David Ijaha (born 17 February 1990) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder or defender for club Rayners Lane. The discrepancy between source and infobox figures for Whitehawk is because Soccerway counts playoff matches in with league matches and Wikipedia does not.
Career Early career Ijaha was at his local Chelsea academy for three years as a youngster, being released at the age of 15. Having earned a place at an England Schoolboy training camp he met up with Kyle Bennett who introduced him to Wolverhampton Wanderers,Whitehawk Official Matchday Programme v Chippenham Town, 25 November 2017 where he spent two seasons playing for the U18 side and the reserves, before being released.
Non-League career After a spell out of the game, Ijaha joined Harrow Borough in August 2010 and then followed his manager David Howell to Southern Premier Division club St Albans City, where he was made captain. He signed for National League South side Tonbridge Angels in December 2013. Following Tonbridge's relegation, Ijaha joined Hayes & Yeading United at the start of the 2014–2015 season, where he had been a long term target of manager Phil Babb. However, he soon moved to National League South rivals Whitehawk where he spent two seasons.
Plymouth Argyle At the start of the 2016–17 season, Ijaha was invited down to Home Park for a trial by Plymouth Argyle's assistant manager Craig Brewster, who had previously coached in Sussex at Whitehawk. Ijaha impressed enough to be offered a contract and he made his Football League debut at the age of 27, playing for Plymouth Argyle in a 3–0 loss against Luton Town on 6 August 2016. After struggling with a long-term injury, Ijaha was released at the end of the 2016–17 season having made three league appearances.
Later career Ijaha had a short spell with National League South club Wealdstone at the beginning of the 2017–18 season, before rejoining Whitehawk and being appointed captain in September.
After a season at Welling United in 2018–19 and another season at Dulwich Hamlet in 2019–20, Ijaha joined league rivals Dartford for the 2020–21 season. He re-joined Dartford towards the end of the 2021–22 season before going out on loan to former-side Whitehawk.
On September 16, 2022, Ijaha signed for Cray Wanderers. He departed the club in November 2024.
In February 2025, Ijaha joined Isthmian League South Central Division side Rayners Lane.
Personal life Ijaha was educated at St Thomas More School in Chelsea.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsHarrow Borough2010–11Isthmian Premier39220——60472Harrow Borough total392200060472St Albans City2011–12SFL - Premier Division40240——2One appearance in the FA Trophy and one in the Southern League Cup04622012–1322130——4One appearance in the Herts Charity Cup, one in the FA Trophy, one in the Southern League Cup and one in the Herts Senior Cup0291St Albans City total623700060753Tonbridge Angels2012–13Conference South213————002132013–1434100——2Appearances in the FA Trophy0361Tonbridge total554000020574Hayes & Yeading United2014–15Conference South7000——0070Hayes & Yeading United total7000000070Whitehawk2014–15Conference South30030——6Appearances in the FA Trophy and Sussex Senior Cup03902015–16National League South36250——10422Whitehawk total662800070812Plymouth Argyle2016–17League Two3010003Appearances in the EFL Trophy070Wealdstone2017–18National League South3000——0030Whitehawk2017–18National League South31200——60372Welling United2018–19National League South35310——00363Dulwich Hamlet2019–20National League South26300——10273Dartford2020–21National League South10000——101102021–220000——1Appearance in the Kent Senior Cup010Dartford total100000020120Whitehawk (loan)2021–22Isthmian League South East Division40——————40Cray Wanderers2022–23Isthmian League Premier Division28000——2Appearance in the Isthmian League Premier Division Play-Offs13012023–2438131——304412024–25 13041—20191Cray Wanderers total791720071933Career total420202620040148622
References