From Step Five To The Premier League

Dapo’s moving on up!

- Matt Badcock

OLADAPO AFOLAYAN has gone from the Midland League to the Premier League’s West Ham United inside 12 months – and his former Solihull Moors boss Liam McDonald thinks it shows how much Non-League talent is out there.

McDonald, now in charge at Rushall Olympic, spotted the 20year-old forward playing at Step 5 for Loughborough University.

Afolayan was studying for an Engineering degree having been released by Chelsea, where he played alongside Dominic Solanke, when he was younger.

McDonald felt the future England C international was worth taking to National League outfit Moors and his 16 goals in 38 appearances led to the Hammers handing him a three-year deal on January transfer deadline day.

“I brought quite a few players in from lower levels early on in my time at Solihull and you never know how it’s going to go,” McDonald told The NLP.

Impression

“He came on as a sub for his debut and with his first touch he scored. Jumping on from Step 5 to Step 1 is a massive step. Now he’s jumped up another four – he’s gone up nine levels in the last year!