Timi Odusina, a former Hartlepool United promotion-winning defender, has signed with National League rivals Woking.
Odusina, aged 24, impressed on loan with the Cardinals last season after signing from Bradford in September, appearing 19 times and playing a key role in Michael Doyle’s team securing National League status.
Odusina played eight games for Pools on loan from Norwich four years ago, where he came through the youth levels, and did well enough to secure a permanent transfer in the North East in the summer of 2020.
The quick and athletic central defender was a bit of a find, but he fit in well with Dave Challinor’s system, making 31 appearances, largely on the right side of a back three, as Pools were promoted back to the Football League in his first full season.
He was a regular for Pools as they returned to League Two, appearing 43 times and collecting the young player of the season award.
Odusina turned down the option of a new agreement at Pools, deciding instead to sign for League Two promotion rivals Bradford, although he failed to ever establish himself in the team and achieved a total of only four games in West Yorkshire.
He was only included in three Bradford matchday squads last year, two of which were in cup competitions, and did not play a single minute for the Bantams throughout the whole 2023 season.
However, he impressed while on loan at Woking and was rewarded with a permanent contract in Surrey after the Cardinals agreed to an undisclosed sum with Bradford to obtain his services.
Woking signed five players in all, including former Barnet captain Dale Gorman, highly rated Aldershot defender Cian Harries, experienced midfielder Harry Beautyman, and wing-back Jacob Jones.
There had been speculation that Woking midfielder Jim Kellermann, who was a key member of Darren Sarll’s Cards team that reached the National League play-offs in 2023, would rejoin his former boss at Pools, but the 28-year-old instead joined Ebbsfleet on Tuesday as their first summer signing.
Manager Michael Doyle was “delighted” to re-sign Odusina on a permanent basis, as Woking fans hailed what appears to be a successful start to the summer transfer season.
“I’m absolutely delighted to have Timi back,” he said on the club website.
“At the end of the season, he played a significant role in us staying in the division.
“I am glad we were able to arrange a permanent transfer and have him as one of our own.
