Ismail Yakubu

Ismail Salami Yakubu, (born 8 April 1985) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Southern Football League side Merthyr Town. He has been capped for the England semi-professional team.[2]

Ismail Yakubu
Yakubu playing for Newport County in 2012
Personal information
Full name Ismail Salami Yakubu[1]
Date of birth (1985-04-08) 8 April 1985
Place of birth Kano, Nigeria
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Merthyr Town
Youth career
1996–2001 Barnet
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2010 Barnet 260 (14)
2010–2011 AFC Wimbledon 27 (2)
2011–2015 Newport County 120 (15)
2011 → Cambridge United (loan) 0 (0)
2015–2017 Woking 32 (2)
2017–2019 Hemel Hempstead Town 55 (2)
2019 Kingstonian 11 (0)
2019–2020 Hayes & Yeading United 10 (0)
2019–2020 → Merthyr Town (loan) 15 (1)
2020 Merthyr Town 63 (5)
2020–2021 Penybont 21 (0)
2021– Merthyr Town 4 (5)
International career‡
2004–2005 England C 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:07, 28 August 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12:54, 11 August 2016 {UTC)

Club career

Barnet

Yakubu was born in Kano, Kano State,[3] and raised in England. He joined Barnet at the age of 11, turned professional at 16, and made his first-team debut at the age of 17 while still studying for his A-levels – a 3–2 defeat against rivals Stevenage, with Yakubu coming on as a 67th-minute substitute.[4][5] He started the following match in a 1–1 draw with Boston United. He became a regular in the first-team squad, and was team captain from August 2007 to November 2008.[6][7] In June 2009 he signed a new two-year contract with the club.[8] He was released in May 2010 after making a total of 297 appearances for the club.[9]

AFC Wimbledon

In July 2010, Yakubu signed for Conference Premier side AFC Wimbledon.[10] On 14 August 2010, Yakubu made his AFC Wimbledon debut in a 1–0 victory over Southport, featuring for the full 90 minutes.[11] On 11 September 2010, Yakubu scored his first goal for the club, doubling AFC Wimbledon's lead in their 4–0 victory over Bath City.[12] He played in the 2011 Conference Premier play-off final, coming off the bench and scoring a penalty in the penalty shoot-out.

After appearing in twenty-seven league games, Yakubu was released at the end of the season.[13]

Newport County

On 24 May 2011, he was released by AFC Wimbledon and on 22 June joined Newport County.[14] On 13 August 2011, Yakubu made his Newport County debut in their 3–2 defeat against Kettering Town, featuring for the entire 90 minutes.[15]

On 26 September 2011, Yakubu joined fellow Conference Premier side Cambridge United on a one-month emergency loan deal.[16] However, Yakubu returned to Newport without making a single appearance at Cambridge.

On 12 May 2012, Yakubu played for Newport County in the FA Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium which Newport lost 2–0 to York City.[17] In the 2012–13 season he was part of the Newport team that finished 3rd in the league, reaching the Conference Premier play-offs. Newport County won the playoff final versus Wrexham at Wembley Stadium 2–0 to return to the Football League after a 25-year absence with promotion to Football League Two.[18]

On 12 May 2015, it was announced that Yakubu would leave the club upon the expiry of his contract on 30 June.[19]

Woking

Shortly after his release from Newport, Yakubu went on to sign a one-year contract with Woking for the 2015–2016 season.[20]

Unfortunately his season only lasted six games after rupturing his anterior cruciate knee ligaments in a game against Boreham Wood[21] On 18 May 2016, Yakubu signed a new one-year deal with Woking.[22] Preceding the departure of Mark Ricketts, Yakubu was named captain for the 2016–17 campaign. Yakubu scored his first goal of the season, in Woking's 3–1 home defeat against Lincoln City, netting the Cards' equaliser just after the half-time break.[23] On 23 May 2017, it was announced that Yakubu would leave Woking upon the expiry of his current deal in June 2017.[24]

Hemel Hempstead Town

On 12 June 2017, it was announced that Yakubu would join National League South side Hemel Hempstead Town preceding his release from Woking.[25]

Kingstonian

Yakubu signed for Kingstonian on 22 February 2019.[26]

Hayes & Yeading United

Yakubu lined up for Hayes & Yeading United on the opening day of the 2019–20 season.[27] In November 2019, he joined Merthyr Town on loan until the New Year.[28] The loan was then extended until the end of the season.[29] Yakubu became a fans favourite at The Martyrs after his impressive performances towards the end of the 2019/20 season.

Merthyr Town

Merthyr Town completed the signing of Yakubu ahead of the 2020/21 season, after his six-month loan from Hayes & Yeading United.[30] He left the club when they suspended their participation from the Southern League before the start of the season.

Penybont

Yakubu signed for Cymru Premier side Penybont after his departure from Merthyr.[31]

Return to Merthyr

Yakubu re-joined Merthyr for the 2021–22 season.[32]

Career statistics
As of match played 14 August 2021.[33][34]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Barnet 2001–02 Football Conference 4000—0040
2002–03 Football Conference 36110—1[lower-alpha 1]0381
2003–04 Conference National 39240—2[lower-alpha 2]0452
2004–05 Conference National 35221—00373
2005–06 League Two 26110102[lower-alpha 3]0301
2006–07 League Two 29141102[lower-alpha 3]0362
2007–08 League Two 282610000343
2008–09 League Two 383211000414
2009–10 League Two 25231102[lower-alpha 3]1314
Total 26014235409129620
AFC Wimbledon 2010–11 Conference Premier 27240—4[lower-alpha 4]0352
Newport County 2011–12 Conference Premier 26520—6[lower-alpha 1]0345
2012–13 Conference Premier 36500—4[lower-alpha 5]0405
2013–14 League Two 25320102[lower-alpha 3]0303
2014–15 League Two 332101000352
Total 12015502012013915
Cambridge United (loan) 2011–12 Conference Premier 00———00
Woking 2015–16 National League 6100—0061
2016–17 National League 26140—2[lower-alpha 1]0321
Total 32240—20382
Hemel Hempstead Town 2017–18 National League South 32100—1[lower-alpha 6]0331
2018–19 National League South 23130—5[lower-alpha 1]0311
Total 55230—60642
Kingstonian 2018–19 Isthmian League Premier Division 11000—00110
Hayes & Yeading United 2019–20 SFL Premier Division South 10040—1[lower-alpha 1]0150
Merthyr Town (loan) 2019–20 SFL Premier Division South 15100—00151
Penybont 2020–21 Cymru Premier 21000—00210
Merthyr Town 2021–22 SFL Premier Division South 4100—00304
Career total 555374356034163843
  1. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  2. Appearance(s) in Conference National play-offs
  3. Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  4. One appearance in FA Trophy, three in Conference Premier play-offs
  5. One appearance in FA Trophy, three in Conference Premier play-offs
  6. Appearance(s) in National League South play-offs

Honours

Barnet

AFC Wimbledon

Newport County

References
  1. "The Football League Retained List". The Football League. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  2. Williams, Tony (8 July 2008). "Paul's Heroes Battle The Odds". The Non-League Paper. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011.
  3. "Player Profile: Ismail Yakubu". AFC Wimbledon. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  4. "Stevenage 3–2 Barnet". BBC Sport. 25 March 2002. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
  5. "Profiles Ismail Yakubu". Barnet F.C. Archived from the original on 6 April 2010.
  6. "Ismail Captains The Bees". Barnet F.C. 14 August 2007. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012.
  7. "Bishop Is The New Skipper". Barnet F.C. 20 November 2008. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012.
  8. "Yakubu signs new Barnet contract". BBC Sport. 19 June 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  9. Signy, Dennis (25 May 2010). "Yakubu Leaves Barnet". Barnet F.C. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012.
  10. "Archived news: July 2010: Terry gets his centre back". AFC Wimbledon. 2 July 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  11. "Southport vs. AFC Wimbledon". Soccerway. 14 August 2010. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  12. "AFC Wimbledon vs. Bath City". Soccerway. 11 September 2010. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  13. "Ismail Yakubu released in AFC Wimbledon clear-out". BBC Sport. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  14. "Newport County snap up defender Ismail Yakubu". BBC Sport. 22 June 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  15. "Kettering Town vs. Newport County". Soccerway. 13 August 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  16. "Newport County defender Ismail Yakubu joins Cambridge". BBC Sport. 26 September 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  17. 2012 FA Trophy final
  18. Hughes, Dewi (5 May 2013). "Wrexham 0–2 Newport". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  19. "Newport County: Aaron O'Connor one of 11 senior players to leave". BBC Sport. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  20. "Woking bring in defender Yakubu". BBC Sport.
  21. "Yakubu suffers knee ligament damage". BBC Sport. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  22. "Ismail Yakubu signs for 2016/17". Woking F.C. 18 May 2016.
  23. "Woking 1-3 Lincoln City". BBC Sport. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  24. "Released Players". Woking Official Site. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  25. "Tudors get Ismail". Hemel Hempstead Town Official Site. 12 June 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  26. Kingstonian sign Ismail Yakubu
  27. @HYUFC_Official (10 August 2019). "Here's a clearer version of the teamsheet" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  28. YAKUBU JOINS MARTYRS ON LOAN DEAL
  29. NEWS|YAKUBU EXTENDS LOAN DEAL AT MARTYRS
  30. NEWS | THE GAFFA ANNOUNCES THE RETAINED PLAYERS AHEAD OF THE 2020/21 CAMPAIGN
  31. Merthyr Town defender Ismail Yakubu joins Penybont
  32. Merthyr Town return for veteran Ismail Yakubu
  33. "I. Yakubu". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  34. "Ismail Yakubu". Aylesbury United FC. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
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