Akintola joins Hull City, links up with Super Eagles’ Semi Ajayi

Hull City have confirmed the signing of Nigerian winger David Akintola on a two-year contract, pairing him with fellow Super Eagles defender Semi Ajayi in the Championship side’s ranks.

The 29 year old arrives with a wealth of European experience, having logged over 270 senior appearances—including 147 in the Turkish Süper Lig. His recent spell at Çaykur Rizespor saw him contribute four goals and nine assists in 49 games, with 36 coming in the most recent season.

Akintola’s journey began in Denmark with Midtjylland and included six loan spells across various countries, with his breakthrough coming at Thisted. He later starred in Norway with Jerv and Haugesund finishing as top scorer and at Rosenborg, where he scored a combined 26 goals and featured in eight UEFA Champions League qualifiers .

His career path then took him to Cyprus with Omonia Nicosia, before a productive tenure in Turkey with Hatayspor—where he notched seven goals and seven assists in 37 matches during the 2020/21 season. In 2021, he joined Adana Demirspor permanently, scoring 13 goals in 77 games and helping the team secure European qualification in the 2022/23 season.

On his move to Hull City, Akintola shared his excitement:

“I’m very happy to be here – I cannot describe the feeling. Hull have played in the Premier League before, so it’s a team I’ve known about for a very long time. Having the opportunity to play here now is a big privilege, and I’m grateful. I’m ready to give everything and help the team achieve big things.”

Hull City fans now anticipate seeing Akintola and Ajayi combining their skills to add both attacking depth and international quality to the squad as the club prepares for a competitive season.

Editorial

We welcome Akintola’s arrival as a resolute and inspired move. His track record spanning leagues in Denmark, Norway, Cyprus, and Turkey reflects a player who has adapted, delivered, and evolved. Bringing that wealth of experience to Hull City speaks to the club’s ambition to assemble a squad grounded in both versatility and resilience.

We sense in this signing a signal that Hull are building something more than a supporting cast they are crafting a team of character. Akintola’s tenures in diverse footballing landscapes suggest a player capable of thriving under pressure, adjusting to new systems, and delivering when it matters. His bond with Ajayi offers a unique synergy: defensive grit meeting attacking ingenuity, unified in Nigerian spirit.

We recognise that successful campaigns are built not just on marquee names, but on dependable performers who know how to carry themselves, on and off the pitch. Akintola brings depth beyond numbers he brings international temperament.

We hold fast to our belief this is a statement of intent. Hull City now possess not just a promising winger, but a player poised to become a backbone of the season a bridge between defense and attack, and a figure fans can rally behind.

Did You Know?

1. David Akintola scored vital goals for Jerv and Haugesund, earning him top-scorer recognition in Norway an early sign of his eye for goal and adaptability to different playing styles.
2. At Rosenborg, Akintola featured in eight UEFA Champions League qualifiers an experience that underscores his exposure to high-pressure, elite-level football .
3. His spell at Hatayspor in the 2020/21 season was highly productive, delivering seven goals and seven assists across 37 matches demonstrating his balanced offensive output.
4. By joining Hull City, Akintola and Ajayi now represent a rare instance of two Nigerian internationals playing together in the same English Championship squad—offering tactical cohesion and cultural rapport.
5. Despite missing the headline Premier League platform, Hull City remain a club with ambitions Akintola’s comment about their history in the top flight reflects a shared desire to build towards that level again.