Tim Akinola

Tim Akinola
Personal information
Full name Timothy Olaoluwa Akinola[1]
Date of birth (2001-05-08) 8 May 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Lokoja, Nigeria
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Chesterfield
Number 16
Youth career
–2018 Lincoln City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2019 Lincoln City 0 (0)
2019–2020 Huddersfield Town 0 (0)
2020–2023 Arsenal 0 (0)
2022 → Dundee United (loan) 1 (0)
2022–2023 → Chesterfield (loan) 26 (0)
2023–2024 Al Bidda 7 (0)
2024– Chesterfield 1 (0)
2024 → Dagenham & Redridge (loan) 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:56, 26 December 2024 (UTC)

Timothy Olaoluwa Akinola (born 8 May 2001) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League Two club Chesterfield.[3]

Career

Akinola was born in Lokoja, Nigeria.[4] He played youth football with Lincoln City and Huddersfield Town, before signing for Arsenal in summer 2020.[4][5][6] After playing for Arsenal under-23s,[7] he moved on loan to Scottish club Dundee United in January 2022.[4][8][9] Akinola initially believed he had signed for the club's city rivals Dundee.[10]

After one 45-minute appearance for Dundee United which saw him substituted at half-time, Akinola returned to Arsenal in March 2022 due to injury.[11][12] He later underwent surgery.[13] In August 2022, he joined Chesterfield in the National League on a season-long loan, making his debut as a substitute against Oldham Athletic.[14]

He permanently switch to Qatari side Al Bidda in September 2023.[15]

On 16 May 2024, it was confirmed he would return to Chesterfield on a one-year deal with an option.[16]

On 29 August 2024, he signed for National League side Dagenham & Redbridge on a season-long loan becoming the club's fifteenth signing of the summer.[17]

Career statistics

As of match played 26 December 2024[18]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Lincoln City 2018–19 League Two 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arsenal U21 2020–21 — — — — 4[c] 0 4 0
2021–22 — — — — 3[c] 0 3 0
2022–23 — — — — 1[c] 0 1 0
Total — — — 8 0 8 0
Dundee United (loan) 2021–22 Scottish Premiership 1 0 0 0 — — 1 0
Chesterfield (loan) 2022–23 National League 26 0 4 0 — 1[d] 0 31 0
Al Bidda 2023–24 Qatari Second Division 7 0 0 0 — — 7 0
Chesterfield 2024–25 League Two 0 0 0 0 1 0 1[c] 0 2 0
Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) 2024–25 National League 5 0 0 0 — 0 0 5 0
Career total 39 0 4 0 1 0 10 0 54 0
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  4. ^ Appearance in National League play-offs

References

  1. ^ "2022/23 Premier League squad lists". Premier League. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  2. ^ "England - T. Akinola - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com.
  3. ^ Tim Akinola at Soccerbase
  4. ^ a b c "Tim Akinola joins Dundee United on loan". Tim Akinola joins Dundee United on loan.
  5. ^ Smith, George (17 August 2020). "Tim Akinola profiled as midfield starlet completes Arsenal transfer move". Football.London.
  6. ^ "Arsenal coach hails Under-23 star who already has 'champion mentality'". HITC. 31 December 2021.
  7. ^ Football, Planet (2 October 2021). "Watch: Arsenal youngster Tim Akinola pulls out double Zidane turn for U23s". Planet Football.
  8. ^ "UNITED SEAL LOAN DEAL FOR AKINOLA". Dundee United Football Club.
  9. ^ "Tim Akinola: Dundee United's new loan signing from Arsenal profiled". www.scotsman.com.
  10. ^ Meighan, Nicola (31 January 2022). "'There's two Dundees': Akinola ready for United start after mix-up".
  11. ^ Temple, Alan. "Tim Akinola returns to Arsenal as Dundee United loan falls flat".
  12. ^ Burns, Scott (1 April 2022). "Tim Akinola Dundee United deal over". scottishdailyexpress.
  13. ^ Temple, Alan. "Arsenal kid Tim Akinola undergoes surgery as reason for Dundee United exit is laid bare".
  14. ^ Norcliffe, Liam (7 September 2022). "Chesterfield coach says young Arsenal loanee has similarities to top Chelsea midfielder". Derbyshire Times. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  15. ^ "Tim Akinola joins Al Bidda on permanent deal". Tim Akinola joins Al Bidda on permanent deal. 20 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  16. ^ "Midfielder Rejoins Spirites". chesterfield.co.uk. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  17. ^ "Daggers Sign Tim Akinola". daggers.co.uk. 29 August 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  18. ^ "Tim Akinola". Soccerbase. Perform Group. Retrieved 13 May 2023.