Adeleke Akinyemi: Neftchi PFK bring in Nigerian striker after Finland move

Nigerian forward Adeleke Akinyemi has joined Azerbaijan club Neftchi PFK from Finnish side IF Gnistan, beginning a new chapter in the 28-year-old centre-forward’s career.

Akinyemi’s move to Neftchi was completed on 6 September 2026, taking him from the Veikkausliiga to Azerbaijan’s Premyer Liqa. The striker arrives after only a few months with IF Gnistan, having joined the Finnish club from fellow Veikkausliiga side Ilves on a free transfer in January 2026.

The Lagos-born forward has built his career across several European leagues, with spells in Finland, Latvia, Norway, Albania, Kosovo and the Czech Republic. He has also played in European qualifying competitions, scoring seven goals in six Europa League qualifying appearances.

Akinyemi’s strongest league return came in Latvia, where he scored 23 goals in 38 Virsliga appearances. He was the division’s top scorer in the 2016-17 season, when he finished with 10 goals, and later won the Latvian Cup with JFK Ventspils in 2017.

He also recorded 16 goals in 37 Veikkausliiga appearances during his career. His time in the Czech Republic brought another major honour, as he helped MFK Karvina win the second division title in the 2022-23 campaign.

Before joining Gnistan, Akinyemi spent the 2024-25 season with Ilves after moving from Karvina. His earlier career included a spell with IK Start in Norway, along with periods at KF Laci and KF Skenderbeu in Albania, and clubs in Kosovo and Nigeria.

The 1.86m striker is predominantly right-footed and has played primarily as a centre-forward throughout his career. His scoring record includes 16 goals in 35 Kategoria Superiore appearances and nine in 27 Czech top-flight matches, alongside his returns in Latvia and Finland.

Neftchi PFK become Akinyemi’s latest club after his short stay at IF Gnistan, with the completed transfer confirmed on 6 September 2026.