James Olayinka

James Olayinka
Personal information
Full name Olujimi James Ayodele Olayinka[1]
Date of birth (2000-10-05) 5 October 2000[2]
Place of birth Lambeth, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2]
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Derry City
Number 28
Youth career
–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)
2025 Waterford 31 (1)
2026– Derry City 0 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20:51, 21 November 2025 (UTC)

Olujimi James Ayodele Olayinka (born 5 October 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for League of Ireland Premier Division club Derry City.

Career

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] He was released by the club at the end of the 2023–24 season.[15]

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.[16] On 21 November 2025, it was announced that he would be departing the club at the end of his contract, having made 33 appearances and scored one goal in all competitions.[17]

Derry City

On 15 December 2025, League of Ireland Premier Division club Derry City announced that Olayinka would join the club on a free transfer ahead of the 2026 season, signing a two-year contract.[18][19]

Personal life

Olayinka is of Nigerian descent.[20]

Career statistics

As of match played 7 November 2025
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
Arsenal U21 2018–19[21] — — — 4[c] 0 4 0
2019–20[22] — — — 2[c] 1 2 1
2020–21[23] — — — 2[c] 0 2 0
2021–22[24] — — — 3[c] 2 3 2
2022–23[25] — — — 1[c] 0 1 0
Total — — — 12 3 12 3
Arsenal 2019–20[22] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2020–21[23] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2021–22[24] 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[22] League Two 1 0 0 0 0 0 3[d] 0 4 0
Southend United (loan) 2020–21[23] League Two 20 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 21 3
Cheltenham Town 2022–23[25] League One 27 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 28 1
2023–24[26] League One 11 0 0 0 1 0 3[c] 0 15 0
Total 38 1 1 0 1 0 3 0 43 1
Waterford 2025[27] LOI Premier Division 31 1 1 0 – 1[e] 0 33 1
Career total 90 4 3 1 1 0 19 3 113 8
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup & FAI Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ^ a b c d e f Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.
  4. ^ Appearances in the League Two play-offs.
  5. ^ Appearance in the 2025 League of Ireland Premier Division Promotion/Relegation play-off

Honours

Northampton Town

Arsenal

References

  1. ^ "2018/19 Premier League squads confirmed". www.premierleague.com. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  2. ^ a b "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". BBC Sport. 27 January 2020.
  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 (30 June 2020). "James Olayinka ends loan with promotion win at Wembley". Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Southend sign Arsenal's Olayinka on loan". BBC Sport. 17 October 2020.
  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". BBC Sport. September 2022.
  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. ^ "Waterford FC 2025 Retained List". Waterford FC. 21 November 2025. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  18. ^ "Olayinka Swaps Blue for Red & White". Derry City Football Club. 15 December 2025. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  19. ^ "LOI transfers: Derry bring Olayinka to the Brandywell". RTÉ. 15 December 2025. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  20. ^ "Nigerian-born James Olayinka signs professional contract with Arsenal". Pulse. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  21. ^ "Games played by James Olayinka in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  22. ^ a b c "Games played by James Olayinka in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  23. ^ a b c "Games played by James Olayinka in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  24. ^ a b "Games played by James Olayinka in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  25. ^ a b "Games played by James Olayinka in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  26. ^ "Games played by James Olayinka in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  27. ^ "England - J. Olayinka - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway".
  28. ^ Pilnick, Brent (29 June 2020). "Exeter City 0–4 Northampton Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  29. ^ Sanders, Emma (29 August 2020). "Arsenal 1–1 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
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