Akol Akon
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Akol Diang Diang Mabuoch Akon | ||
| Date of birth | May 21, 2009 | ||
| Place of birth | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Sydney FC (on loan from Colorado Rapids) | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Western Sydney Wanderers | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2025–2026 | Sydney FC | 15 | (0) |
| 2026– | Colorado Rapids | 0 | (0) |
| 2026– | → Sydney FC (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2024– | Australia U17 | 13 | (3) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22 September 2026 | |||
Akol Diang Diang Mabuoch Akon (born 21 May 2009) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Sydney FC in the A-League Men on loan from MLS club Colorado Rapids. A product of the Western Sydney Wanderers academy, he signed his first professional contract with Sydney FC in June 2025.[1]
Early life
[edit]Akon was born on 21 May 2009 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He is of South Sudanese descent and spent many of his early years located in Orange, New South Wales, Australia. While in Orange he played for local club side, Cyms Junior Soccer Club. Most notably he was voted the player of the season for his team. He moved back to Sydney at the age of 14 to pursue football further. He played for Nepean FC for a number of years before moving to Western Sydney Wanderers. He was considered highly valuable at both clubs, even making a name for himself on TikTok through viral videos capturing his skills and talented goal scoring ability. He began playing football at the age of four. He is a supporter of FC Barcelona, due to his favourite player being Neymar.[2]
Club career
[edit]Sydney FC
[edit]Akon made his senior debut for Sydney FC in the 2025–26 A-League Men season, going on to make appearances across multiple competitions. On 31 January 2026, he delivered a standout performance in the Sydney derby, recording three assists in a 4–1 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers.[3]
With the mid-season departure of manager Ufuk Talay, Akon would establish himself as a key member of Sydney FC's starting eleven under Patrick Kisnorbo. At the age of 16 Years and 346 Days, Akon set the record for the youngest ever player to start an A-League Men finals series game after featuring in Sydney FC's elimination final win against Melbourne Victory on 2 May 2026. In the second leg of the 2025-26 A-League Semi Final against Premiers Newcastle Jets, Akon's shot on target would lead directly to the key goal to be scored by teammate Piero Quispe to help Sydney FC progress to the Grand Final.
Colorado Rapids
[edit]On 22 September 2026, Akon joined Colorado Rapids on a contract through the 2030–31 season, with an option for the 2031–32 season, before being loaned back to Sydney FC for the 2026–27 season. The transfer was reported to be worth several million dollars, making it the largest transfer fee received for a teenager in Sydney FC's history and one of the largest in A-League history.[4][5][6]
International career
[edit]Akon has represented Australia at youth international level, most notably scoring a first-half hat-trick for the Australia national under-17 football team in a 4–0 victory over Saudi Arabia at the Hattrick U17 International Tournament in the United Arab Emirates in 2025.[2]
Playing style
[edit]Akon is capable of playing across the front line — on either wing or through the centre — and is known for his pace, directness, and ability to take on defenders. Former Sydney FC head coach Ufuk Talay has described him as having "that natural instinct in the final third, a willingness to take players on and create something out of nothing."[2]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]| Club | Season | League | Cup[a] | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sydney FC | 2025–26 | A-League Men | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4[b] | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Sydney FC (loan) | 2026–27 | A-League Men | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 11 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 0 | ||
| Colorado Rapids | 2026 | Major League Soccer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | 11 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 0 | ||
International
[edit]| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia U17 | 2024–25 | 6 | 0 |
Notes
[edit]- ↑ Includes appearance(s) in the Australia Cup
- ↑ Appearances in A-League Finals
References
[edit]- ↑ "'Generational talent': how Sydney landed teen wonderkid". AAP News. 6 February 2026. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Sydney FC Sign Australia's Hottest Young Forward". Sydney FC. 12 June 2025.
- ↑ "'Fearless' 16-year-old vindicates Sydney's faith". AAP News. 31 January 2026. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
- ↑ Hawkins, Emily (21 September 2026). "Young Star Winger Akol Akon To Join Colorado Rapids In A Club Record Deal". Sydney FC. Retrieved 25 September 2026.
- ↑ "Colorado Rapids acquire Australian winger Akol Akon from Sydney FC". Colorado Rapids. Retrieved 25 September 2026.
- ↑ Rugari, Vince (22 September 2026). "Colorado's Aussie gold rush: Sydney FC teen to follow in Lucas Herrington's footsteps". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 September 2026.
External links
[edit]- 2009 births
- Living people
- Soccer players from Sydney
- Australian people of South Sudanese descent
- Australian men's soccer players
- 21st-century Australian sportsmen
- Men's association football forwards
- Australia men's youth international soccer players
- A-League Men players
- Sydney FC players
- Colorado Rapids players
- Australian expatriate men's soccer players
- Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
- Australian expatriate sportspeople in the United States