Super Eagles Star Explains Why He Celebrated Leaving Chelsea

Having spent seven years at the West London club without playing a single game for the senior team, Nigeria international Kenneth Omeruo finally sealed a permanent move to Leganes over the summer, a switch he has revealed brought him much joy.

Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo signed for the former England champions in January 2012 following an impressive stint with Standard Leige after bursting to limelight with the Nigerian Under-20 team that reached the quarterfinals of the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia.

However, despite earning a call up to the Super Eagles at just 19 and playing a key role in helping Nigeria win a third continental trophy in 2013, Omeruo was never considered good enough at the Stamford Bridge and was sent on loan to clubs in the Netherlands, Turkey, Belgium, and Spain.

The 26-year-old has eventually found a permanent home in Leganes after the Cucumber Growers forked out €5 million to convince Chelsea to part with the defender. Omeruo had spent the 2018/19 season on loan at Leganes, playing in 28 league matches and helping the side retain their La Liga status.

Speaking to AS, Omeruo revealed that he was delighted when it was confirmed that he was no longer a Chelsea player.

“Every year I thought I would get the opportunity to play at Chelsea, but in the end that chance didn’t come,” Omeruo explained as monitored by Soccernet.ng.

“So last season I told them: ‘Let me go and play in LaLiga and test if I’m up to the required level.

“I had several other options (apart from Leganes) but the coach of Leganes at that time (Mauricio Pellegrino) gave me a lot of confidence and told me that he wanted me to stay.”

Omeruo will hope to be in the squad that host Celta Vigo on Sunday as the Nigeria international missed the 1-0 defeat to Sevilla last weekend. He last featured for Javier Aguirre’s side in the 1-2 home loss to Barcelona on November 23.