James Olayinka’s time with Cheltenham Town has come to an end.

The EFL club has included the former Arsenal academy player on its released list following their relegation from League One.

Now a free agent, Olayinka will be searching for a new opportunity to continue his footballing journey.

Cheltenham Town has officially announced that James Olayinka, a former Arsenal youth product, will be among the players released by the club following their relegation from League One. The EFL club confirmed the decision on their website as part of their end-of-season retained and released list.

The London-born midfielder joined Cheltenham Town on a permanent deal in August 2022 after graduating from Arsenal’s academy. His time with the Gunners saw limited first-team opportunities, with only two appearances against Standard Liege (Europa League) and Liverpool (Community Shield).

During his time with Cheltenham Town, Olayinka made a total of 43 appearances across all competitions, scoring one goal and providing three assists. Prior to his permanent move, he also spent time on loan with Northampton Town and Southend United while under contract with Arsenal.

The 23-year-old’s final season with Cheltenham Town was marked by a struggle for consistent playing time. He started just four out of a possible 46 League One matches, primarily featuring in cup competitions.

Alongside Olayinka, Cheltenham Town’s released list includes several other players: Jamie Pardington, Ben Williams, Curtis Davies, Josh Harrop, Adulai Sambu, and Greg Sloggett. Loan players Liam Smith, Dan Adshead, Andy Smith, Jack Shepherd, and Joe Nuttall will also depart.

James Olayinka now enters the market as a free agent, seeking a new club to continue his footballing career. His time at Cheltenham Town, while not without its challenges, offered valuable senior-level experience after progressing through Arsenal’s esteemed youth system and he should find a new home sooner rather than later.