Femi Ilesanmi

Oluwafemi Abayomi Alaba "Femi" Ilesanmi (born 18 April 1991) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for National League club Boreham Wood.

Ilesanmi started his career with AFC Wimbledon's youth system, making his first-team debut in 2007 before transferring to Queens Park Rangers in 2008, where he played for the under-18 team. He spent a year at QPR where he also played for the reserve team, before his release. He signed for Isthmian League Premier Division club Ashford Town (Middlesex) in February 2010. His form prompted newly promoted League One club Dagenham & Redbridge to sign him in May 2010. He spent three months on loan at Conference Premier club Histon in 2010. Ilesanmi spent four years with Dagenham & Redbridge before joining York City in May 2014, where he played for two seasons before being released.

Club career Early career Ilesanmi was born in Southwark, London He started his career with AFC Wimbledon in their youth system. Despite his young age, he made a handful of appearances for the reserve team and also made his first-team debut aged 16 in an Isthmian League Cup match against Whyteleafe in October 2007. He spent a season at Loftus Road, featuring for both the youth team and the reserves before being released in 2009. After his release he joined League Two club Dagenham & Redbridge on non-contract terms. Whilst on trial he featured several times for the reserves.

In February 2010, he signed for Isthmian League Premier Division club Ashford Town (Middlesex), where he spent a short spell. Ilesanmi scored his first goal for Ashford in a 2–1 home defeat to Carshalton Athletic. During the last few months of the 2009–10 season, Dagenham & Redbridge monitored Ilesanmi's performances. However, Ashford went on to lose the match 6–2 and were relegated for the first time in their history. His debut came on the opening day of the season in a 3–1 win over Barrow at home. He was sent off in his second match for Histon, a defeat to AFC Wimbledon, receiving his second booking for dissent. After impressing Histon manager David Livermore during his first month at the club, his loan was extended for a further two months. His final match for Histon came in a 1–1 draw with Wrexham on 30 October, where he provided the assist for a stoppage time equaliser. Ilesanmi had become a fans favourite at the club and plans were being made to bring him back on loan in January 2011. This persuaded him to hand Ilesanmi a surprise professional and league debut for Dagenham in a 1–0 defeat to Oldham Athletic, where he played in place of Damien McCrory. After his first six appearances, Ilesanmi signed a three-and-a-half-year contract extension until 2014. The club also decided to retain Ilesanmi and not send him back to Histon for a second loan spell. The club appealed the red card as manager John Still believed that no contact was made. However, the appeal was rejected and Ilesanmi was suspended for two matches. Ilesanmi 25 appearances for Dagenham that season. His first league appearance of the season came in a 1–0 home defeat to Oxford United. He returned to the first team line-up in November 2011, which coincided with the club losing nine straight league matches. He remained first choice until February 2012, when he started in a 5–0 home defeat to Cheltenham Town. This proved to be his final appearance of the season, as Dagenham narrowly escaped successive relegation's to the Conference Premier. He made 26 appearances. After being transfer listed, Ilesanmi took it on himself to prove the management staff wrong by staying behind for extra training. He also started the first league match of the season, a 2–0 away defeat to Cheltenham Town. In November 2012, he thanked John Still for the transfer listing which gave him the "kick up the backside he needed", and resulted in him starting the season in fine form. He still remained first choice left back after the departure of manager John Still to Luton Town. Dagenham again narrowly avoided relegation to the Conference, this time on the final day of the season, despite losing 1–0 to York City. Ilesanmi played in every Dagenham match in the season, making 50 appearances scoring one goal. Ilesanmi came back into the side for a Football League Trophy tie against Peterborough United. He played well despite Dagenham losing 1–0 and regained his first team place.

York City

Ilesanmi joined League Two York City on 22 May 2014 on a two-year contract. He made his debut in York's 1–1 away draw with Tranmere Rovers in the opening match of 2014–15 on 9 August 2014.

Boreham Wood and Dover Athletic Ilesanmi joined National League club Boreham Wood on 5 August 2016, and was an unused substitute the following day in their 1–0 home win over Forest Green Rovers. His debut came on 13 August 2016, as a 76th-minute substitute for Adriano Moke in a 1–1 away draw with York. He was released at the end of the season.

On 27 June 2017, Ilesanmi signed for National League club Dover Athletic on a one-year contract. He made his debut on 5 August 2017 in a 1–0 victory away to Hartlepool United.

Style of play Ilesanmi primarily plays at left back but is capable of playing at centre back and left wing-back.

Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals AFC Wimbledon 2007–08 Isthmian League Premier Division

Ashford Town (Middlesex) 2009–10 Isthmian League Premier Division

2010–11 League One

2011–12 League Two

2012–13 League Two

2013–14 League Two

Histon (loan) 2010–11 Conference Premier

2014–15 League Two

2015–16 League Two

Boreham Wood 2016–17 National League

2021–22