Ibrahim Bakare

Last updated

Ibrahim Bakare
Ibrahim Bakare (cropped).jpg
Personal information
Full name Ibrahim Akorede Abayomi Bakare [1]
Date of birth (2002-05-07) 7 May 2002 (age 23)
Place of birth Lambeth, England
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) [2]
Position(s)
Youth career
Mass Elite Academy
2018–2019 Morecambe
2021–2022 Cardiff City
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2019–2020 Morecambe 0 (0)
2019–2020 → Lancaster City (loan) 6 (0)
2022 Weymouth 1 (0)
2022 Kettering Town 2 (0)
2022 Macclesfield 1 (1)
2023 Cheshunt 0 (0)
2023 Vancouver FC 24 (0)
2024–2026 Cheltenham Town 31 (0)
2025–2026 → Gateshead (loan) 7 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:55, 5 February 2026

Ibrahim Akorede Abayomi Bakare (born 7 May 2002) is an English footballer who most recently played as a centre-back, for EFL League Two club Cheltenham Town.

Contents

Early life

Bakare began playing youth football in his hometown of London with Mass Elite Academy. [3] In the summer of 2018, he joined the youth system of Morecambe, following trials with Chelsea, Fleetwood Town, Blackpool and Luton Town. [4] [5]

Club career

In July 2019, he signed a first team professional contract with Morecambe in the EFL League Two, after previously being part of the club's academy. [6] He was given the contract after having attracted interest from a number of clubs such as Brentford, Watford, Leeds United and West Brom. [7] [8] In December 2019, he was loaned to Lancaster City in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. [9] In October 2020, he departed Morecambe, with his contract being terminated but the club retaining a sell-on clause, after he had gone on numerous trials with other clubs (with Morecambe's permission). [10]

In March 2021, he signed with Cardiff City, joining their Under-23 side on a contract until June 2022. [11] [12] [13] He spent a year with the U23s, regularly captaining the side. [14] [15]

In September 2022, he joined Weymouth in the National League South. [16] He made his debut on 13 September against Bath City. [17] However, by 24 September, he had departed the club. [18]

In October 2022, he signed with Kettering Town in the National League North. [19] [20] He made his debut for the club on 11 October in a Northamptonshire Senior Cup match against Daventry Town and then made his league debut on 15 October against Spennymoor Town. [21]

On 2 December 2022, he signed with Macclesfield in the Northern Premier League Division One West. [22] He scored on his debut on 3 December against Colne. [23] On 15 December, he departed the club. [22]

In January 2023, he signed with Cheshunt in the National League South. [24] [25] He made an appearance for the club in a friendly against Watford U21. [26]

In March 2023, he signed with Canadian Premier League club Vancouver FC. [27] [28] On 7 May 2023 (his 21st birthday), he earned Man of the Match honours in Vancouver's first ever home match and was subsequently named to the CPL Team of the Week. [29] [30] [31] After the season, he parted ways with the club to pursue other opportunities. [32] [33]

In August 2024, Bakare returned to England, joining League Two club Cheltenham Town following a successful trial period. [34] [35] In October 2025, he was loaned to National League club Gateshead until 9 January 2026. [36] [37] Shortly after returning from his loan spell at Gateshead, in February 2026 Bakare left Cheltenham Town. [38]

References

  1. ↑ "Club list of registered players: As at 17th May 2025" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  2. ↑ Ibrahim Bakare at Soccerway
  3. ↑ "New Centre-Back for Poppies". Non League Today. 10 October 2022.
  4. ↑ Emmanuel, Ifeanyi (23 May 2019). "Ex-Watford, Crystal Palace Trialists Sign New Deals With EFL Club Morecambe". All Nigeria Soccer.
  5. ↑ Emmanuel, Ifeanyi (3 August 2019). "Morecambe Wonderkid Bakare Pledges International Future To Nigeria Over England". All Nigeria Soccer.
  6. ↑ "Ibrahi Bakare signs pro deal". Morecambe F.C. 24 July 2019.
  7. ↑ "17-year-old Londoner Ibrahim Bakare thriving out on loan". London Post. 24 January 2020. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. ↑ "String of clubs reportedly interested in teen footballer Ibrahim Bakare". The Daily Brit. 24 January 2020.
  9. ↑ Chadwick, Gary (16 December 2019). "Lancaster City Sign Morecambe Defender On Loan". Chadwick Media.
  10. ↑ Browne, Gavin (8 October 2020). "Morecambe boss outlines the reason for teenage defender's departure". Lancaster Guardian.
  11. ↑ "Evans & Patten extend deals; Bakare signs". Cardiff City F.C. 17 March 2021.
  12. ↑ Williams, Glen (17 March 2021). "Cardiff City deal Newcastle, Sheffield Utd and West Brom blow as they tie down exciting youngster and sign defender". Media Wales .
  13. ↑ "Bluebirds Snap Up Free Agent Bakare". League Football Education. 20 March 2021.
  14. ↑ Williams, Glen (10 October 2022). "Cardiff City transfer news as defender finds new club, Hudson would 'love' job and rivals sack manager -Bakare signs for Kettering Town". Media Wales .
  15. ↑ "Experience from around the globe added to new pro soccer team in Langley". Langley Advance Times. 13 March 2023.
  16. ↑ Walton, Neil (14 September 2022). "Bath City 2-1 Weymouth: Terras distraught after naivety in defeat". Dorset Echo .
  17. ↑ Walton, Neil (13 September 2022). "Bath City 2-1 Weymouth: Romans rule over Terras". Dorset Echo .
  18. ↑ Walton, Neil (24 September 2022). "Weymouth 0-2 Dover Athletic: Whites steal points late on". Dorset Echo .
  19. ↑ "Kettering Town Sign Ibrahim Bakare". Non Pro Football. 10 October 2022. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023.
  20. ↑ "New signing = Ibrahim Bakare". Kettering Town F.C.
  21. ↑ Dunham, Jon (18 October 2022). "Poppies boss Glover pleased with the impact of the new boys". Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph .
  22. 1 2 "Player Profiles: Defenders". Macclesfield FC Archives.
  23. ↑ "Caught on Camera: Colne (A)". Macclesfield F.C. 4 December 2022.
  24. ↑ "Craig Edwards Updates". Cheshunt F.C. 20 January 2023.
  25. ↑ Jacques, John (9 March 2023). "Exclusive: Vancouver Close In On Bakare Signing". Northern Tribune.
  26. ↑ "Cheshunt vs Watford U21". Cheshunt F.C. 18 January 2023. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023.
  27. ↑ "Centre-back Ibrahim Bakare joins Vancouver FC". Canadian Premier League . 10 March 2023.
  28. ↑ Jacques, John (10 March 2023). "Vancouver FC Makes Bakare Official". Northern Tribune.
  29. ↑ Nava, David (12 May 2023). "A Lifetime of Support for a Life-long Memory: The Importance of Family to Ibrahim Bakare". Vancouver FC .
  30. ↑ Nava, David (9 May 2023). "Vancouver FC's Ibrahim Bakare was named to Week 4 Team of the Week". Vancouver FC .
  31. ↑ Rhodes, Benedict (16 May 2023). "'It makes Canada feel more like home': Familiar faces helping CPL's Londoners thrive in new environments". Canadian Premier League .
  32. ↑ "Thank you Ibrahim Bakare; Vancouver FC part ways with English defender". Vancouver FC . 15 February 2024.
  33. ↑ Jacques, John (16 February 2024). "Vancouver FC Fan-Favourite Bakare Leaves Club". Northern Tribune.
  34. ↑ "Ibrahim Bakare is a Robin". Cheltenham Town F.C. 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  35. ↑ Palmer, Jon. "Former Cardiff City, Morecambe and Vancouver FC defender Ibrahim Bakare joins Cheltenham Town". Gloucestershire Live .
  36. ↑ Palmer, Jon (10 October 2025). "Cheltenham Town defender Ibrahim Bakare set for Gateshead loan". Gloucestershire Live .
  37. ↑ McGraghan, Jack (10 October 2025). "Ibrahim Bakare joins Gateshead". Gateshead F.C.
  38. ↑ "Ibrahim Bakare departs". Cheltenham Town F.C. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 5 February 2026.