Boreham Wood

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Boreham Wood stalwart Femi Ilesanmi has opted to leave Meadow Park after rejecting a contract offer for next season.

The 35-year-old defender, who featured 370 times for Wood in all competitions over two separate spells, was the club's longest-serving player and took his farewell bow in their play-off final defeat to Rochdale in May.

Ilesanmi, who began his career at AFC Wimbledon before spending a year at QPR, originally joined Wood in 2016 after leaving York City.

He moved to Dover a year later, but returned after a single season and went on to help Wood gain promotion back to the National League in 2025, as well as winning the National League Cup in his final year.

"I wish him nothing but success," said , externalmanager Luke Garrard. "I have no doubt that wherever he signs, they will be getting a true professional and a man that gives nothing but 100%."

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Boreham Wood have signed Tottenham goalkeeper Luca Gunter on a season-long loan and Sunderland defender Oliver Bainbridge on a permanent deal along with midfielder Tarryn Allarakhia, who was recently released by Rochdale.

Gunter, 21, has previous National League experience, having played 14 times for Wealdstone in the latter half of the 2024-25 season.

He won the Under-17 and Under-18 Premier League Cup double with Tottenham in 2022-23, and the Premier League 2 title with the club's Under-21s the following season.

Bainbridge is a 21-year-old left-back who failed to make a first-team appearance at Sunderland but helped South Shields to the National North play-off final during a loan spell last season.

He also gained senior experience with Kilmarnock, where he spent the first half of the 2024/25 campaign on loan, making his debut against Celtic.

The London-born Allarakhia, 28, is a Tanzania international. He made 72 league appearances during his two-year spell at Rochdale.

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Long-serving goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore is among six players to be released by Boreham Wood following their play-off final defeat by Rochdale at Wembley earlier this month.

The 36-year-old made more than 250 appearances for The Wood but featured in only 12 National League games this season, spending two loan spells with Bedford Town in the National League North.

Also leaving Boreham Wood are full-back Cameron Coxe, defender Joe Newton and midfielders Erico Sousa, Jack Payne and Charles Clayden.

Experienced defender Femi Ilesanmi, who has made more than 350 appearances for Boreham Wood is in talks to extend his stay at Meadow Park.

Boreham Wood defender James Clarke has signed a new contract which will keep him at the National League club until at least the end of the 2027-28 season with the option for a further 12 months.

The 26-year-old right-back joined The Wood from league rivals Solihull Moors in March, making 11 appearances as they were beaten in the promotion final by Rochdale earlier this month.

He scored a hat-trick in a 5-1 win over Wealdstone in April with Boreham Wood finishing the season in fourth place and beating Forest Green Rovers and Carlisle United in the play-offs to reach the final at Wembley.

Clarke started his career with Mansfield Town before signing for Solihull in 2021.