tips. I’m always trying to soak it in and learn as much as possible.” Femi also praised the entire team and the locker room culture. “It’s a great team. Everyone’s very welcoming.”
Former Dynamo 2 head coach Kenny Bundy also made the jump to the first team as part of Ben Olsen’s staff, making Obafemi’s transition smoother. “Yeah, for sure, I would say so,” Awodesu said about Bundy helping his move up to the first team. “He really pushed me last year. It helped me a ton, and you know, being able to see a familiar face early on in preseason was nice.” Obafemi credits Bundy for helping him get to Houston. “I wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t made that call after the draft.”
Obafemi started in the season opener against FC Dallas, where the Dynamo lost 2-1. Despite the result, he was one of the most impressive players on the field. He started alongside Ethan Bartlow, whom he described as an excellent teammate. “Ethan has been picking me up this whole preseason, and in that match too,” Femi said. “I think we all know that he’s a good player, and that was just a mistake. Mistakes happen. I want to be there for him the way he was there for me.” It remains to be seen whether Awodesu will maintain his spot in the starting XI, but based on his recent performance, he certainly deserves it until proven otherwise.
Outside of soccer, Obafemi embraces his creative side. “I’m really getting into cooking recently,” Awodesu shared. “I love trying new foods. That’s why I love living in Houston — I’m in the Midtown area, and there are so many different restaurants and food spots.” Femi also enjoys creating content, including editing videos for his YouTube channel. Dynamo fans will hope their new center back continues to create and explore new things as he continues his ascent from undrafted player to first-team starter.
You can listen to our full interview with Femi on YouTube and everywhere you get your podcasts starting at 5 PM!
