PUTIN MEETS S. AFRICA'S RAMAPHOSA IN INDIA. (PHOTO).
Newly promoted Premier League side Hull City have parted company with Nigerian winger David Akintola after mutually agreeing to terminate his contract. The 30-year-old has secured an immediate return to Cyprus, putting pen to paper on a permanent deal with Omonoia FC.
Akintola leaves the East Yorkshire club without having made an appearance in the English top flight, despite being included in the club's squad registration for the 2026/27 campaign.
Reflecting on Akintola's Time in England
Akintola arrived at Hull City in August 2025 from Turkish Süper Lig side Çaykur Rizespor, adding English football to a well-traveled career that has seen him play in Denmark, Norway, Turkey, and Cyprus.
During the Tigers' successful promotion charge in the EFL Championship, the Nigerian attacker made 20 appearances, primarily acting as an impact substitute. Over the course of the campaign, he contributed one goal and two assists. His most notable contribution came in October 2025, when he netted the decisive goal in a crucial 1-0 victory over Sheffield United.
However, his first-team opportunities dwindled after January 2026. His final competitive appearance for the club came as a late substitute during a 2-1 win over Swansea City on January 24, after which he was omitted from the club's active squad registration list.
Wembley Recall and Promotion Glory
An unexpected turn of events late in the season handed Akintola a brief reprieve. Following a severe knee injury to midfielder Eliot Matazo, Hull City successfully petitioned the EFL for an emergency squad re-registration.
This cleared Akintola to be squad-eligible for the highly anticipated Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium on May 23, 2026. Hull City secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough to end their nine-year top-flight absence, though Akintola watched the historic match from the bench.
A Strategic Departure under Sergej Jakirović
While Hull initially registered Akintola for their return to the Premier League, a busy summer transfer window altered his trajectory. Strategic recruitments overseen by manager Sergej Jakirović pushed the experienced winger down the pecking order at the MKM Stadium.
Faced with limited prospects for regular first-team football, Akintola and the club management reached an amicable agreement to sever ties, allowing him to reignite his career in familiar territory with Cypriot heavyweights Omonoia FC.
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