Sutton United have continued their summer rebuild with the signing of striker Temi Babalola, a player who arrives at Gander Green Lane with a familiar face waiting in the dugout.
At 25 years old, Babalola joins from Forest Green Rovers, bringing experience from spells at Concord Rangers, Worthing and Forest Green. While his headline numbers won't immediately jump off the page compared to some of the division's most prolific forwards, there is plenty to suggest Sutton supporters should be excited by what he could become under Chris Agutter.
The Agutter Connection
The biggest clue to this signing comes from the manager himself.
Chris Agutter didn't hold back when discussing his new striker:
"A monster of a man, big, powerful and so strong – a proper target man centre forward that the Amber Army will love watching. I absolutely love him as a player and person; Temi is a magnificent addition."
Those are not the words of a manager taking a gamble.
Agutter clearly knows exactly what he is getting.
The pair previously worked together at Worthing, where Babalola enjoyed the most productive spell of his career. That existing relationship should help him settle quickly and understand exactly what is expected from him.
What Does He Bring?
Standing at 6ft 3in, Babalola offers something slightly different to Sutton's attacking options.
His game is built around three key strengths:
Goals
Pace and power
Target man play
He provides a physical focal point that defenders won't enjoy playing against, while still possessing enough mobility to stretch teams and attack space behind the back line.
For supporters, that combination is likely to make him an immediate fan favourite.
The Numbers
Throughout his senior career so far, Babalola has made 137 appearances, scored 22 goals, and played for teams averaging 1.36 points per match.
Looking specifically at his attacking output:
0.24 goals per 90 last season
0.10 assists per 90 last season
0.34 goal contributions per 90 last season
Those numbers suggest there is room for growth, particularly for a player entering what should be the prime years of his career.
Why Sutton?
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this move is timing.
Babalola arrives at Sutton with more experience than he had during his Worthing days, but still young enough to develop further.
That creates an intriguing opportunity.
Agutter clearly believes he can unlock the best version of the striker once again, while Babalola gets the chance to prove he can become a consistent National League performer.
Sutton Podcast View
Temi looks like a player ready to shine.
He clearly thrived under Agi before, has now added valuable experience at this level, and arrives at Sutton with a point to prove.
If Agutter can recreate the environment that previously brought the best out of him, Sutton may have secured far more than just another centre forward.
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