I almost joined Chelsea – Aiyegbeni

Former Super Eagles striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has revealed that he was close to signing for Chelsea in 2008, but the deal fell through due to an injury, Saturday PUNCH reports.

Yakubu is the highest-scoring Nigerian in the Premier League, with 95 goals and 24 assists to his name, achieved whilst playing for clubs like Blackburn Rovers, Everton, Middlesbrough, and Portsmouth.

However, he believes he could have built an even bigger legacy, as he had an opportunity to join Chelsea in 2008.

“I was unlucky not to play for Chelsea. I got a chance to sign for Chelsea, and then I got injured,” Yakubu said on the Home Turf Podcast.

“I ruptured my Achilles and I didn’t play for 11 months. That was the day they were negotiating a fee for me, about £15m, so I didn’t play, and that was gone.”

According to the information provided by Yakubu, the Chelsea deal was supposed to happen just before the winter transfer window of the 2008/09 Premier League season. He was at Everton at the time and had even provided four goals and one assist in 14 appearances in that campaign.

“I was crying in the dressing room because it was my time to play for one of the bigger clubs. But so far so good, I went to Leicester in the Championship, scored goals, then I went to Blackburn Rovers and came back to the Premier League. I think I did everything,” he added.

Yakubu picked himself up exceptionally well after that disappointment and went on to do well at Everton and his other clubs. He was one of the scariest strikers during his playing days, with his perfect blend of power and technique making him a nightmare for many defenders.

He appeared in 252 Premier League matches and is the fourth-highest African goalscorer in Premier League history. He represented Nigeria at four African Cup of Nations finals, the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2000 Summer Olympics.