Tobias Ademide Aromolaran (born 3 March 1999)[2][3] is an English television personality and semi-professional footballer, who plays as a forward for Isthmian League club Hashtag United.[4] In 2021, he was runner-up on the seventh series of Love Island, and has since appeared on the spin-off versions Love Island Games and Love Island: All-Stars, as well as the first series of Celeb Cooking School.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Tobias Ademide Aromolaran | ||
| Date of birth | 3 March 1999 | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Hashtag United | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2016 | Thurrock | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2018 | Tilbury | 82 | (15) |
| 2017–2018 | Loughborough University | 5 | (1) |
| 2018 | Basildon United | 2 | (0) |
| 2018 | Cheshunt | 3 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Witham Town | 16 | (3) |
| 2019 | Tilbury | 10 | (1) |
| 2019–2020 | Coalville Town | 2+ | (1) |
| 2020– | Hashtag United | 74 | (19) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
editYouth career
editThurrock
editAromolaran, having initially started playing football at the age of 6, is a product of the Thurrock youth ranks, where he played at U18 and U23.[5][6]
Senior career
editTilbury
editIn mid-2016, Aromolaran moved into the senior set-up of Isthmian League - North Division side Tilbury. His competitive bow arrived on 13 August 2016 in a league match with former team Thurrock, as he made it a goalscoring debut after netting the opener in a 1–1 home draw. Further appearances came that month against Ware, his FA Cup debut against Brentwood Town, and then back in the league against Great Wakering Rovers. In mid-September, Aromolaran scored his second senior goal in a 3-2 Isthmian League win at home to Maldon & Tiptree. He ended the campaign with 40 appearances and 3 goals; the third came on 25 October versus future team Witham Town.[7]
Aromolaran started his second season at Tilbury with 4 goals in 5 matches, as he got goals against Bury Town and Norwich United before notching a brace in a 6–4 win away to Mildenhall Town. After an 8th goal for Tilbury against AFC Sudbury on 11 November 2017, he netted braces in consecutive December appearances versus Potters Bar Town and Romford respectively; in the match with Potters Bar, he picked up his first career yellow card. Three more goals came in home encounters against Barking, Ware and Maldon & Tiptree. In 2018–19, Aromolaran featured five times before departing.
As a Tilbury player, Aromolaran featured – at centre-back – for the Essex FA county team.[8]
Loughborough University
editWhilst with Tilbury, Aromolaran also occasionally participated for Midland League team Loughborough University. He appeared in 5 total matches for The Scholars and scored 1 goal, which came in a fixture at home to Coleshill Town F.C. at the Loughborough University Stadium on 18 November 2017.[9][10]
Basildon United
editAfter leaving Tilbury, Aromolaran began playing for Basildon United of the Isthmian League - North Division in October 2018. His stay with the club would be shortlisted, as he totalled around 63 minutes after coming off the bench in league defeats away to Aveley (19 October) and at home to Bowers & Pitsea (3 November).[11]
Cheshunt
editAromolaran switched Basildon United for Cheshunt in November 2018. Like with his former team, the player would struggle for consistency and would leave after just a few appearances. He made his debut in the Isthmian League - South Central Division on 10 November as a starter in their 3–1 defeat on the road to Hanwell Town. Aromolaran would leave after participating in the Alan Turvey Trophy against Whitstable Town F.C. on 13 November and in the league against Chipstead F.C. on 17 November.[12]
Witham Town
editOn 11 December 2018, Witham Town announced the signing of Aromolaran.[13] Four days later, the forward appeared for his debut in a Isthmian League - North Division victory away against Canvey Island; replacing Johnny Ashman after 74 minutes. His first goal for The Town came in a 2–1 win over Brentwood Town on 5 January 2019. A month later, on 5 February, Aromolaran scored twice in a 5–2 loss away to Bury Town at Ram Meadow. He'd participate in a total of 16 games for Witham.[14]
Tilbury return
editIn mid-2019, Aromolaran rejoined Isthmian League - North Division club Tilbury. His second competitive debut for The Dockers came on 17 August during a home defeat to Cambridge City, as he came onto the pitch after 37 minutes to replace Jordan Cox. He netted his only Tilbury goal of his second stint in his penultimate appearance, as he notched the final goal of a three-goal win on the road against ex-team Basildon United. Aromolaran departed after a last showing in an FA Cup defeat away to Biggleswade F.C. on 7 September.[15]
Coalville Town
editA short spell with Coalville Town F.C. in the Premier Division Central] followed Aromolaran's stint back with Tilbury. He scored his only goal for Coalville on 1 October in a first round Southern League Cup against Tamworth He made a few other appearances before departing at around the time of the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.[citation needed]
Hashtag United
edit2020–21
editOn 31 July 2020, Hashtag United F.C revealed the signing of Aromolaran.[16] His first appearance came in a pre-season friendly win day later against Frenford, which preceded his first goal coming in an exhibition defeat a week later versus Bowers & Pitsea. Another friendly goal came against St Albans City, before the new signing netted his first competitive goal in his first competitive appearance for HTU as they won on their FA Cup bow versus Park View on 2 September. A first Essex Senior League goal arrived three days later versus Ilford on 5 September, a month that he ended by grabbing his first HTU assist in a loss at Wadham Lodge to Walthamstow on 29 September.[citation needed]
A fifth goal for The Tags came on 3 October in an FA Cup second qualifying round match with Braintree Town, as the forward netted from range to put HTU ahead in stoppage time. However, the club immediately conceded and were later eliminated via a penalty shoot-out. Soon after, the season was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic; though this time, unlike in early 2020, HTU would end up claiming promotion to the Isthmian League - North Division.[17]
2021–22
editAromolaran missed pre-season in 2021–22 due to his appearance on the seventh series of Love Island.[18][19] Whilst away, Jay Devereux publicly left the door open for the player to return and continue with Hashtag United following the end of his stint on the show.[18] Aromolaran returned to first-team action for an Isthmian League, North Division home defeat to Felixstowe & Walton United on 18 September, as he came off the bench to replace Kiernan Hughes-Mason with 17 minutes remaining. His opening 2021–22 goal arrived on 4 December 2021 against Great Wakering Rovers in the league, as he also grabbed an assist for Luke Hirst. He also notched versus Dereham Town and Romford in that December, which were his final competitive goals in that campaign.[20]
2022–23
editHaving netted in pre-season friendlies against Cray Wanderers, Buckhurst Hill and Brightlingsea Regent, Aromolaran got his first official strike for HTU since December 2021 in an August 2022 cup win over Barton Rovers on 20 August. The forward scored his first of the Isthmian League, North Division campaign against Hullbridge Sports on 4 November, prior to netting 3 goals in December versus Great Wakering Rovers, Gorleston and Brentwood Town. Aromolaran opened 2023 with January goals at East Thurrock United and at home to Hullbridge Sports. He scored his 20th goal for HTU on 18 February as they beat New Salamis 2–1 on the road and his 21st goal four days later in a Coggeshall Town.[4]
2023–24
editOn the opening day of the Isthmian League, Premier Division campaign in 2023–24, Aromolaran netted a 94th-minute leveller during a 2–2home draw with Dulwich Hamlet. In his following appearance, on matchday 2, the forward converted again in a triumph at Concord Rangers. Aromolaran scored twice in a 7-0 victory away to a weakened Hornchurch side on 21 November in the 3rd round of the Essex Senior Cup. His 5th goal of the campaign was netted in a 3–1 league success over Canvey Island on 2 December.[21][22]
Television
editIn 2021, Aromolaran was announced as a contestant on the seventh series of Love Island, entering the villa as an original islander on Day 1.[23] He reached the final and alongside Chloe Burrows and the pair finished in second place.[24][25][26][27][28] In 2022, Aromolaran was a contestant on the first series of the E4 reality series Celeb Cooking School in which he finished as the runner-up.[29][30] He also took part in the Channel 4 series The Big Celebrity Detox.[31] In 2023, he took part in the spin-off series Love Island Games.[32][33][34] In 2024, Aromolaran was announced to be returning for Love Island: All-Stars.[35][36][37][38]
Personal life
editAromolaran was in a relationship with Chloe Burrows, whom he met on Love Island until October 2022.[39]
References
edit- ^ "How tall is Love Island star Toby Aromolaran?". Heart.
- ^ "Love Island's Toby Aromolaran: his age, friendship with Tyrique Hyde and Chloe Burrows split". Heatworld.
- ^ Webber, Emily (March 4, 2022). "Inside Love Island's Toby Aromolaran's birthday with girlfriend Chloe Burrows". OK! Magazine.
- ^ a b "What is Toby from Love Island's football team Hashtag United?". The Independent. July 25, 2021.
- ^ "Who is Toby Aromolaran from Love Island 2021? Age, Instagram and job". Metro. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ "Who Is Love Island's Toby Aromolaran?". Grazia. June 21, 2021.
- ^ "Toby Aromolaran - Tilbury Football Club First Team". www.pitchero.com.
- ^ "HASHTAG UTD vs HODDESDON TOWN". Hashtag United. 26 October 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ Warrington, Pete (October 10, 2017). "Five star display by Loughborough Uni FC". loughboroughecho.
- ^ "Inside stories of footballers who went on Love Island and became TV stars". The Mirror. April 16, 2022.
- ^ King, Mel (June 22, 2021). "Essex footballer who's never been in a relationship entering Love Island". Essex Live.
- ^ "Toby Aromolaran". Hashtag United. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ "The club would like to welcome Toby Aromolaran who is 19 & recently joined our First team making his debut vs Romford, he plays as a striker / winger & has previously played for Tilbury, Basildon United & Cheshunt". Witham Town. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ "Aromolaran is loving life with Witham Town". Braintree and Witham Times. January 11, 2019.
- ^ "Tilbury | Appearances | Toby Aromolaran | 2018-2019 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
- ^ "NEW SIGNING!". Hashtag United. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ Patmore, Jack (December 3, 2023). "Reviewing the weekend's non-league games".
- ^ a b "👀 Plenty of you asking if and when @Toby_Aro is coming back…". Hashtag United. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ "Essex footballer set to join new series of Love Island". Gazette. June 21, 2021.
- ^ "What is Toby Aromolaran's football team, Hashtag United?". Capital.
- ^ "Toby Aromolaran putting football first with Hashtag". Echo. January 6, 2023.
- ^ "Hashtag United secure big win at Concord Rangers". Echo. August 16, 2023.
- ^ "Who is Toby Aromolaran? Love Island: All Stars 2024 contestant". Radio Times.
- ^ "Who is Toby from Love Island and which football team does he play for?". The Independent. August 23, 2021.
- ^ "Love Island star Chloe Burrows' family speak out after disgusting trolling". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Love Island: 2.8m see Millie and Liam crowned 2021 winners". BBC News. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Love Island's Toby addresses whether he wants to marry Chloe". Digital Spy. August 25, 2021.
- ^ "'Toby will be a better person after Love Island'". August 23, 2021 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Celeb line up revealed for E4's Celebrity Cooking School (w/t) | Channel 4". www.channel4.com.
- ^ "E4's Celeb Cooking School filmed in Warminster". Wiltshire Live. September 6, 2022.
- ^ Archer, Katie (May 3, 2023). "Toby Aromolaran opens up on drinking his own urine for Celebrity Detox". OK! Magazine.
- ^ "Love Island's Toby Aromolaran says spin-off is "Love Island on steroids"". Digital Spy. October 19, 2023.
- ^ "Toby Aromolaran reveals reason he is on Love Island Games 2023". Capital.
- ^ "Love Island's Toby Aromolaran: his age, ex-girlfriend and relationship with Chloe Brockett". Closer. October 19, 2023.
- ^ "Georgia Harrison to appear on Love Island All Stars". BBC News. January 8, 2024.
- ^ "Love Island: All Stars 2024 - Confirmed line-up". Radio Times.
- ^ https://www.itv.com/news/2024-01-08/love-island-all-stars-line-up-announced-whos-returning-to-the-villa
- ^ "Love Island All Stars 2024 contestant line-up revealed". Digital Spy. January 9, 2024.
- ^ "Why Love Island's Chloe Burrows and Toby Aromolaran split". Capital.