Tani Oluwaseyi Bio
Tanitoluwa Oluwatimilehin Oluwaseyi, known professionally as Tani Oluwaseyi, is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for La Liga club Villarreal. Born in Nigeria, he represents the Canada national team and wears the number 21 shirt for his Spanish club. Standing 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) tall, Oluwaseyi has built a reputation as a goal-scoring forward whose path has taken him from youth soccer in Ontario to Major League Soccer and now to one of Spain’s top divisions.
Oluwaseyi first came to widespread attention during his college years at St. John’s University, where he earned major conference honors. He was selected 17th overall by Minnesota United in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft and went on to set a single-season scoring record on loan at San Antonio FC. In 2025, he completed a move to Villarreal, signing a contract that runs through 2030, and quickly registered his first La Liga goal.
Early Life and Background
Tanitoluwa Oluwatimilehin Oluwaseyi was born on May 15, 2000, in Abuja, Nigeria. At the age of 10, he relocated with his family to Mississauga, Ontario, where he was raised and educated. The move introduced him to Canada’s competitive youth soccer system, and he quickly became involved with local clubs in the Greater Toronto Area.
Oluwaseyi attended St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School, where he starred for the Angels boys soccer team. As a senior, he captained the side to a 17–0 record and a Provincial High School Championship, scoring 30 goals and adding 10 assists. He was a three-time team MVP and finished his high school career with 68 goals across four seasons. He also played club soccer for the GPS Academy, where he won the Golden Boot Award at the 2017 SuperCupNI in Northern Ireland and helped his team claim the Vase Cup.
Path to Soccer
Oluwaseyi played youth soccer with Erin Mills SC from 2010 to 2014 before joining the GPS Academy, where he continued to develop through 2018. His success with GPS Academy on the provincial and international stage helped attract collegiate attention from top NCAA programs. In 2018, he committed to St. John’s University in New York City, joining the St. John’s Red Storm men’s soccer program.
His early college years were prolific. Oluwaseyi was named to the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team in 2018 and followed that with a dominant sophomore season in 2019, when he was named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-BIG EAST, and United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Atlantic Region. His sophomore campaign was later truncated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and he missed nearly all of his senior year, but he returned to earn First Team All-BIG EAST and United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Second Team honors in 2020–21.
Tani Oluwaseyi Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
During his college years, Oluwaseyi gained senior experience in the U.S. lower divisions. In 2021, he appeared for Manhattan SC in USL League Two, scoring once in two appearances, and played for the New York Pancyprian-Freedoms in the EPSL. He was also named to the roster of NPSL side FC Golden State, though he did not feature for the club.
In January 2022, Oluwaseyi declared for the MLS SuperDraft and was selected 17th overall by Minnesota United. He signed a one-year professional deal on February 25, 2022, splitting his first professional season between Minnesota United and its MLS Next Pro affiliate, Minnesota United 2. Minnesota exercised his contract option in November 2022, keeping him at the club through 2023.
Minnesota United Breakthrough (2023–2024)
In April 2023, Oluwaseyi was loaned to USL Championship side San Antonio FC for the remainder of the season. He made an immediate impact, scoring on his debut on May 7 in a 2–1 win over Las Vegas Lights. A week later, he netted a hat-trick against the Charleston Battery in a 7–0 victory, and on July 7 he scored another hat-trick in a 4–0 win over Memphis 901. On July 29, he struck four goals against Hartford Athletic in a 5–2 victory, reaching 13 goals for the season and breaking San Antonio’s single-season scoring record.
Back with Minnesota in 2024, Oluwaseyi opened his MLS account on March 2 with a stoppage-time equalizer against the Columbus Crew. He finished the 2024 season with 8 goals and 6 assists, and Minnesota rewarded his form with a contract extension through 2027, with a club option for 2028.
Villarreal Era (2025–Present)
On August 29, 2025, Villarreal announced the signing of Oluwaseyi from Minnesota United, with the forward agreeing to a deal that runs through 2030. He made his La Liga debut two days later, coming off the bench in a 1–1 draw against Celta on August 31, 2025. He earned his first assist for the club on September 20, 2025, and three days later scored his first La Liga goal against Sevilla.
Notable Events and Milestones
Oluwaseyi’s most talked-about single achievement came on July 29, 2023, when his four-goal haul at San Antonio set a new single-season scoring record for the club. Internationally, he became cap-tied to Canada during a 1–0 win over Peru at the 2024 Copa América on June 25, 2024, and scored his first senior international goal against the United States in the 2025 CONCACAF Nations League Finals third-place match.
Tani Oluwaseyi Career Wins
Oluwaseyi’s verified senior scoring record includes 13 goals during his 2023 loan at San Antonio FC, a mark that remains the club’s single-season benchmark. In Major League Soccer, he tallied 8 goals and added 6 assists for Minnesota United during the 2024 campaign.
San Antonio FC Highlights
Oluwaseyi’s loan to San Antonio FC in 2023 was the breakout stretch of his early professional career. He opened his account on debut, then recorded hat-tricks against the Charleston Battery and Memphis 901 before exploding for four goals against Hartford Athletic to set the club’s single-season record. Across the season, he became one of the USL Championship’s most talked-about finishers.
Minnesota United Highlights
With Minnesota United, Oluwaseyi’s defining moment came on March 2, 2024, when he scored a stoppage-time equalizer against the Columbus Crew. His 2024 production earned him a multi-year contract extension and ultimately paved the way for his summer 2025 transfer to Villarreal.
Tani Oluwaseyi Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Oluwaseyi’s parents and immediate family are limited. What is documented is that he was born in Abuja, Nigeria, and moved to Mississauga, Ontario, with his family at age 10, a relocation that set the stage for his development as a soccer player in Canada.
Personal Life
Oluwaseyi keeps his personal life largely private. There is no verified public information regarding a spouse or children.
2025 Season Performance
Oluwaseyi’s 2025 season has been defined by his mid-year transfer to Spanish football. After spending the first portion of the year with Minnesota United, he joined Villarreal on August 29, 2025, signing a long-term deal that runs through 2030. Within days, he had debuted in La Liga and began adapting to the pace and tactical demands of Spanish top-flight football.
He registered his first assist for Villarreal on September 20, 2025, and scored his first La Liga goal three days later against Sevilla, signaling a quick adjustment to his new surroundings. On the international stage, Oluwaseyi scored the opening goal in Canada’s 2–1 win over the United States in the 2025 CONCACAF Nations League Finals third-place match, reinforcing his value to the national team setup.
With Canada confirming a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Oluwaseyi part of the squad plans, his 2025 campaign represents a transition year. The combination of regular La Liga minutes at Villarreal and a clear role with Canada points to a strong platform heading into 2026.