Samuel Shashoua Bio
Samuel Shashoua is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder. Born on 13 May 1999 in Chelsea, London, he came through the youth system at Tottenham Hotspur before stepping into senior football in 2018. His career has taken him across Spain, the United States, and back to the English-speaking game, and he is currently signed with USL Championship side Birmingham Legion FC.
Early Life and Background
Samuel Shashoua was born on 13 May 1999 in Chelsea, a district in west London, England. He grew up in the English capital and attended Harrow School, a well-known independent school in northwest London, during his formative years. The move gave him both an academic foundation and proximity to some of the country’s strongest football academies.
He is of Venezuelan, Spanish, and Iraqi-Jewish heritage, and his mother is half-Spanish. This mixed background shaped his connection to Spain and ultimately to Spanish football, where much of his senior career would unfold. Standing at 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in), Shashoua developed as a creative midfielder with a low centre of gravity suited to close control and combination play.
Path to Soccer
Shashoua joined the Tottenham Hotspur academy in 2015, beginning a three-year development phase at one of England’s top-flight clubs. He worked his way through the age-group sides and represented England at youth level, earning caps with the under-17 team in 2015–2016 and the under-18 side in 2017. These international youth appearances underlined his standing within the English development system.
When his time in the Tottenham youth setup came to a close in 2018, the club arranged a loan move to Spanish third-tier side CD Atlético Baleares. The transition to senior football in Spain marked the beginning of Shashoua’s professional journey and gave him the platform to test himself as a first-team regular.
Samuel Shashoua Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
On 26 August 2018, Shashoua signed a one-year loan deal with Segunda División B side CD Atlético Baleares. He made his senior debut on 9 September 2018, coming on for the last 18 minutes of a 2–1 away defeat against SD Ejea. Within weeks he opened his senior account, scoring the opening goal in a 2–1 home win over UB Conquense.
Across the 2018–2019 campaign, he registered six goals in 33 appearances. Although Atlético Baleares fell short in the promotion play-offs that season, the spell established Shashoua as a productive attacking midfielder at senior level and laid the groundwork for a permanent move to Spain.
Atlético Baleares Loan Return (2020)
After struggling for minutes following a switch to CD Tenerife, Shashoua was sent back to Atlético Baleares on loan in January 2020. The move gave him a chance to recover match fitness and rebuild momentum with a familiar club. He went on to feature in three matches before the season was curtailed, though promotion again eluded the side in the play-offs.
CD Tenerife Breakthrough (2019–2023)
On 23 August 2019, Shashoua completed a permanent transfer to CD Tenerife, signing a three-year contract in Spain’s second tier. An injury during the early part of his time on the island limited his impact, but he returned to fitness and made his professional debut in earnest on 19 September 2020, replacing Bruno Wilson late in a 0–2 away defeat to AD Alcorcón.
His first goal for Tenerife came on 29 November 2020, again from the bench, opening the scoring in a 2–0 win at Albacete Balompié. Shashoua spent most of the 2022–23 season battling injuries, and he departed the club in June 2023 when his contract expired. Across his Tenerife years he experienced the full range of professional football, from the highs of his first senior goals to the frustration of extended layoffs.
Albacete Era (2023–2024)
On 24 July 2023, Shashoua signed a two-year deal with Albacete, also in Spain’s second division. The move offered a fresh start after his injury-hit spell at Tenerife and a chance to become a central figure for the Castilla–La Mancha side. He featured across the 2023–2024 campaign before his time at the club came to an end.
Birmingham Legion Era (2025–Present)
On 5 June 2024, Shashoua joined Major League Soccer side Minnesota United on a six-month deal through the end of the year. He later moved on loan to USL Championship affiliate Birmingham Legion FC on 19 July 2025, where he wore the number 14 shirt. Minnesota United released him following the 2025 season, but on 24 December 2025, Birmingham Legion announced they had signed him to a new contract, keeping him in the USL Championship.
Driving Style and Strengths
Shashoua is a left-footed, creative attacking midfielder whose strengths lie in tight-space passing, link-up play, and arriving late into the penalty area to finish chances. His compact frame helps him stay close to the ball under pressure, while his movement off the ball allows him to connect midfield and attack. At Atlético Baleares his six-goal debut season highlighted an eye for timing in the box, a trait he carried into his Tenerife goalscoring cameos.
Notable Events and Milestones
His senior debut for Atlético Baleares in September 2018 and his first senior goal later that month were early milestones, followed by his first Tenerife goal in November 2020. His move to Major League Soccer with Minnesota United in 2024 marked his entry into North American football, and his December 2025 contract with Birmingham Legion confirmed his place as a senior professional in the USL Championship.
Samuel Shashoua Career Wins
Across his senior career, Samuel Shashoua has built a steady record as a goalscoring midfielder in Spanish and American football. While he has not lifted major trophies at first-team level, he has delivered consistent returns at Segunda División B and Segunda División, including a six-goal debut season with Atlético Baleares. His career is defined more by longevity, versatility, and resilience than by silverware.
Club Highlights
Shashoua’s standout club spell came during the 2018–2019 season at Atlético Baleares, where six goals in 33 appearances established him as a first-team regular. At CD Tenerife he made his professional debut and scored his first league goal for the club, milestones that marked his arrival in Spain’s second tier. His recent move to Birmingham Legion FC has given him a fresh platform in the USL Championship.
Other Performances
In addition to his senior club work, Shashoua represented England at under-17 and under-18 level between 2015 and 2017. Those international youth appearances reflect his status as a graduate of a Premier League academy and a respected English development prospect.
Samuel Shashoua Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Samuel Shashoua comes from a multicultural family with roots in Venezuela, Spain, and Iraq. His maternal side is half-Spanish, a background that has shaped his connection to Spanish football and his expressed interest in obtaining a Spanish passport after the 2020–21 season.
Personal Life
Shashoua’s younger brother, Armando Shashoua, is also a professional footballer and a midfielder. The brothers played together at Atlético Baleares during the 2020 loan spell, sharing the pitch at the same club for the first time in their senior careers. Beyond football, Samuel has spoken openly about his mixed heritage and his wish to represent the breadth of his family background through his international eligibility.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began with Shashoua still under contract at Minnesota United, where he had signed a six-month deal in June 2024. On 19 July 2025 he was loaned to Birmingham Legion FC in the USL Championship, giving him regular minutes in a competitive second-tier American competition. The move offered a chance to rebuild rhythm after a stop-start few years in Spain.
At Birmingham Legion, Shashoua wore the number 14 shirt and slotted into the attacking midfield line, with duties focused on chance creation and arriving late in the box. Following the conclusion of the 2025 MLS season, Minnesota United opted not to retain him, releasing him at the end of the year.
On 24 December 2025, Birmingham Legion announced that Shashoua had signed a new contract, securing his future at the USL Championship club. The deal gives him stability and the chance to make a longer-term impact in American soccer heading into 2026, with a clear path to consistent minutes and a leadership role within the squad.