​Ade Adeyemo insists that a dark period in his Crawley Town career is well behind him as he looks ahead to a brighter future with the League Two club. The 27-year-old recently agreed to a fresh two-year contract with the Reds, marking six months since he feared his time at Crawley had come to an abrupt end after being dropped from the squad during the club’s relegation battle.
“I’m very pleased to be signing with this great club again,” Adeyemo told BBC Radio Sussex. “I can’t say I would have imagined I’d be here, but it’s down to the hard work I’ve put in and the people working behind the scenes. I’m genuinely happy to be here.”
The turning point began on January 1, when Crawley suffered a 2-1 defeat at Barnet, leaving them only two points above the relegation zone. Adeyemo came on for the final 10 minutes, but that would be his last action for more than six weeks. In a drastic January recruitment drive, manager Scott Lindsey omitted him from the squad for seven games as Crawley front-loaded a spree that saw 13 new players arrive in an effort to revive their season.
“Adeyemo reflected that January felt like a ‘dark time’ and admitted it wasn’t one of his favorite months,” reporters noted. Yet the early changes produced tangible dividends, with victories over relegation rivals Barrow and Harrogate Town helping Crawley to pull six points clear of the drop zone as the campaign progressed.
When results started to slip again, Adeyemo was recalled by Lindsey and appeared in several matches. However, the manager’s departure on March 23 left the club just one point above the perilous drop zone to the National League, creating an unsettled atmosphere around the squad.
The arrival of new manager Colin Kazim-Richards, combined with a tactical shift that moved Adeyemo to right-back, offered him a fresh lease of life. Adeyemo explained that injuries in the squad necessitated him filling in at right-back, and he enjoyed a strong run in the position. “I had to fill in there because of a few injuries,” he said. “I put in a solid performance against Gillingham, and from there it just continued for the last seven games, where I did well. I was really engaged with it and I was enjoying myself in that role.”
He conceded that playing as a full-back had never been his plan, revealing that his earlier positions had been as a winger or a number 10. “To now be a full-back is a bit crazy, but I’m embracing the challenge,” Adeyemo stated. “There are still some areas I need to master, and pre-season is the perfect time to work on them.”
Beyond the personal adjustment, Adeyemo is eager to move past last season’s fight for survival, which only concluded on the final day. The club’s recruitment drive continues with more new faces, including Jude Arthurs, a midfielder from Bromley who clinched the League Two title with his former club. Arthurs’ arrival has infused Crawley with a sense of momentum and optimism.
Adeyemo acknowledged the significance of adding Arthurs to the squad. “I’m surprised we managed to sign Jude,” he said. “He won the league, and having him in the dressing room is a tremendous morale boost for everyone. I think we can achieve big things. It’s a fresh start for all of us. With the squad we’ve assembled and the mentality in this building, I believe we can go a long way.”
With a renewed sense of purpose and a longer-term contract in place, Adeyemo is eager to contribute to Crawley Town’s ambitions. He emphasized the importance of the pre-season period as a platform to refine his game, further adapt to the right-back role, and help the team translate ambition into results. As Crawley prepare for the next campaign, Adeyemo’s optimism reflects a broader confidence within the camp that the club can progress from the struggles of the past to a more competitive and successful future.