Hafiz Umar Ibrahim’s life is sort of a film. From as soon as being hopeless as a watermelon vendor in Kano, northern Nigeria’s greatest metropolis, Ibrahim’s dream of soccer fame is lastly about to come back to go.
On Friday, Chelsea knowledgeable Ojodu Metropolis FC that it might signal the 18-year-old striker after he efficiently trialed with them in April.
He has gone from the hopelessness of poverty to the gates of fortune. He informed this author in Luca, Italy, in February how the ache of poverty was the motivation for his chase of soccer glory.
Soccernet.ng can completely report that Ibrahim will be part of Chelsea with a attainable mortgage transfer to Strasbourg in Ligue 1. If there’s sufficient room on their roster after the summer season window, they’d preserve him at Stamford Bridge because the membership seeks to enhance its fortunes for the following season.
No matter occurs, Ibrahim will play skilled soccer in Europe. And with that comes a possibility to assist his household turn out to be higher.
Born in Kano, Hafiz or Dan Mama as his associates name him, grew to become of worldwide curiosity when he scored 10 targets to complete as prime scorer on the 2024 Viareggio Cup in Italy. His targets helped Ojodu Metropolis FC attain the semifinals the place they misplaced to eventual winners Past Limits FC of Nigeria.
His expertise was acknowledged and he grew to become of curiosity to a number of golf equipment together with Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt, who flew him over instantly after the match. However he turned down the chance to signal a 500,000 euro contract with Bodo because of Chelsea’s curiosity.
As beforehand reported by Soccernet.ng, Hafiz had been known as by Chelsea’s scouting director, Joe Shields, and star ahead Raheem Sterling whereas he was contained in the airplane to Norway.
He noticed an opportunity to maneuver to the Premier League and made up his thoughts to take it.
Hafiz returned to Lagos to course of his UK visa and went to the place he met a few of the star gamers he had solely seen on TV. As a substitute of being star struck, he put his foot on the fuel and labored onerous.
The clincher
Hafiz moved forwards and backwards between the primary crew and the U19s. As his last week of trial neared its finish, he knew he needed to give it his all.
On the ultimate Friday earlier than Chelsea made their resolution, Hafiz scored a hat trick as membership proprietor Todd Boehly watched from the sidelines. The choice was made to maintain him.
The negotiations with Ojodu Metropolis FC started. It has taken a very long time to agree on the ultimate particulars of the deal. Ojodu initially requested for 2 million kilos, however the membership beat it right down to 1.5 million kilos.
Nevertheless, the ultimate particulars are nonetheless being ironed out so that each one the golf equipment concerned in Hafiz’s improvement earlier than he signed for Ojodu Metropolis final yr will get one thing from the deal.
There will likely be one thing for all of the golf equipment when all the main points are agreed.
What’s subsequent for Hafiz Ibrahim?
Hafiz was in Nigeria earlier this month after his trial ended. He visited Kano to see his associates for a number of days earlier than returning to London to await the conclusion of the deal.
The go to was saved very non-public; even his youth coach was stated to have withdrawn his cell phone in order that he wouldn’t have the ability to broadcast his go to. He was solely given again his cellphone when he bought to the airport.
They wished to make sure that he was not distracted within the essential days earlier than this massive transfer.
The large transfer has arrived, and he’ll make it official within the coming days when the switch window opens.
Destiny has smiled on Hafiz, and fortune will include it. Could his skilled profession be affluent in order that he fulfils his ambitions of ruling the soccer world.
