Akinfenwa's professional breakthrough came at Doncaster Rovers, having spent time up until then in the lower leagues of English football as well as spells in Lithuania and Wales.

After spending two seasons with the Welsh club, he joined League One side Millwall and later moved to Northampton Town.

[4] He spent two years at the club, as well as one month at another Lithuanian team Laisvė Šilutė,[7] before returning to the UK early in 2003, where he joined Welsh Premier League champions Barry Town.

Akinfenwa quickly joined Boston United in October 2003,[10] scoring a last minute winner on his debut against Swindon Town in the Football League Trophy.

[16] In July 2005, Akinfenwa moved to Swansea City, who were ordered to pay an £85,000 fee as compensation, significantly below the £300,000 asking price Torquay had set for his signature.

Whilst at the Gills, Akinfenwa was able to form a strong partnership with Cody McDonald and the pair were able to score 36 goals between them that season.

Akinfenwa was offered a new contract by Gillingham at the conclusion of 2010–11 season,[30] but chose instead to return to Sixfields on 25 May 2011, after new Cobblers manager Gary Johnson brought him in to "capture the imagination of the supporters".

[32] Three years later, with Northampton struggling financially, Akinfenwa auctioned off the shirt he wore in this match and donated the proceeds to a supporters' trust, raising £440.

[35] After reigniting his successful partnership with Cody McDonald, scoring 10 goals over the course of the 2013–14 season and coming third in their Supporters Player of the Year awards, Akinfenwa left the club on expiry of his one-year contract.

[37] In the third round of the FA Cup on 5 January 2015, in which AFC Wimbledon hosted Liverpool at Kingsmeadow, Akinfenwa equalised against the club he supports, albeit in a 1–2 defeat.

[44] On 13 July 2020, Akinfenwa and Wycombe won the 2020 League One play-off final over Oxford gaining promotion to the Championship for the first time in both the player's career and the club's history.

[48] Akinfenwa's last game for Wycombe was the 2022 EFL League One play-off final, where he featured as a 75th minute substitute but could not prevent a 2–0 loss to Sunderland.

[50] On 11 July 2022, Akinfenwa appeared in a pre-season friendly for Isthmian League North Division side Hashtag United against Walthamstow.

Hashtag United confirmed that Akinfenwa would not be joining the team full-time due to his personal schedule and potential injury issues.

[53] On 25 March 2023, Akinfenwa had a 94th minute penalty saved by outfield player Harrison Pont on his home debut for Faversham, against rivals Sittingbourne.

[55] In September 2014 he was invited to attend the launch party for FIFA 15 alongside various celebrities and Premier League players, including Rio Ferdinand, George Groves and Lethal Bizzle.