Anjola Popoola has completed a loan move from Accrington to Chorley, joining the National League North club from the League Two side on a temporary deal running from 05/12/2025 to 04/01/2026.
The 18-year-old centre-forward leaves Accrington on a loan transfer, with no market value listed for the player in the latest data and no permanent fee involved. Chorley, currently competing in the sixth tier of English football, add the Anglo-Nigerian striker to bolster their attacking options for the heart of the campaign, while Accrington retain his registration and will see him return at the end of the agreed spell.
Popoola arrives at Chorley having already gained experience of senior men’s football through a series of short-term moves. The Lagos-born forward has spent time on loan at Clitheroe FC and Marine FC in recent seasons, moving from Accrington to Clitheroe on loan in the 2024–25 campaign before returning to his parent club. He then joined Marine on loan, again returning to Accrington when that deal concluded.
Prior to breaking into the senior ranks, Popoola progressed through Accrington’s youth system, stepping up from the club’s Under-18 side to the Under-21s in 2023 before being promoted to the first team in the same year. His pathway reflects a rapid rise through the age groups, with Accrington using successive loan spells in the lower leagues to ease his transition into regular senior football.
Standing at 1.85m and operating primarily as a centre-forward, Popoola offers a focal point in attack and will now have the chance to test himself regularly in the National League North. Chorley currently list him in their squad with the number 27 shirt, underlining that he is firmly part of their first-team plans for the duration of the loan.
The move also continues his development within the English pyramid. Popoola has already featured across different levels, including League Two via his parent club and non-league football with Clitheroe, Marine and now Chorley. That variety of competition, from the professional fourth tier to the semi-professional divisions, forms a key aspect of his early career profile.
Internationally, Popoola holds both English and Nigerian nationality, offering potential eligibility for either country at youth or senior level in future. Born in Lagos but developed in England, he embodies a dual-footballing identity that could draw attention from both federations if his club career continues on an upward curve.
With his current contract details at Chorley not publicly listed beyond the loan period and no expiry date registered on his Accrington deal in the available data, there remains a theoretical possibility that his longer-term status could change in future, including the potential to become a free agent if not retained. For now, though, he remains on Accrington’s books and is scheduled to return to the League Two side when the loan concludes on 04/01/2026.
As he begins this latest chapter at Chorley, Popoola’s immediate task is to translate his promise into consistent performances in the National League North. Strong displays over the course of the loan could influence Accrington’s plans for him on his return and shape the next stage of his career in the English game.
