{{short description|English footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Use British English|date=July 2014}} {{Infobox football biography |name = James Alabi | image = | fullname = James Bamidele Oluwafemi Alabi<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/image/201920/general-news/efl-squad-numbering-06.09.2019.pdf |title=Notification of shirt numbers: Leyton Orient |publisher=English Football League |page=37 |accessdate=21 October 2019}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1994|11|8}} | birth_place = Southwark, England | height = {{height|ft=6|in=1}} | currentclub = AFC Rushden & Diamonds<br/>(dual-registration from Banbury United) | clubnumber = | position = Striker | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Tottenham Hotspur | youthyears2 = 2010–2011 | youthclubs2 = Stoke City | youthyears3 = 2011–2012 | youthclubs3 = Celtic | youthyears4 = 2012–2013 | youthclubs4 = Stoke City | years1 = 2013–2015 | clubs1 = Stoke City | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2013 | clubs2 = → Scunthorpe United (loan) | caps2 = 9 | goals2 = 1 | years3 = 2013 | clubs3 = → Mansfield Town (loan) | caps3 = 1 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2013 | clubs4 = → Forest Green Rovers (loan) | caps4 = 2 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2014 | clubs5 = → Scunthorpe United (loan) | caps5 = 1 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2014 | clubs6 = → Accrington Stanley (loan) | caps6 = 2 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2015–2016 | clubs7 = Ipswich Town | caps7 = 0 | goals7 = 0 | years8 = 2015–2016 | clubs8 = → Grimsby Town (loan) | caps8 = 2 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2016–2017 | clubs9 = Chester | caps9 = 58 | goals9 = 23 | years10 = 2017–2018 | clubs10 = Tranmere Rovers | caps10 = 9 | goals10 = 0 | years11 = 2017–2018 | clubs11 = → Dover Athletic (loan) | caps11 = 11 | goals11 = 1 | years12 = 2018–2020 | clubs12 = Leyton Orient | caps12 = 36 | goals12 = 3 | years13 = 2020 | clubs13 = → Eastleigh (loan) | caps13 = 7 | goals13 = 1 | years14 = 2020–2022 | clubs14 = Bromley | caps14 = 77 | goals14 = 12 | years15 = 2022–2023 | clubs15 = Maidstone United | caps15 = 26 | goals15 = 2 | years16 = 2024 | clubs16 = Bath City | caps16 = 15 | goals16 = 1 | years17 = 2024–2025 | clubs17 = Eastbourne Borough | caps17 = 4 | goals17 = 0 | years18 = 2025 | clubs18 = Welling United | caps18 = 7 | goals18 = 1 | years19 = 2025– | clubs19 = Banbury United | caps19 = 18 | goals19 = 2 | years20 = 2026– | clubs20 = → AFC Rushden & Diamonds (dual-registration) | caps20 = 0 | goals20 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2017 | nationalteam1 = England C | nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | club-update = 16:15, 13 February 2026 (UTC) | ntupdate = 31 May 2017 (UTC) }} '''James Bamidele Oluwafemi Alabi''' (born 8 November 1994) is an English footballer who plays as a striker for AFC Rushden & Diamonds on dual-registration from {{English football updater|BanburyU}} club Banbury United.
He has previously played for Stoke City, Scunthorpe United, Mansfield Town, Forest Green Rovers, Accrington Stanley, Ipswich Town, Grimsby Town, Chester, Tranmere Rovers, Dover Athletic, Leyton Orient, Eastleigh, Bromley, Maidstone United, Bath City, Eastbourne Borough and Welling United.
==Career== Alabi was born in London Borough of Southwark and began his career at Tottenham Hotspur, before departing the club after not being offered a professional contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tiktok.com/@femjay/video/7304376963983068449|title=The journey so far .. comment for part 2|date=22 November 2023|website=TikTok}}</ref> Alabi later joined Stoke City, playing for the club's academy in 2010–11 before moving to Scottish club Celtic. After a season at Lennoxtown he moved back to Stoke City for the 2012–13 season. On 21 February 2013 he joined League One side Scunthorpe United on loan for a month.<ref>{{cite news|title=Scunthorpe United sign Stoke City striker James Alabi|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21534255|newspaper=BBC Sport|access-date=21 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Stoke City striker James Alabi joins Scunthorpe United on loan|url=http://www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk/story-18212092-detail/story.html?#axzz2LX8irHVp|work=This is Scunthorpe|accessdate=21 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224043729/http://www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk/story-18212092-detail/story.html#axzz2LX8irHVp|archive-date=24 February 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> After seeing him in training Irons manager Brian Laws compared him as a 'technically better' version of John Gayle, who Laws believes was one of his best signings in his first spell at Scunthorpe.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stoke City loanee James Alabi reminds Scunthorpe United boss Brian Laws of one-time Iron striker John Gayle|url=http://www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk/story-18223392-detail/story.html?#axzz2LiHKVCWl|work=This Is Scunthorpe|accessdate=23 February 2013}}{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He made his professional debut on 23 February against Hartlepool United at Glanford Park, scoring 10 minutes after coming on as a 67th-minute substitute.<ref>{{cite news|title=Scunthorpe v Hartlepool|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21482847|newspaper=BBC Sport|access-date=23 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=James Alabi enjoys debut to remember, but Stoke City striker almost had to wait for first Scunthorpe United appearance|url=http://www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk/story-18240748-detail/story.html?#axzz2LuIizpLV|work=This is Scunthorpe|accessdate=25 February 2013}}{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> On 26 March 2013 his loan spell at Scunthorpe was extended until the end of the 2012–13 season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Scunthorpe United: James Alabi extends loan from Stoke City|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21938666|newspaper=BBC Sport|access-date=26 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Stoke City striker James Alabi will stay on with Scunthorpe United|url=http://www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk/story-18522404-detail/story.html?#axzz2Oe4nJOtO|work=This is Scunthorpe|accessdate=26 March 2013}}{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He remained at Glanford Park for the remainder of the season, playing in nine matches as they failed to avoid relegation.
On 31 October 2013, Alabi joined Mansfield Town on a one-month loan.<ref>{{cite web|title=Keane Enjoys Winning Debut|url=https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/article/keane-enjoys-winning-debut-1142284.aspx?|work=Stoke City F.C|accessdate=29 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=James Alabi: Mansfield Town sign Stoke City striker on loan|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/24734845|newspaper=BBC Sport|access-date=31 October 2013}}</ref> He made his debut for Mansfield the next day against Southend United but was sent-off after for a late tackle.<ref>{{cite news|title=Southend 3–0 Mansfield|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/24665360|newspaper=BBC Sport|access-date=2 November 2013}}</ref> Alabi then joined Forest Green Rovers on a one-month loan on 28 November 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rovers sign forward on loan from Stoke City|url=http://www.forestgreenroversfc.com/news/first-team-news/2013/rovers-sign-forward-on-loan-from-stoke-city|work=FGR|accessdate=28 November 2013}}</ref> He made his debut on 30 November 2013 in an FA Trophy first round tie against Dartford.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Yan-Klukowski-strikes-earn-Forest-Green-Rovers/story-20246081-detail/story.html |title=Yan Klukowski strikes to earn Forest Green Rovers a replay in FA Trophy clash at Dartford |publisher=Gloucester Citizen |date=1 December 2013 |accessdate=1 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203004833/http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Yan-Klukowski-strikes-earn-Forest-Green-Rovers/story-20246081-detail/story.html |archive-date=3 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He played in six games for Forest Green without scoring before returning to Stoke at the end of December 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Forest Green: James Alabi returns to Stoke City|url=http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Forest-Green-James-Alabi-returns-Stoke-City/story-20379502-detail/story.html|work=Gloucester Citizen|accessdate=30 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231001546/http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Forest-Green-James-Alabi-returns-Stoke-City/story-20379502-detail/story.html|archive-date=31 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 11 March 2014, Alabi joined League Two side Scunthorpe United for a second loan spell with the Iron.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ALABI LOAN MOVE COMPLETED |url=http://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/news/article/alabi-loan-move-completed-1412965.aspx |work=Scunthorpe United FC |date=11 March 2014}}</ref> He made one appearance for Scunthorpe before returning to Stoke.<ref>{{cite web|title=James Alabi returns to Stoke City at end of Scunthorpe United loan|url=http://www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/James-Alabi-returns-Stoke-City-end-Scunthorpe/story-20922563-detail/story.html|work=Scunthorpe Telegraph|accessdate=7 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408231834/http://www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/James-Alabi-returns-Stoke-City-end-Scunthorpe/story-20922563-detail/story.html|archive-date=8 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 9 August 2014, Alabi joined Accrington Stanley on a one-month loan.<ref>{{cite web|title=Striker Alabi signs on loan|url=http://accringtonstanley.co.uk/2014/08/striker-alabi-signs-loan/?|website=Accrington Stanley|accessdate=9 August 2014|archive-date=9 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809220409/http://accringtonstanley.co.uk/2014/08/striker-alabi-signs-loan/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He played three times for Stanley before returning to Stoke. In January 2015 Alabi had a trial with Dutch side De Graafschap.<ref>{{cite web|title=James Alabi few days on trial|url=http://www.degraafschap.nl/nieuws/james-alabi-paar-dagen-op-proef/|website=De Graafschap|accessdate=6 March 2015}}</ref>
He was released by Stoke at the end of the 2014–15 season and joined Ipswich Town, after impressing Mick McCarthy by scoring 2 goals in 2 appearances for the under 21s side on trial, on a one-year deal on 24 August 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Club Submit Retained List|url=https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/article/club-submit-retained-list-2475071.aspx?|website=Stoke City|accessdate=29 May 2015}}</ref> On 25 August 2015, Alabi made his Ipswich debut, scoring in a 4–1 win against Doncaster Rovers in a League Cup second round match.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33969812 | publisher = BBC Sport | access-date = 27 August 2015 | title = Doncaster 1–4 Ipswich |date=25 August 2015}}</ref> On 25 November 2015, Alabi joined National League side Grimsby Town, on loan until 3 January 2016.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/Transfer-News-Grimsby-Town-sign-James-Alabi-loan/story-28241100-detail/story.html | newspaper=Grimsby Telegraph | title=Grimsby Town sign James Alabi on loan from Ipswich | date=25 November 2015 | accessdate=26 November 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126141511/http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/Transfer-News-Grimsby-Town-sign-James-Alabi-loan/story-28241100-detail/story.html | archive-date=26 November 2015 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
Following his release by Ipswich, Alabi signed for National League side Chester, on a deal until the end of the 2015–16 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/chester-fc-james-alabi-signs-10808123 | publisher=The Chester Chronicle | title=James Alabi signs for rest of season after leaving Ipswich Town | date=29 January 2016 | access-date=29 January 2016}}</ref> Alabi joined Tranmere Rovers from Chester on 10 July 2017.<ref>{{cite news| title=James Alabi: Tranmere Rovers sign Chester striker| date=10 July 2017| publisher=BBC Sport| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40555061}}</ref> He was placed on the transfer list in May 2019, but removed by the club in July 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48964726|title=Leyton Orient: James Dayton signs new deal, James Alabi taken off transfer list|date=12 July 2019|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>
On 16 January 2020, Alabi signed for Eastleigh, on loan from Leyton Orient until the end of the 2019–20 Season. On 4 September 2020, Alabi signed for Bromley, following his departure from Leyton Orient. On 1 July 2022, Alabi left Bromley following the expiry of his contract.<ref>{{cite news| title=James Alabi leaves Bromley| date=1 July 2022| publisher=Bromley Official Site| url=http://www.bromleyfc.tv/site/james-alabi-leaves-bromley/}}</ref> On 9 July 2022, Alabi joined newly promoted National League club Maidstone United.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maidstoneunited.co.uk/2022/07/09/hak-adds-alabi/|title=Hak adds Alabi|website=maidstoneunited.co.uk|date=9 July 2022|accessdate=10 July 2022}}</ref> Following the club's relegation, Alabi was released after one season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maidstoneunited.co.uk/2023/05/02/player-update/|title=Player update|website=maidstoneunited.co.uk|date=2 May 2023|accessdate=4 May 2023}}</ref> On 12 January 2024, Bath City confirmed the signing of Alabi until the end of the season.
On 13 December 2024, Alabi joined Eastbourne Borough.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ebfc.co.uk/2024/12/alabi-signs-for-the-sports/|title=Alabi Signs for The Sports|website=ebfc.co.uk|date=13 December 2024|accessdate=13 December 2024}}</ref> In January 2025, he joined Welling United.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wellingunited.com/2025/01/wings-sign-experienced-forward-james-alabi/|title=Wings sign experienced forward James Alabi|website=wellingunited.com|date=22 January 2025|accessdate=23 January 2025}}</ref>
In August 2025, he joined Banbury United.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.banburyunitedfc.co.uk/news/james-alabi-joins-the-puritans-2930911.html|title=James Alabi joins The Puritans|website=www.banburyunitedfc.co.uk/|date=18 August 2025|accessdate=18 August 2025}}</ref> In February 2026, he joined AFC Rushden & Diamonds on dual-registration.<ref> {{cite tweet|number=2021653003330007488|title=NEW SIGNING ✍️ {{!}} James Alabi Welcome to James Alabi who joins on dual-reg from Banbury United! James is an experienced striker who has played most of his career between the League & Step 1. He has won the National League at Leyton Orient in 2019 with Justin Edinburgh and the FA Trophy at Bromley in 2022. Welcome to the 💎 @JamesAlabi|user=AFCRD|author-link=AFC Rushden & Diamonds|date=11 February 2026|accessdate=13 February 2026}}</ref>
==Personal life== Born in England, Alabi is of Nigerian descent.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 August 2019 |title=Performance of Ghanaian Players Abroad: Yartey sparkles, Ache strikes as Antwi hits brace as 20 players score 23 goals abroad – Ghana Sports Online |url=https://ghanasportsonline.com/2019/08/performance-of-ghanaian-players-abroad-yartey-sparkles-ache-strikes-as-antwi-hits-brace-as-20-players-score-23-goals-abroad/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016173519/https://ghanasportsonline.com/2019/08/performance-of-ghanaian-players-abroad-yartey-sparkles-ache-strikes-as-antwi-hits-brace-as-20-players-score-23-goals-abroad/ |archive-date=16 October 2022}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|4 January 2025}}<ref>{{soccerbase|69292}}</ref><ref>{{soccerway|james-alabi/217601}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan=4|Stoke City |2012–13 |Premier League |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |2013–14 |Premier League |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |2014–15 |Premier League |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0 |- |Scunthorpe United (loan) |2012–13 |League One |9||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||9||1 |- |Mansfield Town (loan) |2013–14 |League Two |1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||1||0 |- |Forest Green Rovers (loan) |2013–14 |Conference Premier |2||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||4<ref group=lower-alpha name=FAT>Appearance(s) in FA Trophy</ref>||0||6||0 |- |Scunthorpe United (loan) |2013–14 |League Two |1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||1||0 |- |Accrington Stanley (loan) |2014–15 |League Two |2||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||3||0 |- |Ipswich Town |2015–16 |Championship |0||0||0||0||1||1||0||0||1||1 |- |Grimsby Town (loan) |2015–16 |National League |2||0||1||0||colspan=2|—||2<ref group=lower-alpha name=FAT/>||2||5||2 |- |rowspan=3|Chester |2015–16 |National League |16||6||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0||16||6 |- |2016–17 |National League |42||17||1||0||colspan=2|—||3<ref group=lower-alpha name=FAT/>||1||46||18 |- !colspan=2|Total !58!!23!!1!!0!!colspan=2|—!!3!!1!!62!!24 |- |Tranmere Rovers |2017–18 |National League |9||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0||9||0 |- |Dover Athletic (loan) |2017–18 |National League |11||1||1||0||colspan=2|—||1<ref group=lower-alpha name=FAT/>||0||13||1 |- | rowspan=3|Leyton Orient |2018–19 |National League |26||2||1||0||colspan=2|—||4<ref group=lower-alpha name=FAT/>||0||31||2 |- |2019–20 |League Two |10||1||1||0||0||0||3<ref group=lower-alpha name=EFLT>Appearances in EFL Trophy</ref>||0||14||1 |- !colspan=2|Total !36!!3!!2!!0!!colspan=2|—!!7!!0!!45!!3 |- |Eastleigh (loan) |2019–20 |National League |7||1||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0||7||1 |- |rowspan=3|Bromley |2020–21 |National League |37||7||1||0||colspan=2|—||2<ref group=lower-alpha name=FAT/><ref group=lower-alpha name=NLPO>Appearances in National League Play-offs</ref>|||1||40||8 |- |2021–22 |National League |40||4||2||1||colspan=2|—||4<ref group=lower-alpha name=FAT/>||2||46||7 |- !colspan=2|Total !77!!11!!3!!1!!colspan=2|—!!6!!3!!86!!15 |- |Maidstone United |2022–23 |National League |26||2||1||0||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|name=FAT}}||0||29||2 |- |Bath City |2023–24 |National League South |15||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1{{efn|Appearance in National League South play-offs}}||0||16||1 |- |Eastbourne Borough |2024–25 |National League South |3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0||3||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career Total !259!!43!!9!!1!!2!!1!!26!!6!!296!!51 |}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
==Honours== '''Leyton Orient''' *National League: 2018–19<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=1647 |title=National League: 2018/19: Current table |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |accessdate=6 May 2019}}<br />{{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/england/leyton-orient-fc/744/squad/ |title=Leyton Orient FC: Squad |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |accessdate=6 May 2019}}</ref>
'''Bromley''' *FA Trophy: 2021–22<ref name="FAT">{{Cite news |title=Bromley beat Wrexham to win FA Trophy |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61512965 |access-date=22 May 2022}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerbase}} *{{Soccerway}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alabi, James}} Category:1994 births Category:Living people Category:English men's footballers Category:English people of Ghanaian descent Category:Sportspeople of Ghanaian descent Category:Black British sportsmen Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Stoke City F.C. players Category:Celtic F.C. players Category:Scunthorpe United F.C. players Category:Mansfield Town F.C. players Category:Forest Green Rovers F.C. players Category:Accrington Stanley F.C. players Category:Ipswich Town F.C. players Category:Grimsby Town F.C. players Category:Chester F.C. players Category:Tranmere Rovers F.C. players Category:Dover Athletic F.C. players Category:Leyton Orient F.C. players Category:Eastleigh F.C. players Category:Bromley F.C. players Category:Maidstone United F.C. players Category:Bath City F.C. players Category:Eastbourne Borough F.C. players Category:Welling United F.C. players Category:Banbury United F.C. players Category:AFC Rushden & Diamonds players Category:English Football League players Category:National League (English football) players Category:Southern Football League players Category:Footballers from the London Borough of Southwark Category:People from Southwark Category:21st-century English sportsmen