Isaac Success Ajayi is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Serie A club Udinese, as well as Nigeria's Super Eagles.
Born on January 7, 1996, in Benin City, Edo State, Success started his career with local side BJ Foundation Academy, appearing regularly for the side before moving to the beautiful landscape of European football, showcasing his unparalleled talent and unwavering dedication to achieving his life-long football dreams.
In this article, we'll provide everything you need to know about the former Nigerian youth international.
Where is Isaac Success from?
Isaac Success was born in Benin City, Edo State. It is believed that he's from Edo State and is of the Yoruba tribe.
Isaac Success parents
Success was born to Mr. and Mrs. Ajayi, but not much is known about his parents. His father is a preacher of the gospel while his mother worked as a teacher.
10 facts to know about Isaac Success
Below are 10 interesting facts about Isaac Success.
- 2013 U-17 FIFA World Cup winner
In 2013 Success was called up to Nigeria under-17's for the year's FIFA U-17 World Cup, being also named vice-captain. He appeared in the first two games, but was sidelined during the rest of the tournament due to an injury. But he went on to celebrate with the team in the final.
- Football sibling
The former Nigerian youth international has a brother who plays professional football too. His name is Goodness Ohiremen Ajayi and is just two years older than Success himself. Goodness is currently on the books of Romanian club, FC Astra Giurgiu.
- La Liga record holder
On 31 August 2014, Success made his first-team debut, starting in a 1-1 away draw against Elche CF at the age of 18 years and seven months, consequently becoming the Andalusians’ youngest player ever to appear in a La Liga match. He also went on to set another record in the 2014/2015 season, becoming the youngest goalscorer in the league for the same season following his goal against Valencia in December 2014.
- Pozzo Family
Isaac Success has been on the books of the Pozzo Family, a football dynasty. They are the first family to own clubs in the top flights of England, Spain and Italy at the same time. Remember, Success had featured for Granada in Spain, Watford in England and is currently on the books of Udinese.
- Granada Player of the year
Success scored six La Liga goals to help the Nazaries finish in 16th place, hereby escaping the drop with 39 points. The Benin born striker was however voted the men's player of the 2015/2016 season, going on to dedicate the award to his mother.
- Sex Scandal
In 2017, Isaac Success was arrested after ‘paying four hookers £2,000 for a hotel romp’ and ‘angrily demanding his cash back’. Escort Alexis Domerge said the Watford star boasted of his prowess in the bedroom after paying the women £2,000 for a hotel romp.
But the then 21-year-old, drank two bottles of Baileys and then repeatedly failed to score with the hookers.
When the women decided to blow the whistle on Success’s lackluster performance after 90 minutes, he angrily demanded his money back.
He was arrested in the hotel lobby after cops were called.
- FA Cup silver medalist
Isaac Success believes Watford’s 6-0 defeat to Manchester City in the 2019 English FA Cup final at Wembley was a real disaster.
Success, who came on for Roberto Pereyra in the 66th minute in the defeat said their performance in that final was shameful.
“It was a disaster for the whole team,” Success said.
“We were really disappointed. Our mentality was that we could win the trophy. We played against a difficult team — an amazing team really, with so much quality. But we were disappointed to lose
“It shouldn’t have been six goals but it was a good experience for everyone. The atmosphere was amazing and we had a runners-up medal. It was such a tough game so we were angry but at the same time happy we got to that point.”
- He shares the same agency with Yassine Bono and Youssef En-Nesyri
Victor Boniface is currently represented by 11MANGMT, the same agency that handles Moroccan stars Bono and En-Nesyri.
- Like Gabriel Jesus like Success
Success is a quick, strong and confident forward whose daring and incisive dribbling causes regular problems for opposing defences. His end product is still a hit-and-miss but his physique and persistence make him a real handful for his markers. He is capable of playing through the middle, also a player who can offer more to his team from a wide starting position on either the left or right flank.
- Record label owner
Success set up a record label, I.S Music, in the summer of 2015, and made a cameo appearance in the video for the label's debut single, Young Alhaji, performed by his childhood friend Trazyx.
Isaac Success club career
The former Super Eagles star hasn't played professionally outside Europe’s top five leagues. Let's take you into the details of his club career below.
BJ Foundation Academy
Success was born in Benin City. He started his career with local side BJ Foundation Academy appearing regularly for the side before heading to the 2013 U-17 FIFA World Cup hosted by the United Arab Emirates.
Granada CF
In November 2013, Success agreed to a five-year deal with Udinese, starting in January 2014, for a €400,000 fee. However, he was only granted a work permit in March of the following year and immediately joined Granada CF, being assigned to the reserves in Segunda División B.
On 31 August 2014, Success made his first-team debut, starting in a 1–1 away draw against Elche CF at the age of 18 years and seven months, being their youngest player ever to appear in a La Liga match. He scored his first professional goal on 7 December, netting his side's only goal in the home draw against Valencia CF, for the same scoreline.
On 7 August 2015, Success extended his link with the club, signing until 2019 and being permanently promoted to the main squad.
Watford Football Club/Málaga
Isaac Success' arrival at Watford in 2016 was heralded with a wave of optimism. The young Nigerian forward, signed for a then club-record fee, embodied the potential for a bright future. However, his time at Vicarage Road proved to be a story of unfulfilled promise, punctuated by flashes of brilliance amidst inconsistency and frustration.
Success' early days showcased his raw talent. His technical ability and imposing physical presence offered glimpses of a player who could transform Watford's attack. He possessed a dangerous dribble, capable of weaving past defenders and creating scoring opportunities. His strength allowed him to hold off defenders and shield the ball, bringing teammates into play. These attributes, coupled with his young age, fueled expectations of a prolific career in the Premier League.
However, adapting to the relentless pace and physicality of the English top-flight proved more challenging than anticipated. Success struggled with consistency, often failing to convert promising build-up play into goals. His finishing, while improving at times, remained a source of frustration for both the player and the fans. Additionally, a series of injuries hampered his progress, limiting his chances to establish himself in the starting lineup.
In an attempt to regain his rhythm, Success was loaned to Málaga in La Liga during the 2018/19 season. This move provided him with more regular playing time, although it wasn't an unqualified success. He returned to Watford with a renewed sense of purpose and a chance to prove himself under a new manager. There were fleeting moments of brilliance, like his crucial goal against Tottenham Hotspur. Yet, the issues that had plagued him previously – inconsistency and a lack of clinical finishing – persisted.
Despite glimpses of his potential, Success ultimately failed to secure a regular starting role at Watford.
Udinese Calcio
Isaac Success' departure from Watford in 2021 marked the end of a tumultuous chapter in his career. After five years with the Hornets, filled with both promise and frustration, Success opted for a fresh start in Serie A with Udinese.
While Success has found more playing time at Udinese compared to his later years at Watford, his role is primarily as a substitute. He has yet to fully replicate the early promise he showed in England. However, he remains a valuable asset for Udinese, offering them a physical presence and attacking option off the bench.
Isaac Success' international career
Success' national team journey began with the prestigious U-17 World Cup in 2013. He was entrusted with the vice-captaincy role, underlining the high regard he held within the squad. However, his participation was tragically cut short by injury after just two games. Nigeria went on to clinch the title, a bittersweet moment for Success who missed out on contributing to his team's crowning achievement.
His foray into senior football came in 2016 with a call-up for a crucial World Cup qualifier against Zambia. The wait for his official debut stretched on until March 2017, when he appeared as a substitute in a 1-1 draw against Senegal. This fleeting glimpse hinted at the national team's hopes for his development.
The 28-year-old has 4 caps with the Super Eagles.
Isaac net worth
Isaac Success earns £19,000 per week, £988,000 per year playing for Udinese according to Salary Sport. Isaac Success' net worth is £12,901,200. His current contract expires June 30, 2025.
Frequently asked questions about Isaac Success
- What was Isaac Success' transfer fee to Watford? Isaac Success joined Watford in 2016 for a then club-record fee, the exact amount is not always publicly disclosed but reported to be in the range of £12-15 million.
- Why did Isaac Success leave Watford? Success struggled to secure a regular starting role at Watford due to inconsistency, injuries, and the emergence of other players. He sought a fresh start and more playing time, leading to his move to Udinese in 2021.
- What is Isaac Success' playing style? Success is a strong forward with good dribbling skills. He can hold off defenders, create space, and deliver dangerous passes. However, his finishing and ball retention can be inconsistent. He's not afraid to take shots from distance but might struggle under pressure at times.
- What are Isaac Success' strengths and weaknesses? Strengths: Dribbling, Strength, Key Passes. Weaknesses: Finishing, Ball Retention, Tackling
- Did Isaac Success win the U-17 World Cup with Nigeria? Yes, Nigeria won the U-17 World Cup in 2013, but Success' participation was cut short due to injury after just two games.
- How many appearances does Isaac Success have for the Nigerian national team? Success has only made four official appearance for the Nigerian senior team as of today (May 8th, 2024).
- Why doesn't Isaac Success play more for Nigeria? Several factors have limited Success' opportunities: struggles for a starting role at club level, fierce competition within the Nigerian attack, and occasional injuries.
