Olatunji Oluwasehun Akinola (born 21 November 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for National League side Woking.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Olatunji Oluwasehun Akinola[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 21 November 1998 | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
| Position | 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 | 114 | (7) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:05 19 April 2026 (UTC) | |||
Career
editWest Ham United
editAkinola 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
editAkinola 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
editIn 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
editStyle of play
editDuring his time at the club, West Ham described Akinola as "tall and composed" and a "ball-playing" centre-back.[4]
Personal life
editCareer statistics
edit- As of match played 18 April 2026
| 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 | 40 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 8[e] | 0 | 50 | 2 | ||
| 2025–26[18] | National League | 41 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 8[f] | 0 | 51 | 1 | ||
| Total | 114 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 138 | 7 | ||
| Career total | 179 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 218 | 8 | ||
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Four appearances in FA Trophy; Four Appearances in National League Cup
- ↑ Four appearances in FA Trophy; Four Appearances 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.
- 1 2 "Akinola joins O's on loan from Hammers". 6 October 2020.
- 1 2 "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.
- 1 2 "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.
- ↑ "Games played by Tunji Akinola in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
External links
edit- Tunji Akinola at Soccerway
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