Ipswich Town U21’s youngsters Abube Onuchukwu and Afi Adebayo have both joined Wingate & Finchley on loan and made their debuts at the weekend.
The pair featured for Ahmet Rifat’s side as they beat Dartford 3-1, securing their first win in two matches in the Isthmian League Premier Division.
Wingate currently sits 16th in the seventh tier, six points clear of the relegation zone, as they look to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.
Defensive midfielder Abube Onuchukwu joined Ipswich from Aston Villa in the summer of 2024 and has become a regular for Ipswich Town U21’s.
The 20-year-old already has experience at this level, having spent time on loan at Billericay Town earlier in the season.
He also had a brief spell at Chelmsford City, though a leg injury limited him to just one appearance for the Clarets. His move to Wingate offers another opportunity to gain consistent senior minutes.
Versatile attacker Afi Adebayo has been with Ipswich since the Under‑14 age group and became a full academy scholar in 2023. The 18-year-old signed his first professional contract last summer but suffered an injury at the start of the 2025/26 campaign.
Since returning, he has impressed for the U21S and now takes his first step into senior football with the North London side.
The loan is seen as an important stage in his development after a disrupted start to the season.
Both Onuchukwu and Adebayo played their part in Wingate & Finchley’s 3-1 victory, giving them an encouraging platform to build on.
With the club looking to climb further away from danger, the pair are expected to feature regularly in the coming weeks till the end of the season
