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James Olayinka

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English footballer

James Olayinka
Personal information
Full name Olujimi James Ayodele Olayinka
Date of birth (2000-10-05) 5 October 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Lambeth, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
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)
2022–2024 Cheltenham Town 38 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:30, 28 July 2024 (UTC)

Olujimi James Ayodele Olayinka (born 5 October 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder. In January 2025 he will join League of Ireland Premier Division club Waterford.

Career

Arsenal

Olayinka began his career with Arsenal. He signed his first professional contract with the club in January 2019.

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.

Loan to Northampton Town

In January 2020, Olayinka moved on loan to League Two side Northampton Town until the end of the season, making his debut in a 3–0 win over Scunthorpe United on 28 January. He helped Northampton Town to secure promotion to League One by winning the play-off final.

Loan to Southend United

In October 2020 he joined Southend United on loan until January 2021. 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. On 1 February 2021, Olayinka extended his loan with Southend United to the end of the 2020–21 season.

Cheltenham Town

He signed a two-year contract with Cheltenham Town on 1 September 2022. On 2 January 2024, manager Darrell Clarke announced that Olayinka had been made available for transfer. He was released by the club at the end of the 2023–24 season.

Waterford

On 14 November 2024, it was announced that Olayinka would be joining League of Ireland Premier Division club Waterford ahead of their 2025 season.

Personal life

Olayinka is of Nigerian descent.

Career statistics

As of match played 15 April 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
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 — — — 4 0 4 0
2019–20 EFL Trophy — — — 2 1 2 1
2020–21 EFL Trophy — — — 2 0 2 0
2021–22 EFL Trophy — — — 3 2 3 2
2022–23 EFL Trophy — — — 1 0 1 0
Total — — — 12 3 12 3
Arsenal 2019–20 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2020–21 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2021–22 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 League Two 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 4 0
Southend United (loan) 2020–21 League Two 20 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 21 3
Cheltenham Town 2022–23 League One 27 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 28 1
2023–24 League One 11 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 15 0
Total 38 1 1 0 1 0 3 0 43 1
Waterford 2025 LOI Premier Division 0 0 0 0 – 0 0 0 0
Career total 59 3 2 1 1 0 18 3 80 7


  1. ^ Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.
  2. Appearances in the League Two play-offs.

Honours

Northampton Town

Arsenal

References

  1. "2018/19 Premier League squads confirmed". www.premierleague.com. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  2. ^ "James Olayinka". 11v11. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  3. "James Olayinka". www.arsenal.com.
  4. "James Olayinka signs professional contract". www.arsenal.com. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  5. Association, The Football. "Arsenal 1–1 Liverpool (5–4 on penalties)". www.thefa.com. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  6. "James Olayinka & Callum Morton: Northampton Town loan Arsenal and West Brom youngsters". 27 January 2020 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  7. "Olayinka joins Northampton Town on loan". www.arsenal.com. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  8. "NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3 SCUNTHORPE UNITED 0". www.ntfc.co.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  9. Critchlow, Dan. "James Olayinka ends loan with promotion win at Wembley". Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  10. "Southend sign Arsenal's Olayinka on loan" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  11. "Boreham Wood 3–3 Southend". BBC. 7 November 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  12. "Olayinka stays". Southend United FC. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  13. "Cheltenham sign Arsenal midfielder Olayinka" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  14. "Six loan players to return to parent clubs". www.ctfc.com. 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  15. "Curtis Davies one of seven released by Cheltenham Town". BBC Sport. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  16. FC, Waterford (14 November 2024). "Olayinka Becomes A Blue!".
  17. "Nigerian-born James Olayinka signs professional contract with Arsenal". Pulse. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  18. "Games played by James Olayinka in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  19. ^ "Games played by James Olayinka in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  20. ^ "Games played by James Olayinka in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  21. ^ "Games played by James Olayinka in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  22. ^ "Games played by James Olayinka in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  23. "Games played by James Olayinka in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  24. https://ie.soccerway.com/players/james-olayinka/453132/
  25. Pilnick, Brent (29 June 2020). "Exeter City 0–4 Northampton Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  26. Sanders, Emma (29 August 2020). "Arsenal 1–1 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
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