Arsenal-owned Nigerian midfielder makes professional debut aged 20 years and 273 days

Published: February 06, 2022

Nigerian-born midfielder Tim Akinola has made his professional debut aged 20 years and 273 days, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

Premier League club Arsenal decided to loan out Akinola on transfer deadline day for the remainder of this season to prepare him for the rigors of first-team football.

Having watched proceedings from the bench in the derby vs Dundee FC, the Anglo-Nigerian starlet claimed a starting spot against St. Johnstone at McDiarmid Park (Perth) on Saturday evening.

Akinola was involved in Dundee United's first foray forward in the 11th minute when he swept the ball wide to Liam Smith who found Pawlett but it resulted in nothing.

Manager Tam Courts made two changes at half-time, one of which saw Scott McMann replace the Arsenal loanee.

Akinola's professional debut is a reward for all the hard work he has put in for the youth teams of Lincoln City, Huddersfield Town and Arsenal, whom he joined in August 2020.

The central midfielder made his non-competitive debut for Arsenal's first team in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Brentford back in September.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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