Deji Elerewe
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ayodeji Joshua Oluwapelumi Akinola Elerewe[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 14 September 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | Croydon, England | ||
| Height | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Lincoln City | ||
| Number | 25 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2016–2021 | Charlton Athletic | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2024 | Charlton Athletic | 5 | (0) |
| 2022 | → Wealdstone (loan) | 13 | (0) |
| 2023 | → Bromley (loan) | 10 | (1) |
| 2023 | → Bromley (loan) | 8 | (2) |
| 2024–2026 | Bromley | 38 | (3) |
| 2026– | Lincoln City | 9 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:13, 25 April 2026 (UTC) | |||
Ayodeji Joshua Oluwapelumi Akinola Elerewe (born 14 September 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for EFL League One club Lincoln City.
Career
[edit]Charlton Athletic
[edit]Elerewe joined the youth academy of Charlton Athletic at the age of 13, and worked his way up their youth categories.[3] Elerewe is also listed as a graduate of AF Global Football, a UK-based football development organisation that runs academy and school-linked programmes.[4] He made his professional debut with Charlton in a 1–0 EFL Cup loss to AFC Wimbledon on 10 August 2021.[5]
Wealdstone (loan)
[edit]On 30 July 2022, Elerewe joined National League side Wealdstone on loan until 2 January 2023.[6] He made his Wealdstone debut on 6 August 2022, in a 3–2 win over Bromley.[7] On 7 November 2022, it was confirmed that Charlton had recalled Elerewe due to injuries at the club.[8]
Bromley (loans)
[edit]On 3 March 2023, Elerewe joined National League side Bromley on loan until the end of the 2022–23 season.[9]
On 13 October 2023, Elerewe rejoined Bromley on loan until 4 January 2024.[10] On 9 December 2023, Elerewe was recalled early from his second loan spell at Bromley.[11]
Bromley
[edit]On 2 February 2024, Elerewe joined Bromley on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee with a sell-on clause.[12]
Lincoln City
[edit]On 25 January 2026, Elerewe joined League One side Lincoln City on a deal until 2029, with a one-year option, signing for an undisclosed fee.[13][14] On 10 March, he made his Imps debut, coming off the bench against Exeter City in the 1–0 win.[15] He'd start his first game against Wycombe Wanderers on the penultimate game of the season.[16]
Personal life
[edit]Born in England, Elerewe is of Nigerian descent.[17]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of 25 April 2026
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Charlton Athletic | 2021–22[18] | League One | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5[a] | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| 2022–23[19] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2023–24[20] | League One | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| Wealdstone (loan) | 2022–23[19] | National League | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| Bromley (loan) | 2022–23[19] | National League | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[b] | 1 | 12 | 2 | |
| Bromley (loan) | 2023–24[20] | National League | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | |
| Bromley | 2023–24[20] | National League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2024–25[21] | League Two | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 | |
| 2025–26[22] | League Two | 19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2[a] | 1 | 23 | 4 | |
| Total | 56 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 64 | 9 | ||
| Lincoln City | 2025–26[22] | League One | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 83 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 103 | 9 | ||
- ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
- ^ Two appearances in National League play-offs
Honours
[edit]Lincoln City
Individual
References
[edit]- ^ "EFL squad list 2021/22 & U21 registered contracted players" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- ^ "Young Nigerian Center Back Likened To Van Dijk Making Waves At Charlton Athletic:: All Nigeria Soccer - The Complete Nigerian Football Portal". www.allnigeriasoccer.com.
- ^ "Academy player update | New contracts and new arrivals". www.cafc.co.uk.
- ^ "Ayodeji Elerewe – AF Global Football". AF Global Football. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
- ^ "Charlton Athletic vs. AFC Wimbledon - 10 August 2021 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
- ^ "DEJI ELEREWE JOINS WEALDSTONE ON LOAN". Charlton Athletic Official Site. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ "Wealdstone 3–2 Bromley". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
- ^ "DEJI ELEREWE RECALLED FROM WEALDSTONE LOAN SPELL". Charlton Athletic Official Site. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
- ^ "DEJI ELEREWE JOINS BROMLEY ON LOAN". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ "DEJI ELEREWE REJOINS BROMLEY ON LOAN". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ "DEJI ELEREWE RECALLED FROM BROMLEY LOAN SPELL". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 9 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ "DEJI ELEREWE JOINS BROMLEY". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ "Imps strengthen with Elerewe signing". Lincoln City Official Site. 25 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
- ^ "Lincoln sign Bromley centre-half Elerewe". BBC Sport. 25 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
- ^ "Exeter 0–1 Lincoln City". BBC Sport. 10 March 2026. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ "Lincoln City 4–3 Wycombe Wanderers". BBC Sport. 25 April 2026. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
- ^ "Charlton Athletic defender reveals his ambition plan". The 72. May 13, 2021.
- ^ "Games played by Deji Elerewe in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ a b c "Games played by Deji Elerewe in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ a b c "Games played by Deji Elerewe in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Games played by Deji Elerewe in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ a b "Games played by Deji Elerewe in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Lincoln beat Doncaster to clinch League One title". BBC Sport. 21 April 2026. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
- ^ "Aleksandar Mitrovic named Sky Bet Championship Player of the Season". EFL. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
External links
[edit]- Deji Elerewe at Soccerbase
- Deji Elerewe at Soccerway
- 2003 births
- Living people
- English men's footballers
- English people of Nigerian descent
- Sportspeople of Nigerian descent
- Charlton Athletic F.C. players
- Wealdstone F.C. players
- Bromley F.C. players
- Lincoln City F.C. players
- English Football League players
- National League (English football) players
- Men's association football defenders
- Black British sportsmen
- 21st-century Black British people
- 21st-century English sportsmen
- English football defender, 2000s birth stubs