Michael Obafemi Season Cut Short by Ankle Injury
Burnley loanee Michael Obafemi will miss the remainder of the 2025-2026 season after suffering an ankle injury while playing for Blackpool, requiring surgical intervention. The injury occurred during Blackpool’s 4-0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
Injury Details and Recovery
Blackpool manager Ian Evatt confirmed the severity of the injury, stating Obafemi suffered a high ankle tear during an “innocuous incident” while attempting to switch the ball. He is currently en route to London for surgery. “We’ll be losing him for the rest of the season. He’s requiring surgery,” Evatt said according to the Burnley Express.
Impact on Blackpool and Burnley
The injury brings an early end to Obafemi’s loan spell at Bloomfield Road, where he made five appearances following his January move. Blackpool has already lost another January loan signing, Kamarl Grant, for the remainder of the season due to injury. The Blackpool Gazette reports Evatt expressed frustration with the team’s injury situation, noting it has hindered their performance.
Obafemi’s Recent Career
This setback continues a challenging period for the 25-year-old Republic of Ireland international. Prior to joining Blackpool, Obafemi spent the first half of the season on loan with VfL Bochum in the German second tier, making just three appearances totaling 30 minutes of action. He previously had loan spells with Millwall and Plymouth after joining Burnley in 2023 from Swansea City. RTÉ reports.
International Implications
The injury also rules Obafemi out of contention for the Republic of Ireland’s March playoff match against the Czech Republic. However, RTÉ notes he had already fallen down the pecking order for the national team.
Obafemi’s Ireland Record
Obafemi has earned 12 caps for Ireland, scoring two goals during his time as a first-choice striker in the 2022 Nations League – against Scotland and Armenia. His most recent appearance for Ireland was in a 2-1 friendly win over Hungary in June 2024.