Sunday 3 May 2015 19:51, UK
London-born running back Jay Ajayi will return to the capital as an NFL rookie next season after being drafted by the Wembley-bound Miami Dolphins.
Having slid into the fifth round despite being projected to be taken inside the first four, the 21-year-old was selected as the 149th overall pick by the AFC East franchise.
The Dolphins play their divisional rivals the New York Jets at Wembley on October 4 and Ajayi could be a major factor in Miami's rushing attack that day after setting all-purpose yardage records in his final year at college with Boise State.
Speaking last week about the possibility of returning to the city of his birth, Ajayi told Press Association Sport: "If I get to play at Wembley in the future, I know it will be really special for me and my family.
"Being from London, that home-town kid, that would be very special.
"It would be a surreal experience if that ends up happening this year."
Ajayi, who was born in Hackney and lived in Essex before moving to the States at the age of seven, watched the draft along with his family from his home in Texas.
However, despite being graded as a second-to-fourth-round selection, he was forced to wait until the third day as 12 other running backs were surprisingly taken ahead of him amid suggestions some teams thought a 2011 knee injury could impact him in the professional ranks.
