West Ham sign Oladapo Afolayan from Solihull Moors
Thursday 1 February 2018 14:49, UK
West Ham have signed striker Oladapo Afolayan from National League side Solihull Moors on a three-and-a-half year deal.
Afolayan will join the club's U23 squad after attracting plenty of interest from other Premier League and Sky Bet Championship clubs.
The 19-year-old has scored 11 goals in all competitions this season for the Moors, and been a large part of their efforts to climb away from the relegation zone.
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He started his career in Chelsea's academy before a spell in Canada, and he returned to England to study at Loughborough University.
"It's a dream come true," said. Afolayan.
"I started out with Chelsea and was there until I was 15, then my family moved to Canada and I was part of the Academy at Toronto FC.
"Then, when we moved back, I studied civil engineering at Loughborough University before the opportunity arose to join Solihull and play in the National League and it was something I couldn't turn down.
"Now, the opportunity has come to join a Premier League club and West Ham is one which has always given youngsters opportunities to come through, as we have seen this season, so I've come here to get into the first team and make a name for myself."
