Junior Olaitan Ishola () (born 9 May 2002) is a Beninese professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Turkish Süper Lig club Beşiktaş and the Benin national team.
Club career Olaitan began his senior career with the Beninese club Ayéma Adjarra, where he scored 10 goals in 28 matches during the 2020–21 season. Olaitan transferred to the French club Niort on 31 January 2022, signing a three-year contract. He made his professional debut with Niort in a 2–0 Ligue 2 win over Quevilly-Rouen, coming on as a late sub in the 84th minute. He joined Troyes in the 2023 transfer market with a release clause amounting to €1.7 million and his contract is valid until 2025.
On 30 August 2024, Olaitan signed for Ligue 2 club Grenoble on a three-year contract.
On 26 July 2025, Olaitan signed a four-year contract with Göztepe in Turkey.
On 3 February 2026, Olaitan joined Beşiktaş on a permanent three-year deal with an option for another year.
International career Olaitan was born in Benin to a Nigerian father and Beninese mother, and raised in Nigeria. He debuted with the Benin national team in a 1–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification win over Madagascar on 2 September 2021.
International goals
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsBenin2021502022712023702024103202591202660Total445
Scores and results list Benin's goal tally first. No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 4 June 2022 Diamniadio Olympic Stadium, Diamniadio, Senegal 1–3 1–3 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification 2. 23 March 2024 Stade de la Licorne, Amiens, France 1–0 2–2 Friendly 3. 1–2 4. 10 September 2024 Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Ivory Coast 2–1 2–1 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification 5. 9 September 2025 Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Ivory Coast 4–0 4–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsNiort2021–22Ligue 26000––602022–2333342––3752023–24Championnat National3100––31Total42442––466Niort B2021–22Championnat National 32100––212022–232100––21Total4200––42Troyes (loan)2023–24Ligue 220000––200Troyes B (loan)2023–24Championnat National 31000––10Grenoble2024–25Ligue 224410––254Göztepe2025–26Süper Lig17210––182Beşiktaş2025–26Süper Lig14240––1822026–27Süper Lig500070–120Total1924070–302Career total13314104700015018
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsBenin 2021 5 0 2022 7 1 2023 7 0 2024 10 3 2025 8 1 2026 5 0Total425
References
External links