1. Early life
Akinfenwa was born in Islington, North London, and is of Yoruba Nigerian descent. His family background is religiously diverse; his father is a Muslim, while his mother is a Christian. Akinfenwa himself identifies as a Christian, though he observed Ramadan during his childhood due to his father's faith. From a young age, he was a devoted supporter of Liverpool and greatly admired the legendary player John Barnes.
2. Career
Adebayo Akinfenwa's professional football journey spanned over two decades, characterized by numerous club spells across various English, Welsh, and even Lithuanian leagues, where his goal-scoring ability and formidable physical presence made him a memorable figure.
2.1. Early career
Akinfenwa began his professional career in Lithuania after joining FK Atlantas as a teenager, following advice from his agent whose Lithuanian wife's brother had connections with the coaching staff there. During his two years with Atlantas, he experienced racial abuse from fans, which he described as "brazen" compared to his experiences in London. Despite this, he achieved success, scoring the winning goal in the 2001 Lithuanian Football Cup final and participating in the UEFA Cup qualifying rounds for two consecutive seasons. He also spent a month at another Lithuanian team, Laisvė Šilutė, before returning to the UK in early 2003.
Upon his return, Akinfenwa joined Welsh Premier League champions Barry Town. He contributed to the club's success, helping them secure both the Welsh Cup and the Welsh Premier League title during his time at Jenner Park. However, Barry Town soon faced a severe financial crisis, leading to the release of its professional players, including Akinfenwa.
In October 2003, he quickly signed with Boston United, where he scored a last-minute winner on his debut against Swindon Town in the Football League Trophy. Unable to settle, he moved to Leyton Orient the following month but was released after just one month. By December 2003, he had joined Rushden & Diamonds, and in February 2004, he moved to Doncaster Rovers, marking his fifth club of the 2003-04 season.
2.2. Torquay United
In July 2004, Akinfenwa signed for Torquay United, arriving as a replacement for David Graham. He proved to be a significant goal threat during the 2004-05 season, scoring 14 league goals. His performance earned him the club's Supporters' Player of the Season award. Despite his contributions, he could not prevent the club's relegation to League Two. At the end of the season, he chose not to sign a new contract with Torquay.
2.3. Swansea City
Akinfenwa transferred to Swansea City in July 2005. The transfer fee was determined by a tribunal, which ordered Swansea to pay 85.00 K GBP in compensation, considerably less than the 300.00 K GBP that Torquay had initially demanded. He made an immediate impact, scoring on his debut against Tranmere Rovers. This goal was also historically significant as it was the first competitive goal scored at Swansea's new Liberty Stadium.
He further cemented his place by scoring the winning goal in the 2006 Football League Trophy Final, where Swansea defeated Carlisle United 2-1. Akinfenwa also played a crucial role in helping Swansea reach the League One promotion play-off final in his first season. However, after a 2-2 draw, the match proceeded to a penalty shoot-out, where his missed penalty contributed to Barnsley securing promotion.
His second season at Swansea was marred by injuries. He suffered a fractured left shin in October and a broken right leg in February, which prematurely ended his season in a 2-0 defeat at home to Scunthorpe United.
2.4. Millwall
At the conclusion of the 2006-07 season, Akinfenwa declined a new contract offer from Swansea. He had initially agreed to join Swindon Town in June 2007 but failed a medical examination. After a period of rehabilitation and training with Gillingham, he joined League One side Millwall in November 2007 on a month-to-month contract. His spell at Millwall was brief and unproductive, as he failed to score any goals in his seven appearances for the club.
2.5. Northampton Town
On 18 January 2008, Akinfenwa signed with Northampton Town until the end of the 2007-08 season. He made a notable debut, coming off the bench to score a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw against Swindon Town. He repeated this impact in his home debut, scoring an equalizer in a 1-1 draw against Leeds United. In his next home match against Gillingham, he scored two goals in a comprehensive 4-0 victory, adding three more goals later that season.
On 30 May 2008, Akinfenwa committed to Northampton by signing a new one-year contract, despite reported interest from clubs like Leyton Orient and Grimsby Town. He started the 2008-09 season strongly, netting two goals in three matches by the end of September. He ultimately concluded his first tenure at Northampton in May 2010, after the club and he could not agree on terms for a new deal within the stipulated timeframe.
Akinfenwa returned to Sixfields on 25 May 2011, after new Cobblers manager Gary Johnson sought to bring him back to "capture the imagination of the supporters." He scored his first goal in his second spell against Bristol Rovers on 16 August. On 10 November 2012, in a match against Accrington Stanley, Akinfenwa achieved his first and only professional hat-trick. Three years later, with Northampton facing financial difficulties, he auctioned the shirt he wore in that match, donating the 440 GBP proceeds to a supporters' trust. He was released by Northampton Town at the end of the 2012-13 season.
2.6. Gillingham
Akinfenwa first joined Gillingham on 29 July 2010, signing a one-year contract. He scored on his debut with a header against Cheltenham Town. During this period, Akinfenwa formed a formidable partnership with Cody McDonald, and together they scored a combined 36 goals that season. Although Gillingham offered him a new contract at the end of the 2010-11 season, he opted to return to Northampton Town.
He re-signed for Gillingham on a free transfer on 2 July 2013, marking his second spell at the club. He once again reignited his successful partnership with Cody McDonald, contributing 10 goals throughout the 2013-14 season and finishing third in the Supporters' Player of the Year awards. Akinfenwa departed the club again upon the expiry of his one-year contract.
2.7. AFC Wimbledon
On 20 June 2014, Akinfenwa signed for League Two side AFC Wimbledon, a club that had been pursuing his signature for 14 months. A notable moment during his time there came on 5 January 2015, in the third round of the FA Cup when AFC Wimbledon hosted Liverpool at Kingsmeadow. Akinfenwa scored an equalizer against the club he supports, though Wimbledon ultimately lost 1-2. His performance in this high-profile match brought him significant attention and interest from clubs in League One and Major League Soccer.
On 8 June 2015, Akinfenwa extended his contract with Wimbledon, opting to stay despite the interest from higher-tier English clubs and MLS. On 30 May 2016, after scoring a crucial penalty in a 2-0 victory against Plymouth Argyle in the League Two Play-off Final, which secured promotion for AFC Wimbledon, he was released from his contract. In a memorable post-match interview with Sky Sports, he humorously declared, "I think I'm technically unemployed, so any managers hit me up on the WhatsApp and get me a job."
2.8. Wycombe Wanderers
Following his departure from AFC Wimbledon, Akinfenwa signed for Wycombe Wanderers in July 2016. His tenure at Wycombe proved to be highly successful and significant. In April 2018, he was nominated for the EFL League Two Player of the Season award. On 29 February 2020, with his goal against Doncaster Rovers, Akinfenwa became Wycombe's record goal scorer in the English Football League with 54 goals.
A historic achievement came on 13 July 2020, when Akinfenwa and Wycombe won the 2020 League One play-off final against Oxford, securing promotion to the Championship. This marked the first time in both Akinfenwa's career and Wycombe's history that they reached the second tier of English football. He finished that season as the club's joint-top league goal scorer with 10 goals.
On 8 July 2021, Akinfenwa signed a new one-year contract with Wycombe, confirming it would be his final season in professional football. He expressed interest in pursuing acting or professional wrestling after his retirement from football. Akinfenwa's last professional match for Wycombe was on 21 May 2022, in the 2022 EFL League One play-off final at Wembley Stadium, where he came on as a 75th-minute substitute in a 2-0 loss to Sunderland. This match brought an end to his 22-year professional career.
2.9. Post-professional retirement
After announcing his retirement from professional football, Akinfenwa explored new ventures. In March 2022, he was scheduled to make his professional wrestling debut at Progress 146, where he was set to tag with Anthony Ogogo against Malik and Kosta Konstantino. However, he pulled out of the event at the last minute for undisclosed reasons.
On 11 July 2022, Akinfenwa made an appearance in a pre-season friendly for Isthmian League North Division side Hashtag United against Walthamstow. He played the entire first half before being substituted at halftime. Hashtag United later confirmed that Akinfenwa would not be joining the team full-time due to his personal schedule and potential injury concerns.
In March 2023, Akinfenwa briefly came out of retirement, joining Faversham Town of the Isthmian League. He made his debut for the club against Lancing on 11 March 2023. On 25 March 2023, in his home debut for Faversham against rivals Sittingbourne, Akinfenwa had a 94th-minute penalty saved by outfield player Harrison Pont.
3. Playing style and image
Adebayo Akinfenwa is widely recognized for his exceptional physical strength, which became his defining characteristic throughout his career. His imposing physique and powerful playing style earned him the nickname "The Beast." He is famously known for being consistently ranked as the strongest footballer in various editions of the FIFA video game series, with his power attribute often reaching the maximum possible value. In September 2014, he was invited to attend the launch party for FIFA 15 alongside numerous celebrities and Premier League players, including Rio Ferdinand, George Groves, and Lethal Bizzle, highlighting his unique status even outside the traditional football elite.
Akinfenwa reportedly weighs around 223 lb (101 kg) and has demonstrated an ability to bench press up to 441 lb (200 kg), which is nearly double his own body weight. This incredible strength allowed him to dominate defenders and hold up play effectively, despite often playing against lighter and faster opponents. His "Beast Mode On" persona, a phrase he popularized, became synonymous with his powerful approach to the game and his larger-than-life personality. He leveraged this image to create a successful clothing label also named 'Beast Mode On', further cementing his unique place in football culture and among fans who admired his distinctive attributes. Despite his physical prowess, he humorously admitted that he rarely played as himself in the FIFA games because his in-game speed rating was too low for his preferred style of play. He also expressed disappointment when his power rating was lowered from 99 to 98 in FIFA 18, despite having a strong season with 18 goals in 50 games.
4. Personal life
Akinfenwa is a Christian, a faith he shares with his mother, although he observed Ramadan as a child due to his father's Muslim beliefs. He maintains a close friendship with Clarke Carlisle, his former teammate at Northampton Town.
Beyond his football career, Akinfenwa has ventured into business, notably with his clothing label, 'Beast Mode On', which capitalizes on his strongman reputation. In 2017, his autobiography, The Beast: My Story, was published by Headline Publishing. Following Wycombe Wanderers' promotion to the Championship, Akinfenwa publicly expressed his desire to celebrate with Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, further highlighting his long-standing support for the club.
5. Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | EFL Trophy | Play-offs | Europe | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| FK Atlantas | 2001 | A Lyga | 18 | 4 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | 22 | 5 | |||
| 2002 | A Lyga | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 22 | 5 | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | 27 | 6 | |||||
| Laisvė Šilutė | 2002 | I Lyga | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Barry Town | 2002-03 | Welsh Premier League | 8 | 6 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 9 | 6 | ||||
| 2003-04 | Welsh Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 9 | 6 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | 12 | 6 | |||||
| Boston United | 2003-04 | Third Division | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 4 | 1 | ||
| Leyton Orient | 2003-04 | Third Division | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 0 | ||
| Rushden & Diamonds | 2003-04 | Second Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Doncaster Rovers | 2003-04 | Third Division | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 9 | 4 | ||
| Torquay United | 2004-05 | League One | 37 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | - | - | 41 | 16 | ||
| Swansea City | 2005-06 | League One | 34 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | - | 44 | 15 | |
| 2006-07 | League One | 25 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 31 | 6 | |||
| Total | 59 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | - | 75 | 21 | |||
| Millwall | 2007-08 | League One | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 9 | 0 | ||
| Northampton Town | 2007-08 | League One | 15 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 15 | 7 | ||
| 2008-09 | League One | 33 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 36 | 15 | |||
| 2009-10 | League Two | 40 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 44 | 17 | |||
| Total | 88 | 37 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 95 | 39 | ||||
| Gillingham | 2010-11 | League Two | 44 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 46 | 11 | ||
| Northampton Town | 2011-12 | League Two | 39 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 42 | 18 | ||
| 2012-13 | League Two | 41 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | - | 51 | 17 | ||
| Total | 80 | 34 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | - | 93 | 35 | |||
| Gillingham | 2013-14 | League One | 34 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 37 | 10 | ||
| AFC Wimbledon | 2014-15 | League Two | 45 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 52 | 15 | ||
| 2015-16 | League Two | 38 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | - | 42 | 8 | ||
| Total | 83 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | - | 94 | 23 | |||
| Wycombe Wanderers | 2016-17 | League Two | 42 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | - | - | 52 | 18 | ||
| 2017-18 | League Two | 42 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 46 | 18 | |||
| 2018-19 | League One | 36 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 39 | 8 | |||
| 2019-20 | League One | 32 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 39 | 10 | ||
| 2020-21 | Championship | 33 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 35 | 1 | ||||
| 2021-22 | League One | 34 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 39 | 6 | ||
| Total | 219 | 52 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 0 | - | 250 | 61 | |||
| Faversham Town | 2022-23 | IL South East | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 697 | 206 | 38 | 7 | 21 | 5 | 24 | 14 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 797 | 234 | ||
6. Honours
FK Atlantas
- Lithuanian Football Cup: 2000-01
Barry Town
- Welsh Premier League: 2002-03
- Welsh Cup: 2002-03
Swansea City
- Football League Trophy: 2005-06
AFC Wimbledon
- Football League Two play-offs: 2016
Wycombe Wanderers
- EFL League One play-offs: 2020
Individual
- Sir Tom Finney Award: 2023
- EFL League Two Player of the Month: November 2012
- EFL Team of the Season: 2017-18
- PFA Team of the Year: 2017-18 League Two
- Torquay United Player of the Year: 2004-05
- Northampton Town Player of the Year: 2009-10
- AFC Wimbledon Player of the Year: 2014-15
- Wycombe Wanderers Player of the Season: 2016-17, 2017-18