Former Super Eagles and Everton striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni recently opened up on his missed chance to join Premier League big hitters Chelsea in 2008, Footynaija.com reports.
Yakubu enjoyed a fine career in the Premier League, turning out for a number of clubs including the likes of Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton and Blackburn Rovers.
And his Premier League career could’ve been even more impressive but for an unfortunate injury that occurred right around the same time that a move to West London giants Chelsea was on the cards.
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In a recent interview with Home Turf, the former Nigeria international revealed how rupturing his Achilles tendon at the time prevented him from getting what would’ve been the biggest move of his career.
“I was unlucky not to play for Chelsea. I had the chance to sign, and then I got injured,” he said.
“I ruptured my Achilles and was out for 11 months. They were negotiating a fee of around £15m for me that very day. When the injury happened, everything disappeared.
“I was crying in the dressing room because I knew it was my chance to join one of the biggest clubs.”
Yakubu racked up 252 appearances across his time in the Premier League, scoring 96 goals to become the fourth-highest African goalscorer in the history of the English top flight division.
He also made 58 appearances for the Nigeria national team, scoring 21 goals and representing the Super Eagles at four Africa Cup of Nations and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Despite everything Yakubu achieved in his career, missed move to Chelsea will occasionally leave the former Everton man ruminating about what could’ve been.
