Ebbsfleet United are pleased to announce the signing of 21-year-old centre back Mustapha Olagunju on loan until the end of January.

The 6ft 3in defender joins on loan from Championship side Huddersfield Town to strengthen the defence and goes straight into today’s match against Southend United having been training with the Fleet recently. 

Joining the Huddersfield youth ranks in 2018, Olagunju made 31 appearances for the U17s before his performances earned him elevation to the U19 side in 2020. Senior football experience came with loan spells in the Northern Premier League at Tadcaster Albion and seven appearances in Kent with Welling United. After gaining non-league experience, he made his EFL debut the following season when he appeared for Port Vale, playing alongside the Fleet’s David Amoo at Vale Park.

Olagunju returned to football in February following a full recovery from a knee injury and the Fleet’s newest centre-back has featured in a number of games for the Huddersfield B team since, which the Championship club uses to transition its young players into the first-team.

“I’m a ball playing centre back and I’m good in the air which are my main two strengths but I also defend on the front foot,” Mustapha told the club website. “I want to show my quality and strength as well as apply myself and contribute in the backline. I’m really excited to be here, it’s a new environment but I’m closer to home and I will be playing men’s football. The boys have been very welcoming, especially David Amoo who I know from Port Vale, so he has been showing me around. I’m really excited to get going and play in front of the Fleet fans.”