Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has admitted both Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea wanted to sign him as a youngster.
Saka has established himself as one of the Gunners best players over the course of the last two years, clinching the club’s player of the year award for his consistent displays during the 2020/21 campaign.
And the England international has continued to perform well this season, providing seven goals and four assists – a hugely impressive feat considering he is still just 20-years-old.
Now, the talented winger has admitted that a number of clubs in London tried to sign him when he was younger, including local rivals Spurs.
When asked how close he came to being a Tottenham player, Saka told Sky Sports: “I remember one session, and I don’t think I went to another one.
“But, yeah, I think it was just to go and try different clubs but we always had Arsenal in our hearts.”
Asked who tried to sign him, he added: “There was Arsenal, Chelsea I was at for a bit, there was Watford, there was Tottenham. “I think there was maybe two more but those are the ones that I can remember from the top of my head.
“Arsenal was the one I always wanted to go to. It seemed like they had a lot of faith in their youth and there was a clear pathway.
“You could see the players coming up from Hale End to London Colney, and my dad also really believed in the project and he loved Arsene Wenger a lot. So I think Arsenal was the club in the hearts of my family so we chose them.”
