Former Super Eagles striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has revealed that a devastating Achilles injury in 2009 ended his hopes of completing a move to Premier League giants Chelsea.
Aiyegbeni disclosed that he was close to joining the London club when the serious injury struck, forcing him to spend almost 11 months on the sidelines and ultimately bringing the proposed transfer to an end.
The former Nigerian international described the Chelsea opportunity as a genuine chance to take another major step in his career, but admitted that the injury completely changed the direction of his football journey.
Aiyegbeni was enjoying an impressive spell in the Premier League at the time and had established himself as one of Nigeria’s most prolific forwards.
The striker said the proposed move represented a significant opportunity, making the eventual setback even more painful.
Despite the disappointment, Aiyegbeni went on to enjoy a distinguished career in England, featuring for clubs including Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton and Blackburn Rovers, while also becoming one of Nigeria’s leading goalscorers at international level.
The revelation offers a glimpse into one of the biggest “what if” moments of the Nigerian striker’s career — a move to Chelsea that could have changed his football story forever.
One injury, 11 months out — and a dream move to Chelsea disappeared.
