Ibrahim Bakare has left Cheltenham Town after his contract with the League Two side ended, becoming a free agent with a transfer effective from 2026-02-03. The 23-year-old centre-back, who holds both English and Nigerian nationality, is now registered as Without Club, opening the door to a next move that could take him away from the English pyramid altogether.
The move from Cheltenham to free agency was completed with no transfer fee recorded, meaning Bakare’s departure did not generate a sale figure for the club. His current market value stands at €150k, reflecting his status as a young defender with senior experience across multiple levels and countries. With no contractual ties, he is available to sign directly for a new employer once an agreement is reached.
Bakare’s exit follows a brief spell back at Cheltenham after a loan stint with National League side Gateshead FC. He initially joined Cheltenham from a spell as a free agent, having previously been without a club before signing for the Robins. His loan to Gateshead was later brought to an end with a formal return to Cheltenham, but the next step in his career now begins from the status of Without Club.
The London-born defender has travelled a varied path already. After progressing through Morecambe’s youth ranks at Morecambe FC U18, he stepped up into the senior side at Morecambe FC, then took in a loan move to Lancaster City FC before a series of permanent switches across the English non-league scene. Spells at Weymouth FC, Kettering Town, Macclesfield FC and Cheshunt FC gave him regular competitive football at different levels of the pyramid.
Bakare has also experienced football outside the United Kingdom, spending time with Vancouver FC in Canada. That move marked his first venture abroad and underlined his willingness to leave his comfort zone for playing opportunities. His return from Vancouver FC again led to a period Without Club before Cheltenham came in and added him to their squad, where he later gained further professional exposure and saw his market value assessed around the lower-tier professional mark.
The dual-nationality defender, comfortable at centre-back and operating from his preferred right foot, has yet to settle long term at any single club, but his profile continues to attract interest because of his age, physical presence at 1.88 m, and experience across different leagues, including League Two and the National League system, as well as his stint in Canada. Those elements help to explain why he still retains a six-figure valuation despite another free-agent departure.
With his contract at Cheltenham now concluded on 2026-02-03 and no end date currently attached to any new deal elsewhere, Bakare’s immediate future is open-ended. Any club signing him would avoid a transfer fee and could potentially secure a versatile, mobile centre-back entering what should be his prime years. His track record suggests he is prepared to move countries if the project is right, and his next decision will go a long way to defining whether he stabilises at a higher level or continues a career built on short-term stops and constant adaptation.
