Blessing to be here – Maja

– Josh Maja (above) is different to most young English footballers – at barely 20 he has already been a star on Netflix and has now chosen to join the restricted group of Brits looking to further their careers abroad.

The striker, who featured prominently in the streaming service’s Sunderland ’Til I Die documentary last year, had been linked with a move to the Premier League before signing for Ligue 1 outfit Bordeaux in January on a four-and-a-half-year deal.

In doing so, he bucked the trend, with players moving across the English Channel usually going the other way.

“I just felt I’d get more opportunities abroad, so that was the main reason I left and I thought I’d get an opportunity to make a name for myself and go from there,” the Londoner told AFP.

Bordeaux are not rushing to throw in the youngster, but he is hoping to make his debut in French football when his new club host Toulouse tomorrow.

In the meantime, Maja – who is exactly one week younger than Kylian Mbappe – got his first sample of Ligue 1 last weekend as an unused substitute when Bordeaux lost 1-0 to Paris Saint-Germain.

Having played his last game for Sunderland in a 1-1 draw at Scunthorpe United in the English third-tier League One last month, being in Paris was quite a change of surroundings for Maja.

As he spoke at the Parc des Princes, Gianluigi Buffon gave him a passing tap on the shoulder and a smile.

“I’m around probably the biggest names in world football, so that is just a blessing,” he said.

Maja was with Sunderland in the Premier League two seasons ago, but it was their relegation to the Championship in 2017 that paved the way to the first team for him. He scored on his league debut, but a difficult campaign ended with the Black Cats being relegated again.

Maja, raised in Pimlico in central London, admits the prospect of one day playing for his boyhood heroes Arsenal might be too good to refuse.

“Yeah obviously that is a dream, that is the team I support, so it would be a great opportunity to play there.” – AFP

I’m around probably the biggest names in world football, so that is just a blessing. Josh Maja Bordeaux striker