Ayila Yussuf

Ayila Yussuf Atanda
Personal information
Full name	Atanda Ayila Yussuf
Date of birth	4 November 1984 (age 40)
Place of birth	Lagos, Nigeria
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Youth career
2002–2003	Julius Berger
	Enyimba
	Union Bank
Senior career*
Years	Team
2002–2003	Union Bank
2003–2014	Dynamo Kyiv
2003	→ Dynamo-2 Kyiv
2013	→ Orduspor (loan)
2013	→ Dynamo-2 Kyiv
2014	→ Metalist Kharkiv (loan)
Total
International career
2005–2011	Nigeria
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Atanda Ayila Yussuf (born 4 November 1984) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a central defender or defensive midfielder. A former Nigerian youth international player, Yussuf moved to Ukrainian Premier League Dynamo Kyiv from Nigerian side Union Bank in 2003. Despite injuries, Yussuf became a regular for both Dynamo Kyiv and the Nigeria national team. He joined Metalist Kharkiv on loan in 2014.

Club career

Early career

At 16 years of age, Yussuf signed his first professional contract with Enyimba International he then continued his career with Union Bank his selection in senior teams drew the attention of the youth national team coaches.

Dynamo Kyiv

After drawing interest from clubs like PSV Eindhoven and VfB Stuttgart, Yussuf signed with Dynamo Kyiv in July 2003. On 5 August, he made his debut in the club's reserve team, FC Dynamo-2 Kyiv, against FC Polissya Zhytomyr. Less than two months later, on 21 September, Yussef made his senior team debut against Zirka Kirovohrad. A serious knee injury ended his 2003–04 season. On 16 September 2004, he made his first appearance in the UEFA Champions League for FC Dynamo Kyiv in a match against Roma.

Since the second half of the 2011–12 season, Yussuf has struggled to maintain a place in the first team and was loaned to Turkish Süper Lig side Orduspor on 31 January 2013.^[1] After a loan spell in Turkey, he still had not regained a first-team spot and played for the reserve team of Dynamo Kyiv, Dynamo-2 Kyiv. On 18 February 2014, he joined league rivals Metalist Kharkiv on a loan deal until the end of the year.^[2]

Career statistics

As of 2 January 2014

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Dynamo-2 Kyiv	2003–04	Ukrainian First League	10	0	–		0	0	10	0
Dynamo Kyiv	2003–04	Ukrainian Premier League	1	0	–		0	0	1	0
	2004–05		16	3	1	0	7	1	24	4
	2005–06		14	3	1	0	2	0	17	3
	2006–07		21	2	1	0	9	1	31	3
	2007–08		15	1	1	0	3	0	18	1
	2008–09		11	0	0	0	7	0	18	0
	2009–10		16	1	2	0	4	1	22	2
	2010–11		13	0	4	1	8	1	25	2
	2011–12		11	0	1	0	7	0	19	0
	2012–13		2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
	Total		120	10	11	1	47	4	178	15
Orduspor (loan)	2012–13	Süper Lig	8	1	–		–		8	1
Dynamo-2 Kyiv	2013–14	Ukrainian First League	8	2	–		–		8	2
Career total			146	13	11	1	47	4	204	18