Tim Akinola
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Timothy Olaoluwa Akinola[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 8 May 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Lokoja, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Woking | ||
| Number | 23 | ||
| 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) |
| 2024–2025 | Chesterfield | 2 | (0) |
| 2024 | → Dagenham & Redridge (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2025 | → Solihull Moors (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2025 | Gateshead | 6 | (1) |
| 2025– | Woking | 46 | (2) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:50, 27 September 2026 (UTC) | |||
Timothy Olaoluwa Akinola ⓘ(born 8 May 2001) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National League club Woking.
Career
[edit]Akinola was born in Lokoja, Nigeria.[3] He played youth football with Lincoln City and Huddersfield Town, before signing for Arsenal in summer 2020.[3][4][5] After playing for Arsenal under-23s,[6] he moved on loan to Scottish club Dundee United in January 2022.[3][7][8] Akinola initially believed he had signed for the club's city rivals Dundee.[9]
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.[10][11] He later underwent surgery.[12] In August 2022, he joined Chesterfield in the National League on a season-long loan, making his debut as a substitute against Oldham Athletic.[13]
He permanently switch to Qatari side Al Bidda in September 2023.[14]
Return to Chesterfield
[edit]On 16 May 2024, it was confirmed he would return to Chesterfield on a one-year deal with an option.[15]
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.[16] In February 2025, he joined National League club Solihull Moors on an initial one-month loan.[17]
Gateshead
[edit]On 28 March 2025, Akinola joined National League side Gateshead on a deal until the end of the 2025–26 season.[18]
Woking
[edit]On 26 July 2025, Akinola joined Woking on a one-year deal.[19]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played 26 September 2026[20]
| 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 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) | 2024–25 | National League | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| Solihull Moors (loan) | 2024–25 | National League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Gateshead | 2024–25 | National League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| Woking | 2025–26 | National League | 38 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 7[e] | 0 | 47 | 1 | |
| 2026–27 | National League | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[f] | 0 | 9 | 1 | ||
| Total | 46 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | 56 | 2 | |||
| Career total | 95 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 121 | 2 | ||
- ↑ Includes FA Cup
- ↑ Includes EFL Cup
- 1 2 3 4 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
- ↑ Appearance in National League play-offs
- ↑ Four Appearances in National League Cup, three appearances in FA Trophy
- ↑ One appearance in National League Cup
References
[edit]- ↑ "2022/23 Premier League squad lists". Premier League. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ↑ "England - T. Akinola - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com.
- 1 2 3 "Tim Akinola joins Dundee United on loan". Tim Akinola joins Dundee United on loan.
- ↑ Smith, George (17 August 2020). "Tim Akinola profiled as midfield starlet completes Arsenal transfer move". Football.London.
- ↑ "Arsenal coach hails Under-23 star who already has 'champion mentality'". HITC. 31 December 2021.
- ↑ Football, Planet (2 October 2021). "Watch: Arsenal youngster Tim Akinola pulls out double Zidane turn for U23s". Planet Football.
- ↑ "UNITED SEAL LOAN DEAL FOR AKINOLA". Dundee United Football Club.
- ↑ "Tim Akinola: Dundee United's new loan signing from Arsenal profiled". www.scotsman.com.
- ↑ Meighan, Nicola (31 January 2022). "'There's two Dundees': Akinola ready for United start after mix-up".
- ↑ Temple, Alan. "Tim Akinola returns to Arsenal as Dundee United loan falls flat".
- ↑ Burns, Scott (1 April 2022). "Tim Akinola Dundee United deal over". scottishdailyexpress.
- ↑ Temple, Alan. "Arsenal kid Tim Akinola undergoes surgery as reason for Dundee United exit is laid bare".
- ↑ Norcliffe, Liam (7 September 2022). "Chesterfield coach says young Arsenal loanee has similarities to top Chelsea midfielder". Derbyshire Times. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
- ↑ "Tim Akinola joins Al Bidda on permanent deal". Tim Akinola joins Al Bidda on permanent deal. 20 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
- ↑ "Midfielder Rejoins Spirites". chesterfield.co.uk. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ↑ "Daggers Sign Tim Akinola". daggers.co.uk. 29 August 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ↑ "Moors Secure Akinola On Loan". www.solihullmoorsfc.co.uk. 21 February 2025. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
- ↑ "Tim Akinola joins Gateshead". gateshead-fc.com. 28 March 2025. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
- ↑ "Tim Akinola joins". www.wokingfc.co.uk. 26 July 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
- ↑ "Tim Akinola". Soccerbase. Perform Group. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- 2001 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Kogi State
- Nigerian men's footballers
- Nigerian expatriate men's footballers
- Men's association football midfielders
- Lincoln City F.C. players
- Huddersfield Town A.F.C. players
- Arsenal F.C. players
- Dundee United F.C. players
- Chesterfield F.C. players
- Al Bidda SC players
- Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. players
- Solihull Moors F.C. players
- Gateshead F.C. players
- Woking F.C. players
- Scottish Professional Football League players
- National League (English football) players
- Qatari Second Division players
- English Football League players
- Expatriate men's footballers in England
- Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland
- Expatriate men's footballers in Qatar
- Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in England
- Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Scotland
- Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Qatar
- 21st-century Nigerian sportsmen