Biography
Rangy attacking midfielder Hakeeb Adelakun joined the Tigers on a season long loan in late September 2020 and immediately made a positive impression with an assist in his first game, a 2-0 win at Northampton, and a goal in his second game a week later, a 1-0 win over Plymouth. He was a regular starter for the first half of the season, especially when a contract dispute meant Keane Lewis-Potter had to sit perpetually on the City bench, and offered an effective if sometimes languid attacking presence. In early January 2021 his loan was cut short by his parent club Bristol City when they had an injury crisis.
Born in Hackney, East London to parents of Nigerian descent, Hakeeb Adeola Abiola Ayinde Adelakun was on the books of Crystal Palace and West Ham United as a schoolboy but at the age of 16 he took the somewhat unlikely path for a 21st century London boy and joined Scunthorpe United. He made his Iron debut in December 2012 and between 2013 and 2018 he was a first team regular for five seasons, amassing 169 senior appearances and scoring 19 goals. His Scunthorpe contract expired during the 2018 close season and in July 2018 he signed for Bristol City on a three year deal. Hakeeb found first team chances few and far between at Ashton Gate and in two seasons he played in only five senior matches for the Robins, plus nine games on loan at Rotherham in early 2020, prior to joining the Tigers for the 2020/21 season.
Adelakun returned to Bristol City in January 2021 but did not make any further senior appearances and was released in May 2021 on expiry of his contract, joining League One Lincoln City in July 2021. He played regularly for the Imps at first but drifted out of the first team in the second half of the season. In August 2022 he joined League Two side Gillingham on a season long loan, scoring once in 31 appearances as the Gills struggled for the first half of the season then lifted clear of relegation under new ownership.
Hakeeb returned to Lincoln City for the 2023/24 season, returning to the first team in September 2023 and scoring twice against Charlton Athletic in October 2023. However by January 2024 he was again sidelined by the Imps and joined League Two side Doncaster Rovers on a half season loan, reuniting with former Hull City manager Grant McCann. His arrival sparked a revival in Doncaster’s form as they surged from the bottom six to the play-off places fuelled by Adelakun’s nine goals in 21 appearances, only to fall at the semi-final stage to Crewe Alexandra. Hakeeb was released by Lincoln City in May 2024 having scored seven goals in 56 appearances for the Imps.
In August 2024 Adelukan joined League Two side Salford City and made his debut for the Reds in early September 2024 against Milton Keynes Dons.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 11 June 1996, Hackney
Hull City First Game: 26 September 2020, Northampton Town A (League One), 24 years, 107 days old
Hull City Final Game: 2 January 2021, Charlton Athletic H (League One) 24 years, 205 days old
Clubs
Scunthorpe United (2012-2018), Bristol City (2018-2021), Rotherham United (2020, loan), Hull City (2020-2021, loan), Lincoln City (2021-2024), Gillingham (2022-2023, loan), Doncaster Rovers (2024, loan), Salford City (2024-current)
Hull City Record
Career: 17 apps, 3 goals
Hakeeb Adelakun| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 11 (3) | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 (1) | 0 |