Nigerian defender Deji Elerewe has played his part in a historic achievement, as Lincoln City secured promotion to the EFL Championship for the first time in 65 years.
The Imps confirmed their place in the 2026/2027 Championship season following a dramatic 2–1 victory over Reading FC on Easter Monday at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
Although Lincoln City required just a point to seal promotion, they went a step further, clinching all three in emphatic fashion thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Jack Moylan.
The result capped a dominant League One campaign, with Lincoln City opening up a commanding 19-point lead over third-placed Bradford City to make promotion mathematically certain.
Their consistency throughout the season has been a defining factor in what will go down as one of the club’s most memorable campaigns.
Elerewe contributed to the decisive victory after coming off the bench to replace Dom Jefferies with 23 minutes remaining.
While his involvement may have been brief, it marked another important step in his integration into the squad during a crucial phase of the season.
The 22-year-old centre-back joined Lincoln City from Charlton Athletic in the January transfer window, signing a long-term deal that runs until 2029, with an option for an additional year.
Since his arrival, he has made five substitute appearances, accumulating valuable minutes as the team pushed toward promotion.
Before his move, Elerewe enjoyed a productive spell at Bromley, where he made 23 appearances across all competitions and scored four goals from defence, underlining his ability to contribute at both ends of the pitch.
Born in Croydon, London, Elerewe remains eligible to represent Nigeria internationally and has expressed openness to a future call-up to the Nigeria national football team.
As Lincoln City prepare for life in the Championship, Elerewe will be aiming to build on this milestone and establish himself as a key figure in the club’s next chapter.
