Tunji Akinola
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Olatunji Oluwasehun Akinola[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 21 November 1998 | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Woking | ||
| Number | 16 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2006 | Brimsdown Rovers | ||
| 2006–2020 | West Ham United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2021 | West Ham United | 0 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | → Leyton Orient (loan) | 33 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | Partick Thistle | 34 | (0) |
| 2023– | Woking | 46 | (5) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:17, 27 October 2024 (UTC) | |||
Olatunji Oluwasehun Akinola (born 21 November 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for National League side Woking.
Career
[edit]West Ham United
[edit]Akinola first played for Brimsdown Rovers in north London, at around aged seven or eight, before joining West Ham United as a nine-year old.[2][3]
Akinola was promoted to the under-18 squad at the age of 15, made over 50 appearances at under-23 level and who made his maiden first-team appearance in a pre-season win over Wycombe Wanderers in August 2020. He played in the EFL Trophy against Colchester United in September 2020.[4] His departure from West Ham at the end of June 2021 was announced on 4 June 2021.[5]
Leyton Orient
[edit]Akinola signed for Leyton Orient on loan from West Ham United in October 2020.[3] He made his debut against Barrow on 10 October 2020.[6]
Partick Thistle
[edit]In August 2021, Akinola signed a one-year deal with Scottish Championship club Partick Thistle.[7] Akinola scored the first professional goal of his career, opening the scoring as Thistle won 2–0 away to Stranraer in the Scottish Challenge Cup.[8]
Akinola signed a one-year contract extension with Thistle in January 2022.[9] On 25 January 2023, Akinola left Thistle by mutual consent.[10]
Woking
[edit]In July 2023, following a successful trial period, Akinola joined Woking.[11]
Style of play
[edit]During his time at the club, West Ham described Akinola as "tall and composed" and a "ball-playing" centre-back.[4]
Personal life
[edit]Akinola is of Nigerian descent.[12]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played 5 November 2024
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| West Ham United U21 | 2020–21 | – | 2[a] | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||
| West Ham United | 2020–21[13] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Leyton Orient (loan) | 2020–21[13] | League Two | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 0 |
| Partick Thistle | 2021–22[14] | Scottish Championship | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4[b] | 1 | 34 | 1 |
| 2022–23[15] | Scottish Championship | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Total | 34 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 45 | 1 | ||
| Woking | 2023–24[16] | National League | 33 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | 1[d] | 0 | 37 | 4 | |
| 2024–25[17] | National League | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 2[e] | 0 | 17 | 1 | ||
| Total | 46 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 54 | 5 | ||
| Career total | 111 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 133 | 6 | ||
- ^ Appearances in the EFL Trophy
- ^ Two appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup; two appearances in the Premiership playoffs
- ^ One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup.
- ^ Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
- ^ Appearance(s) in National League Cup
References
[edit]- ^ Tunji Akinola at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
- ^ "Academy Spotlight: Olatunji Akinola | West Ham United". www.whufc.com.
- ^ a b "Akinola joins O's on loan from Hammers". 6 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Olatunji Akinola". West Ham United F.C. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
- ^ "Retained List issued – Fabián Balbuena to depart | West Ham United". www.whufc.com.
- ^ "Barrow 1-1 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Former West Ham defender Tunji Akinola signs one-year deal with Partick Thistle". HeraldScotland. 18 August 2021.
- ^ "Stranraer v Partick Thistle". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Tunji Akinola extends contract until 2023".
- ^ "Tunji Akinola leaves the club by mutual consent". Partick Thistle FC. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
- ^ "Tunji Akinola Signs". Woking Football Club. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ "West Ham youngster Tunji Akinola should go on loan to show his talent". HITC. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Games played by Tunji Akinola in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- ^ "Games played by Tunji Akinola in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Tunji Akinola in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Tunji Akinola in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Tunji Akinola in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
External links
[edit]- Tunji Akinola at Soccerway
  | This biographical article related to association football in England, about a defender born in the 1990s, is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- 1998 births
- Living people
- English men's footballers
- Men's association football defenders
- Leyton Orient F.C. players
- West Ham United F.C. players
- English Football League players
- Black British sportsmen
- Brimsdown Rovers F.C. players
- English people of Nigerian descent
- Sportspeople of Nigerian descent
- Partick Thistle F.C. players
- Scottish Professional Football League players
- Woking F.C. players
- 21st-century English sportsmen
- English football defender, 1990s birth stubs