Plymouth Argyle have bolstered their midfield by signing Tyreeq Bakinson on a season-long loan from Leyton Orient, according to a report published by BBC Sport on 24 August 2026. The 27-year-old returns to Home Park six years after his first stint with the club, during which he was part of the 2019-20 League Two promotion-winning side under Ryan Lowe.
A familiar face back at Home Park
Bakinson's path since that first spell in Devon has taken him through several third-tier clubs. He has represented Sheffield Wednesday, Wycombe Wanderers and Charlton Athletic before joining Leyton Orient, where he made 43 appearances last season. Now, under manager Tom Cleverley, he is understood to be returning to the club where his career first gained real momentum.
Cleverley spoke warmly of the signing to BBC Radio Devon, describing Bakinson as a midfielder who can "do a bit of everything". "He is tall, physical, reads the game well and is clean on the ball," the Plymouth boss said. "I'm looking forward to working with him." Those attributes suggest Cleverley views him as a versatile, box-to-box presence capable of covering ground and retaining possession in the middle of the park.
Context: Wiredu's departure creates a vacancy
The Bakinson loan arrives in the immediate aftermath of Plymouth selling midfielder Brendan Wiredu to Salford City on a multi-year deal, a move that had already been reported on this site. Recruiting an experienced replacement in the same position shows Cleverley is moving quickly to maintain depth in a key area of the squad as the League One season builds momentum.
Bakinson's experience of the division is considerable. Between his spells at Wycombe, Charlton and Orient, he has accumulated a substantial body of third-tier appearances and arrives at Plymouth with a sound understanding of what the level demands. For a club aiming to challenge at the right end of the table, that familiarity with League One should prove valuable from the outset.
What Leyton Orient lose
From the Orient perspective, allowing Bakinson to leave on loan represents a notable departure. The east London club relied on him heavily last season, with 43 appearances underlining just how central he was to their plans. Whether Orient have already moved to address his absence in their own squad remains to be seen, but his exit on a temporary basis leaves a clear gap in their midfield options for the campaign ahead.
Second signing confirmed alongside Bakinson
The BBC report also confirmed that Plymouth have simultaneously secured a season-long loan for Oliver Irow, a 20-year-old forward from Tottenham Hotspur. Irow spent the second half of last season at Mansfield Town, where he scored four goals in 18 appearances. Cleverley described him as a versatile winger capable of operating on either flank or through the middle, adding attacking flexibility to the Argyle squad. Irow is not a League One club loan, so his signing is noted here purely as context for Plymouth's transfer business.
Cleverley confirmed that both new arrivals would be in contention for Plymouth's next fixture. Their readiness to step straight into the squad is understood to have been a factor in completing the deals, with the Pilgrims keen to integrate fresh options as quickly as possible.
Squad depth a clear priority
Taken together, Plymouth's recent activity in the window points to a manager determined to build a squad with real cover across the pitch. The loss of Wiredu was a significant one, but the prompt arrival of Bakinson, a player who knows the club, the division and evidently suits Cleverley's style, will offer supporters considerable reassurance. Whether he can rediscover the form that made him such a fixture in the Orient side last season will be one of the more intriguing subplots of Plymouth's League One campaign.
Frequently asked
- Why has Tyreeq Bakinson joined Plymouth Argyle?
- Plymouth manager Tom Cleverley brought Bakinson in on a season-long loan from Leyton Orient to strengthen the midfield, particularly following the sale of Brendan Wiredu to Salford City. Cleverley has praised Bakinson's physicality, reading of the game and technical quality.
- Has Tyreeq Bakinson played for Plymouth before?
- Yes. Bakinson had a previous spell at Plymouth during the 2019-20 season under Ryan Lowe, when the club won promotion from League Two. He returns to Home Park six years on with considerably more experience in the third tier.
- What does Bakinson's loan mean for Leyton Orient?
- Leyton Orient lose a player who made 43 appearances for them last season, which is a notable absence. His departure on a season-long basis leaves a gap in their midfield that Orient will need to address for the current League One campaign.