'I went to Crystal Palace' – Ex-Super Eagles invitee reveals he missed out on dream Chelsea move

2019 Super Eagles invitee Viv Solomon-Otabor has opened up on how a dream move to Chelsea slipped through his fingers as a teenager, forcing him to continue his development elsewhere.

The former Crystal Palace schoolboy was spotted by Chelsea scout Ray Rembridge during a Sunday League fixture, earning a six-month trial with the London club.

During his trial at Chelsea, Solomon-Otabor trained alongside Ola Aina, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Jérémie Boga, all of whom went on to make their senior debuts for the Stamford Bridge outfit.

"I went back to play for my Sunday team and I got scouted by Chelsea, it was mad. I didn't get to play for the U16s but we were U15s," Solomon-Otabor told Through a Different Lens Podcast.

The winger revealed that legendary Chelsea scout Ray Rembridge had tracked his development for three years prior to making an approach, something he only discovered much later.

"I would always play for my Sunday team on Sunday whether I played on Saturday, and then one scout, Ray Rembridge for Chelsea – he's a veteran man. 

"I think he's still working there now, he has been around for years. After the game he told me, 'listen you are ready to come in'.

"I was on trial for six months, and then I didn't get signed. I went to Crystal Palace, I was 14."

Solomon-Otabor, who is currently a free agent, was voted Birmingham City's Young Player of the Season in 2015-2016.

During his time at St Andrew's, he had loan spells with Oxford City, Bolton Wanderers, Blackpool and Portsmouth.

The attacker has also turned out for CSKA Sofia, Wigan Athletic, St Johnstone, Rukh Lviv, Cangzhou Mighty Lions and Al Orooba.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Copyright ANS
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com