Cheltenham Town have completed the signing of free agent Hakeeb Adelakun until January.
Without a club since leaving Salford City in the summer, the 29-year-old joins Ben Stevenson and Jonathan Tomkinson in joining the Robins since Steve Cotterill returned to Gloucestershire as manager.
Wealth Of Experience
After enjoying a prolific pre-season with the PFA’s team of free agents, Adelakun failed to find a new side in the early part of the season. That came as a huge surprise after his prolific stint at Salford last season, scoring 13 goals in 30 League Two appearances. In only his second league game last term, he scored a brace off the bench for the Ammies to complete a turnaround victory against his new side.
After completing the full 90 minutes against Walsall, he spent almost 3 months on the treatment table before helping fire the Greater Manchester side up the table. Scoring 11 times in 2025, including 5 goal contributions in the final 4 matches of the season, wasn’t quite enough for Salford to finish inside the Play-Off places. But the Hackney-born forward left the club in the summer, despite being offered new terms.
Anyone remember this guy? I think you can tell where we’re going with this…#ctfc♦️ pic.twitter.com/Frz73jhxMp
— Cheltenham Town (@CTFCofficial) November 10, 2025
Stints in the academies of Crystal Palace and West Ham United ultimately saw Hakeeb move to Lincolnshire for his first spell in the county with Scunthorpe United. He quickly emerged as a regular for the Iron, playing over 150 times as they eventually became a regular feature in League One. Scoring 20 times and providing 26 assists earned him a move to the Championship with Bristol City.
Unfortunately, his time in the South-West began with an ankle injury in pre-season, spending 14 weeks out of action. Loan spells with Rotherham United and Hull City in the third tier provided valuable minutes, after just 9 appearances for the Robins. Adelakun returned to Lincolnshire with Lincoln City in 2021, but had an extremely mixed spell with the Imps under different managers.
In over half a century of games for City, he managed 11 goal contributions, a tally he exceeded during an extremely strong loan stint at Doncaster Rovers. Moving to South Yorkshire in the winter window in 2024, the forward was an integral part of Donny’s unlikely climb up the table. Going from relegation strugglers to promotion contenders in half a season, Adelakun’s 9 goals and 7 assists were a massive part of that upturn in form.
Big Boost On Matchday
Adelakun is in contention for a place in the Robins squad for their televised fixture against Notts County this evening. He has been given the squad number 31 for his new side, who are unbeaten in 4 league games since Cotterill returned to the club at the end of September. That has seen the Robins move off the foot of League Two and outside the relegation places.
Adelakun has arrived! 🤩#ctfc♦️ | @littlejetco pic.twitter.com/bSfH9GHKdM
— Cheltenham Town (@CTFCofficial) November 10, 2025
Only a handful of fourth-tier sides have picked up more points since their former manager returned to the EV Charger Points Stadium. In fact, they have an identical record from that point with tonight’s opponents, winning 3 and drawing once. Keeping 3 clean sheets in 4 games, they were only denied maximum points at Gillingham after they scored a 95th-minute equaliser.
Victories over Fleetwood Town, Newport County and leaders Walsall were followed by an FA Cup upset against League One high-flyers Bradford City. Another win tonight against the Magpies would move the Robins well clear of the relegation zone. By the time Adelakun’s short-term deal expires in January, he will be hoping that Cheltenham are looking up the table towards the Play-Off positions.
