Julius Okorie
Former Super Eagles midfielder, Seyi Olofinjana, has been handed talent hunt and management job by English Premier League Club, Chelsea.
The job of the former Hull City ace will be to hunt and manage talents across Africa on behalf of Chelsea.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelOlofinjana is expected to play a major role in identifying worthy talents in Africa under the supervision of a scout Chelsea appointed to cover the continent.
According to The Athletic, the role will involve covering “recruitment recommendations across the region, working in conjunction with a newly-appointed scout that will cover Africa” as well as working with new signings “to improve their experience and aid the settling in process and adaptation”.
The 44-year-old retired midfielder, is credited for the discovery of Taiwo Awoniyi who moved to Liverpool in 2015. The striker is currently playing for Premier League side, Nottingham Forest.
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With the executive director of Imperial FC, Nigeria’s third division team, on Chelsea’s scouting team, more of Awoniyi’s kind of talent is expected to be discovered and exported to Chelsea directly.
This process is expected to help Chelsea avoid buying African talents from clubs in Europe when they can get the players directly from Africa.
Chelsea has over the years been a fertile ground for African players who have proved their worth taking to club and their career to greater heights.
Chelsea As Fertile Ground For African Players
Among players who left indelible mark at Stamford Bridge include Ivorian international, Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Mikel John Obi, and Celestine Babayaro to mention just a few.
The Chelsea assignment will further broaden Olofinjana’s venture into managerial and coaching job. Olofinjana who holds a Degree in Chemical Engineering, worked with Wolverhampton Wanderers’s Academy, becoming the club’s Loans Pathway Manager in 2019.
In April 2021, Olofinjana left Wolves for Swiss side, Grasshopper Club Zürich, becoming their new sporting director. He resigned and left on 20 June 2022.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
