Akinbiyi Returns To England

The Magpies have hit the headlines in England due to their proposed takeover by rich Middle Eastern businessmen and the installation of Sven-Goran Eriksson as Director of football, so the arrival of Akinbiyi is not likely to make waves.

The high-profile arrival (and subsequent instant departure) of Sol Campbell was seen as the ultimate representation of the club’s lofty ambitions, but the purchase of Akinbiyi is a coup in itself and will certainly represent better value for money.

Akinbiyi’s failure at the Robertson Stadium is something of a mystery. More was expected of a player who made just two starts in his time with a club, producing a total of 261 minutes on-pitch.

Akinbiyi’s transfer fees have totalled nearly £16m and was last season a fringe player in a squad that gained promotion to the Premier League. In between his two spells at Burnley he played for Sheffield United in the top flight.

Despite his varied success with English clubs he is known as an expensive mistake in the English media, having failed to make an impression after a big-money move to Leicester City in 2000. Dynamos boss Dominic Kinnear saw enough to pick him up in April, suggesting a regular first team role was on the cards.

Instead the Nigerian international was kept on the bench by Brian Ching and Kei Kamara and was forced to join the Notts County revolution when room was made for designated player Luis Angel Landin.