{{short description|Nigerian professional footballer|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Boluwatife Akinyode |image = Bolu Akinyode 21 DF Loudoun United Football Club (55189903214) (cropped).jpg |image_size = |caption = Akiinyode with Loudoun United FC in 2026 |fullname = |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|5|30|df=y}} |birth_place = Lagos, Nigeria |height = {{height|m=1.87}} |currentclub = Loudoun United |clubnumber = 21 |position = Defender<br>Defensive Midfielder |youthyears1 = 2009–2011 |youthclubs1 = New York Red Bulls |collegeyears1 = 2011–2014 |college1 = Seton Hall Pirates |collegecaps1 = |collegegoals1 = |years1 = 2011–2013 |clubs1 = New York Red Bulls U-23 |caps1 = |goals1 = |years2 = 2014 |clubs2 = NJ-LUSO Parma |caps2 = 10 |goals2 = 1 |years3 = 2015 |clubs3 = New York Red Bulls II |caps3 = 20 |goals3 = 1 |years4 = 2016 |clubs4 = Bethlehem Steel FC |caps4 = 26 |goals4 = 0 |years5 = 2017 |clubs5 = North Carolina FC |caps5 = 22 |goals5 = 0 |years6 = 2018–2019 |clubs6 = Nashville SC |caps6 = 61 |goals6 = 2 |years7 = 2020 |clubs7 = Birmingham Legion |caps7 = 15 |goals7 = 0 |years8 = 2021–2023 |clubs8 = Miami FC |caps8 = 92 |goals8 = 2 |years9 = 2024 |clubs9 = El Paso Locomotive |caps9 = 30 |goals9 = 0 |years10 = 2025 |clubs10 = Miami FC |caps10 = 21 |goals10 = 0 |years11 = 2025– |clubs11 = Loudoun United |caps11 = 6 |goals11 = 0 |club-update = 25 October 2025 }}
'''Boluwatife Akinyode'''{{audio|LL-Q34311 (yor)-Abike25-Boluwatife Akinyode.wav|listen}}(born 30 May 1994) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a center back for Loudoun United in the USL Championship.
==Career==
===Youth and college=== Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Akinyode moved to the United States and joined the New York Red Bulls Academy. He captained the U-16 Academy team and was a member of the under-18 and under-23 squads. Akinyode also played college soccer for Seton Hall University from 2011 to 2014. While with the Pirates the holding midfielder played in 63 matches scoring 5 goals and recording 4 assists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shupirates.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/bolu_akinyode_849225.html|title=Bolu Akinyode Seton Hall Pirates|newspaper=shupirates.com|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419204637/http://www.shupirates.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/bolu_akinyode_849225.html|archivedate=2015-04-19}}</ref>
He also played in the Premier Development League for NJ-LUSO Parma.<ref>{{cite web|title=2014 NJ-LUSO Parma stats|url=http://uslpdl.com/teams/2014/8986441.html#STATS|website=USLPDL.com|publisher=Premier Development League|accessdate=19 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103065510/http://www.uslpdl.com/teams/2014/8986441.html#STATS|archive-date=3 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> ===Professional=== Akinyode signed with New York Red Bulls II on April 18, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/2015/04/new-york-red-bulls-ii-sign-red-bulls-academy-product-bolu-akinyode|title= Red Bulls II sign Academy product Bolu Akinyode |newspaper= newyorkredbulls.com|date= |accessdate=18 April 2015}}</ref> He made his debut for the club on the same day, appearing as a second-half substitute in a 1-1 draw against the Charleston Battery.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/2015/04/match-recap-charleston-battery-1-new-york-red-bulls-ii-1 |title= Abang's equalizer gives NYRB II gutsy road point at Blackbaud|newspaper= newyorkredbulls.com|date= |accessdate=18 April 2015}}</ref> On September 5, 2015 Akinyode scored his goal as a professional, scoring the winning goal on a late header in a 3-2 victory over Louisville City FC.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.uslsoccer.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=32800&ATCLID=210320831|title= NYRB II Overcomes Two Deficits, Downs Louisville|newspaper= uslsoccer.com|accessdate= 5 September 2015|url-status= dead|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20150914170849/http://www.uslsoccer.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=32800&ATCLID=210320831|archivedate= 14 September 2015}}</ref>
On December 11, 2015, Akinyode signed with Bethlehem Steel FC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/post/2015/12/11/bethlehem-steel-fc-sign-boluwatife-akinyode-michael-daly-and-gabe-gissie |title=Bethlehem Steel FC sign Boluwatife Akinyode, Michael Daly and Gabe Gissie |publisher=Philadelphia Union |date=2015-12-11 |accessdate=2019-04-08}}</ref>
On January 30, 2017, North Carolina FC announced they had signed Akinyode.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.northcarolinafc.com/news/2017/01/30/north-carolina-fc-brings-defensive-edge-to-midfield-with-the-addition-of-bolu-akinyode-|title=North Carolina FC Brings Defensive Edge to Midfield With The Addition of Bolu Akinyode|access-date=2017-01-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202064417/http://www.northcarolinafc.com/news/2017/01/30/north-carolina-fc-brings-defensive-edge-to-midfield-with-the-addition-of-bolu-akinyode-|archive-date=2017-02-02|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On January 4, 2018, Akinyode signed with USL side Nashville SC.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/872024?referrer_id=2333971|title=Nashville Bolsters Back Line with Davis|author=USLSoccer.com Staff|date=2018-01-04|work=United Soccer League|access-date=2018-05-31|language=en-us}}</ref>
On December 17, 2019, Akinyode joined Birmingham Legion FC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bhmlegion.com/news_article/show/1072192|title=LEGION FC SIGNS FORWARD NECO BRETT, MIDFIELDER BOLU AKINYODE|website=bhmlegion.com|date=17 December 2019|access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref>
On January 15, 2021, Akinyode signed with USL Championship side Miami FC.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Communications |first1=Miami FC |title=Miami FC Acquires Midfielder Bolu Akinyode from Birmingham |url=https://www.miamifc.com/news_article/show/1140868 |website=Miami FC |access-date=15 January 2021 |language=en-us |date=15 January 2021 |archive-date=15 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115153205/https://www.miamifc.com/news_article/show/1140868 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Akinyode signed with USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive on 6 November 2023 ahead of their 2024 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1290522-locomotive-fc-brings-aboard-veteran-midfielder-bolu-akinyode|title=Locomotive FC brings aboard veteran midfielder Bolu Akinyode|author=USLChampionship com Staff|date=November 6, 2023|website=USL Championship}}</ref>
Akinyode returned to Miami FC in January 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.miamifc.com/news/2025/01/21/center-back-bolu-akinyode-returns-to-miami-fc/|title=Center back Bolu Akinyode returns to Miami FC}}</ref> Akinyode and Miami FC mutually agreed to part ways on 4 September 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Miami Football Club announced today that it has mutually agreed to part ways with Bolu Akinyode. |url=https://x.com/TheMiamiFC/status/1963610538715288062 |website=Twitter.com |publisher=Miami FC |access-date=4 September 2025}}</ref>
===International=== Akinyode has represented Nigeria at the U-14 national team level. In 2012 Akinyode was called up for a United States men's national under-20 soccer team training camp by Tab Ramos.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.socceramerica.com/article/45148/us-under-20-mens-national-team-training-camp.html|title= U.S. Under 20 Training Camp|newspaper= socceramerica.com |date= |accessdate=3 January 2012}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{sports links}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20140704045518/http://www.shupirates.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/bolu_akinyode_849225.html shupirates.com player profile] *{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052947/http://www.npsl.info/teams/58259561/21730387-58259647/36676553.html NPSL Profile]}}
{{Loudoun United FC squad}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Akinyode, Bolu}} Category:1994 births Category:Living people Category:Nigerian men's footballers Category:Nigerian expatriate men's footballers Category:Seton Hall Pirates men's soccer players Category:New York Red Bulls U-23 players Category:NJ-LUSO Parma players Category:New York Red Bulls II players Category:Philadelphia Union II players Category:North Carolina FC players Category:Nashville SC (2018–19) players Category:Birmingham Legion FC players Category:Miami FC players Category:El Paso Locomotive FC players Category:Loudoun United FC players Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States Category:USL League Two players Category:USL Championship players Category:Footballers from Lagos Category:Yoruba sportspeople Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in the United States Category:21st-century Nigerian sportsmen