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	Dagenham & Redbridge (on loan from Chesterfield)
Number	20
Youth career
0000–2018	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	0	(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. 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. "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.