Ex-Arsenal midfielder signs permanently for club Gunners loaned him to | OneFootball

Former Arsenal midfielder Tim Akinola has rejoined Chesterfield FC, having spent time on loan with the club during his Gunners spell.

Tim Akinola signing for Chesterfield FC (Photo via Chesterfield-FC.co.uk)

Chesterfield FC confirmed on Thursday that former Arsenal midfielder Tim Akinola has joined the club on a permanent deal, signing for one year with an option for a second.

Arsenal previously loaned Akinola to Chesterfield in 2022/23, before selling him to Al Bidda SC last summer. But less than a year later, Akinola is on his way back to his old loan club.

“When the gaffer called me, I just said, ‘Yeah. I want to come back’,” Akinola said.

“I loved it here when I played here on loan and it’s just really good to be back. It just feels like home.”

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Tim Akinola with the Arsenal u21s (Photo via David Price on Twitter)

A permanent move to Chesterfield appeared to be on the cards last year, with the player proving popular on loan.

The problem was that Chesterfield lost their National League play-off final to Notts County on penalties, thus failing to achieve promotion.

Without the financial boost from the step up to the football league and without League Two football as a draw for Akinola, a potential deal fell apart.

That’s changed now, with Chesterfield achieving automatic promotion to League Two this time around. They ended the season 12 points clear of second place despite losing four of their final five games, with promotion secured in March.

Tim Akinola playing for Chesterfield in 2022/23 (Photo via Akinola on Instagram)

Akinola played 31 times on his loan to Chesterfield in 2022/23, and the 23-year-old will hope his permanent move makes him a regular fixture in their starting lineup next season.