Chelsea and West Ham step up their quest for Nigerian teenage wonder kid Kamaldeen

ENGLISH Premier League clubs Chelsea and West Ham have stepped up their pursuit of Nigerian wonderkid Abduljelili Kamaldeen who is tipped to be the next Jay Jay Okocha following his dazzling displays at the ongoing Fifa U20 World Cup.

Kamaldeen, 16, is a mercurial playmaker currently plying his trade with the Kwara Football Academy (KFA) in Nigeria but he has caught the eye with his talent. Currently playing for Nigeria at the U20 World Cup in Chile, Kamaldeen has shown maturity well beyond his years, dictating play in midfield.

Earlier this year in a regional West African Football Union tournament, he scored in a match against Benin Republic, in a display that alerted scouts worldwide. With Fifa rules preventing underage players from signing professional contracts, both Chelsea and West Ham have made scholarship proposals to secure Kamaldeen’s signature..

Sources close to the player revealed that Chelsea’s youth scouts first tracked him down in Chile, while West Ham have since joined the race after recent talks in London. Both clubs are putting forward proposals that will allow the teenager to continue his education while honing his football at academy level, until he turns 17 and becomes eligible to sign a professional deal.

Beyond England, Belgian clubs Anderlecht and Royal Antwerp have also been in touch through Kamaldeen’s agent, while a Portuguese club has also submitted a bid for him to join their U-19 setup. At present, however, Chelsea and Royal Antwerp remain the most concrete suitors, with West Ham’s recent entry intensifying the competition.

Kamaldeen has already been valued at £25,000 by his agent but this figure is expected to rise significantly if he continues to impress on the world stage. Kamaldeen has already enjoyed international exposure after dazzling at a Flying Eagles training camp in Dubai last year, fuelling the belief that he is destined for a big career in Europe.

Chelsea scouts are said to be especially impressed with his combination of football intelligence and technical ability, while West Ham sees him as a long-term investment for their academy system. For now, Kamaldeen remains focused on helping Nigeria at the U-20 World Cup and if he continues to impress, he could emerge as the next big Nigerian thing.