Adebayo Akinfenwa

Saheed Adebayo Akinfenwa (born 10 May 1982) is a professional footballer currently playing for Football League One side Northampton. He is a large and imposing forward with a sometimes physical style. Akinfenwa was born in London, but, due to his parentage, is eligible to play for either Nigeria or England although he has made no international appearances.

As a teenager, Akinfenwa joined the Lithuanian club FK Atlantas on the advice of his agent, whose Lithuanian wife's brother knew a member of the coaching staff there.[1] He spent two years at the club before returning to the UK early in 2003, where he joined all-conquering Welsh Premier League champions Barry Town.[2] After playing only a handful of games, however, the club collapsed due to financial problems: Akinfenwa and its other professionals were released from their contracts. Akinfenwa quickly found another club and joined Boston United in October 2003.[3] Unable to settle, he moved to Leyton Orient the following month, but was released after one month[4] and moved to Rushden and Diamonds in December. In February 2004, Akinfenwa had joined Doncaster Rovers, his fifth club of the season.[5]

That summer, Akinfenwa changed clubs again, signing for Torquay United in July 2004.[6] He scored 14 League goals during the 2004/05 season but was unable to help the club avoid relegation to League Two. He refused to sign a new contract with Torquay at the end of the season.[7] In July 2005, Akinfenwa moved to Swansea City, with Swansea ordered to pay £85,000 in compensation to Torquay.[8] He scored the winning goal in the 2006 Football League Trophy final, in which Swansea beat Carlisle United 2-1. Akinfenwa also helped Swansea reach the League One promotion play-off final in his first season. After a 2-2 draw, the match went to a penalty shoot-out but Akinfenwa was one of two Swansea players to miss with their penalties, granting promotion to Barnsley. He was a regular the following season, until a broken right leg in the 2-0 defeat at home to Scunthorpe United ended his season.[9] This followed a fractured left shin the previous October.[10]

At the end of the 2006/2007 season, he rejected a new contract with Swansea[11] and agreed to sign for Swindon Town on 29 June 2007.[12] However he failed a medical and wont be ready for first team football until November.

He was undergoing his rehabilitation with League One side Gillingham[13], although it had been strongly rumored he would eventually join Yeovil Town who he had spent time training with.

On January 18th 2008 he signed a deal with Northampton Town until the end of the season. Akinfenwa is vastly becoming a cult hero with the Cobblers fans. Akinfenwa made his home debut against Leeds United, where he came off the bench to net the Cobblers equaliser. Akinfenwa then pushed for a starting place and got his reward against Gillingham at Sixfields Stadium on 16 February 2008. Akinfenwa netted a brace, as The Cobblers recorded a 4-0 win over Gillingham. This was followed up with another two goals against Walsall at the Bescot Stadium.

On 30th May 2008, Akinfenwa signed a new one-year contract at Northampton despite declared interest from Leyton Orient and Grimsby