Semi Ajayi’s interesting journey
Trials at Dutch champions, Ajax, discussions with Arsenal’s serial Premier League winner, Arsene Wenger, and now battling the likes of Neymar on the international stage... there have been some intriguing stories on Semi Ajayi’s journey to The Hawthorns. The Albion centre- back has been a model of consistency and excellence in Slaven Bilić’s back- line since arriving in the summer. A sparkling student, he decided to set aside his academic achievements to focus on a career in football and, like his defensive partner, Kyle Bartley, has arrived at the Club via a circuitous route around the various levels of English football. He’s now an established Nigerian international and is flourishing with the Baggies.
What do you think should be on your football bucket list?
HMMM... well, I would say play in the Premier League consistently and that’s obviously something I would like to do here with Albion. That would be in there. And definitely play in the World Cup. A third one? Win the African Nations. All three would be excellent.
So, if those are the targets by the time you finish playing, how did it all start?
I was born in Croydon but just after my brother was born, when I was two, we moved to Thamesmead, where I grew up. I suppose it was a bit of a rough area and my mum and dad really made sure me and my brother worked hard at school and studies and didn’t have chance to get into any trouble. Football, though, was a big part of my life - and my brother’s – and as we grew older, it became a big part of dad’s life too! He would have to run us everywhere to play games.
But at the same time, my grades were good and mum and dad remained very keen on my education and that got me and my brother into grammar school...
What were your favourite subjects?
I enjoyed my studies and I was good at languages, science, mathematics, business studies... that sort of thing. I studied French and Spanish but leaving school at 16 to take up a football scholarship, I didn’t get the chance to continue. But that’s something I would like to pick up in the future.
Charlton Athletic were the one’s to provide you with your start in football…?
Yes, going to Charlton at 16 was a big moment for me because it would mean leaving school and my academic career. But my parents left the decision to me. I had really good grades and football definitely represented a bigger risk. But that was what I wanted to do and they stood by my decision. My mum ( Dayo) was born in the UK but moved back to Nigeria where she met my Dad ( Biyi)... yes, mum and dad did a lot for me and my brother, Fikayo, who was just as keen on football. Between us, dad would be taking us to football six days a week.
What happened to your brother, Fikayo?
He was a good prospect too, but when he was 16 he suffered a broken leg, which really set him back. He missed the chance of a scholarship and I think when he came back he found himself that year behind everyone else. But he has done well – he got a scholarship in America and he now works for a business management company in New York. He follows my career through the TV games... but he was over for the Fulham game so he got to see me score my first goal. We were able to spend some time together that weekend which was good.
Going back to your time at Charlton…
So yes, Charlton was really good for me. I had been going there since I was nine. But we were in half- term and I think mum just wanted me and Fikayo out of the house so we went off to one of those football camps they were running. It was nothing too serious but I think I got recommended from that. My dad came to get me one day and didn’t tell me where I was going just that I would need my boots. I didn’t know it but he was taking me for a trial and I did well enough to get into their development school and then their Academy. We had a really good team and the focus of their Academy was about the development of the person, not just the footballer. They felt good human beings would make better foot ballers and they had a great record then for producing a lot of players; a lot had come through during the previous 10 or 15 years. I got a great football education at Charlton but the one thing that I couldn’t see was a pathway to the first team.
So what was the next step? -
I was doing well enough to be picked by Nigeria for the Under- 21 Toulon tournament – mum and dad hit the road again and spent 10 hours driving down to the south of France to watch me – and from that I must have been scouted because the offer came to go to Arsenal. I couldn’t see a way through at Charlton at the time and the quality of the Arsenal academy – the coaches, the facilities – made that impossible to turn down. In fact, I got close to the first team. At one stage I was first understudy behind Mertsacker and Koscielny but they then bought Gabriel Paulista in the January. Arsene Wenger was very honest with me in that he said he wanted me to stay and develop but he couldn’t offer me first- team football at that point.
Yours and Kyle Bartley’s stories are very similar, wouldn’t you agree?
Yeah... I just missed him at Arsenal by a few weeks apparently. And it’s strange but we’ve got a really good understanding and have had from the start. We seem to know each other’s thoughts even though we’re not familiar with each other. Kyle left Arsenal just as I joined and the lads who knew him started telling me how much my game reminded them of ‘ Barts.’ I didn’t know who he was; we hadn’t met. But they were always telling me that we both had the same attributes. It’s strange how we have ended up together and I do think we have built a good partnership, a good understanding. As I say, we seem to know each other’s thoughts on the pitch and that’s a really positive thing.
Was your allegiance always with Nigeria or was England ever an option?
The decision was made a long time ago. I decided to play for the Under- 20s when I was 19 and the goal was always to play for the first team. As a youngster, we would go there every two years to visit my mum and dad’s families... it was nice to meet my grandparents and all my cousins. It’s a really nice country; mum’s family is in Lagos. She makes Nigerian food at home but it’s different when you go out there and get the real thing. The ingredients are that bit fresher I think. It’s lovely food; I really enjoy it...
You helped your country get a really good result against Brazil too…?
That was a great confidence boost for me, to be able to measure myself against players of that quality and come out with a 11 draw. It’s a good feeling to be at that level and it was a very good performance and very good result for us. The only disappointment was not getting Neymar’s shirt. But I don’t think he was in a very good mood after the game. I asked at the end but it was already taken – I think the other lads in the team must spend the entire game asking him which is something I would never do. But I got Coutinho’s so I’m happy enough with that.
The Nigerians love their football and they are becoming more aware of me now that I am playing a lot more consistently with the national team. They know about Albion of course but they love the Premier League – all the Premier League players are worshipped out there.
Was it extra special to blunt the nation, which produced your favourite player?
Ronaldinho? Yes, there was nobody like him at the time. He did things no other player was trying; definitely my first football hero.
What happened after Arsenal?
What I needed most of all, I felt, was firstteam football and I left to go in search of a club where I might be able to get it. I had trials all over that summer... Sunderland, Ipswich, Cardiff and Ajax...
Ajax… that must have been an interesting experience in your development?
It was fantastic. They’ve got that famous philosophy of playing of course, developing talented young players. But they have the system whereby the ‘ B’ team play in the second division to get that competitive football. It was a really good experience and I really enjoyed it. They have non- position specific training where it doesn’t matter what position you may consider yourself, you are expected to be able to play in any other part of the team. So one day you might be a central defender playing as a winger and the next the full- back might be playing centre- forward. They demand that you develop the technical skills to be able to handle the ball in any part of the pitch. It is, like they say, total football and