968 Sone Aluko

Biography

Sone Aluko was a trick-heavy attacking midfielder who joined Hull City in July 2012 to add goals and creativity to Steve Bruce’s promotion chasing Tigers.  And he quickly delivered with goals and assists that propelled City to the top three of the Championship by November 2012, when Sone suffered an injury that eventually ended his season.  With the Tigers returned to the Premier League and Aluko fit again, he announced himself with a stunning volley that sealed a September 2013 victory at Newcastle.  But he was soon injured again and for the remainder of his time at City he played a peripheral role, often as impact substitute, and contributed occasional important goals.

Born in West London but raised in the West Midlands, Aluko began his career at Birmingham City at a time when Steve Bruce was managing the first team.  He made his first team debut for Birmingham at 18 but was soon loaned to Aberdeen for the 2007/08 season.  Aluko made his switch to the Dons permanent in September 2008 and in three seasons he carved his reputation as a skillful midfield creator with a goal in him.  By 2011 he had attracted the attention of teams across Europe but chose to switch to Glasgow Rangers.  He left Ibrox at the end of that season when the club folded and reformed.

Aluko left City in the summer of 2016 when his contract was not renewed.  He quickly joined Fulham and had a successful season in the Championship, including a goal in the FA Cup against Tigery former employees.  In August 2017 he switched to Reading for a reputed £7m fee. His time at Reading was studded with injury absences but at times he was a first team regular. In 2019 he had a loan spell in China but returned eight months later to resume his career with the Royals. His contract at the Madjeski Stadium expired in the 2021 close season and after a short spell training with Derby County, in August 2021 Sone joined League One contenders Ipswich Town, assisting the Tractor Boys to promotion at the end of the 2022/23 season though he was a peripheral figure in the Ipswich squad that thrived in the Championship during the first half of the 2023/24 season.

Having played at various junior levels for England, Aluko switched his allegiance to Nigeria in 2009 for whom he made his senior debut that May.

Details

Nationality: Nigeria
Date/Place of Birth: 19 February 1989, Hounslow
Hull City First Game: 18 August 2012, Brighton & Hove Albion H (Championship), 23 years, 181 days old
Hull City Final Game: 30 April 2016, Bolton Wanderers A (Championship), 27 years, 71 days old

Clubs

Birmingham City (2005-2008), Aberdeen (2007-2008, loan), Blackpool (2008, loan), Aberdeen (2008-2011), Glasgow Rangers (2011-2012), Hull City (2012-2016), Fulham (2016-2017), Reading (2017-2021), Beijing Renhe (2019, loan), Ipswich Town (2021-current)

Hull City Record

Career: 108 apps, 14 goals

Sone Aluko
SeasonLGE
App
LGE
Gls
FAC
App
FAC
Gls
FLC
App
FLC
Gls
EUR
App
EUR
Gls
OTH
App
OTH
Gls
2012/1322 (1)8--0 (1)0----
2013/1410 (7)1
3 (2)0------
2014/1513 (12)11 (0)00 (1)03 (1)1--
2015/168 (17)32 (2)02 (0)0--3 (0)0

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.