James_Olayinka
James Olayinka
English footballer
Olujimi James Ayodele Olayinka (born 5 October 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Cheltenham Town.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Olujimi James Ayodele Olayinka[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (2000-10-05) 5 October 2000 (age 23)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Lambeth, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Cheltenham Town | ||
| Number | 17 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 0000–2019 | Arsenal | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2022 | Arsenal | 0 | (0) |
| 2020 | → Northampton Town (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | → Southend United (loan) | 20 | (2) |
| 2022– | Cheltenham Town | 37 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:40, 23 April 2024 (UTC) | |||
Arsenal
Olayinka began his career with Arsenal.[3] He signed his first professional contract with the club in January 2019.[4]
On 29 August 2020, Olayinka was named an unused substitute in the 2020 FA Community Shield, with Arsenal clinching a 5–4 victory over Liverpool in the penalty shootout after the match finished 1–1 after 90 minutes.[5]
Loan to Northampton Town
In January 2020, Olayinka moved on loan to League Two side Northampton Town until the end of the season,[6][7] making his debut in a 3–0 win over Scunthorpe United on 28 January.[8] He helped Northampton Town to secure promotion to League One by winning the play-off final.[9]
Loan to Southend United
In October 2020 he joined Southend United on loan until January 2021.[10] He scored his first goal for the club, and his first professional goal, in an FA Cup tie against Boreham Wood on 7 November 2020.[11] On 1 February 2021, Olayinka extended his loan with Southend United to the end of the 2020–21 season.[12]
Cheltenham Town
He signed a two-year contract with Cheltenham Town on 1 September 2022.[13] On 2 January 2024, manager Darrell Clarke announced that Olayinka had been made available for transfer.[14]
Olayinka is of Nigerian descent.[15]
- As of match played 15 April 2023
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Arsenal U21 | 2018–19 EFL Trophy[16] | — | — | — | 4[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||||
| 2019–20 EFL Trophy[17] | — | — | — | 2[lower-alpha 1] | 1 | 2 | 1 | |||||
| 2020–21 EFL Trophy[18] | — | — | — | 2[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||
| 2021–22 EFL Trophy[19] | — | — | — | 3[lower-alpha 1] | 2 | 3 | 2 | |||||
| 2022–23 EFL Trophy[20] | — | — | — | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Total | — | — | — | 12 | 3 | 12 | 3 | |||||
| Arsenal | 2019–20[17] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020–21[18] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2021–22[19] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Northampton Town (loan) | 2019–20[17] | League Two | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Southend United (loan) | 2020–21[18] | League Two | 20 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 3 |
| Cheltenham Town | 2022–23[20] | League One | 27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 1 |
| Career total | 48 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 65 | 7 | ||
- Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.
- Appearances in the League Two play-offs.
Northampton Town
Arsenal
- "2018/19 Premier League squads confirmed". www.premierleague.com. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
- "James Olayinka". 11v11. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
- "James Olayinka". www.arsenal.com.
- "James Olayinka signs professional contract". www.arsenal.com. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- Association, The Football. "Arsenal 1–1 Liverpool (5–4 on penalties)". www.thefa.com. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- "James Olayinka & Callum Morton: Northampton Town loan Arsenal and West Brom youngsters". 27 January 2020 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- "Olayinka joins Northampton Town on loan". www.arsenal.com. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- "NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3 SCUNTHORPE UNITED 0". www.ntfc.co.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- Critchlow, Dan. "James Olayinka ends loan with promotion win at Wembley". Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- "Southend sign Arsenal's Olayinka on loan" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- "Boreham Wood 3–3 Southend". BBC. 7 November 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
- "Olayinka stays". Southend United FC. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- "Cheltenham sign Arsenal midfielder Olayinka" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- "Six loan players to return to parent clubs". www.ctfc.com. 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- "Nigerian-born James Olayinka signs professional contract with Arsenal". Pulse. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
- "Games played by James Olayinka in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- "Games played by James Olayinka in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- "Games played by James Olayinka in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- "Games played by James Olayinka in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
- "Games played by James Olayinka in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
- Pilnick, Brent (29 June 2020). "Exeter City 0–4 Northampton Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- Sanders, Emma (29 August 2020). "Arsenal 1–1 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 August 2020.