Dapo Mebude

Adedapo Paul Oluwaseun Awokoya-Mebude is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Arbroath.

Early life

Mebude was born in London, growing up in Peckham, and is of Nigerian descent. His family moved to Scotland when he was 10 years old, living in Govan, and he joined the Rangers youth system after attending an open Soccer Schools event organised by the club. He was later a participant in the SFA's Performance School programme at Holyrood Secondary School, and also attended Rangers' youth partnership school Boclair Academy.

Club career

Mebude turned professional with Rangers in May 2017. Mebude signed a new contract with the club in December 2018, keeping him at Ibrox until 2021. In February 2019 he was recalled from international duty with the Scotland under-19s to join up with the Rangers first team, due to injury problems. Mebude debuted for the first-team on 19 May 2019, in a 2–1 away defeat versus Kilmarnock in the league.
On 21 January 2021, Mebude joined Scottish Championship club Queen of the South on loan until the end of the season. He scored his first professional goal, in a 4–2 league win at Gayfield Park versus Arbroath on 6 March 2021.
In June 2021, Mebude ran out his contract with Rangers to become a free agent. A month later in July, he was signed by Watford on a two-year contract with the option of a further two-years. He suffered a back injury at the end of July 2021, and was hospitalised.
He moved on loan to AFC Wimbledon in August 2021. He scored his first goal for Wimbledon in a 3–3 draw against Bolton Wanderers on 14 August 2021.
In September 2022 he signed for Belgian club KV Oostende.
Mebude trained with Livingston in July 2024. In October 2024, he joined Scottish Championship club Dunfermline Athletic on a one-year deal. Mebude was loaned out to Bulgarian side PFC Septemvri Sofia from February 2025 until the end of the season, and was released by Dunfermline at the end of his contract.
In October 2025 he signed for Arbroath.

International career

Mebude has represented Scotland at under-16 football team|under-16], under-17 football team|under-17], under-18 football team|under-18], under-19 youth levels, and made his first under-21 football team|under-21] appearance in October 2021 against Denmark.

Style of play

In November 2018, he was described by the Daily Record as a "diminutive striker" who was "highly-rated within Ibrox" and that he was "known for his quick pace as well as his obvious finishing ability and is a handful for defenders with his trickery". In a September 2019 interview, Mebude stated "When I play as a winger I try and be direct and score goals like Raheem Sterling who is fast, direct and a similar build to me."

Personal life

In February 2021 Mebude was one of five Rangers players fined by Scottish police "for attending an illegal gathering of ten people in a flat" in breach of lockdown rules during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
Mebude was hospitalised in January 2024 following a car crash. He was unconscious for 5 days. He has a daughter.
His younger brother Dire is also a footballer.