Sterling plays key role as Chelsea hand striker sensation trial chance

Chelsea Football Club has invited 18-year-old Nigerian striker Hafiz Umar Ibrahim to join them for a trial, and Raheem Sterling played an important role in making this happen.

Starting next Monday, Ibrahim will spend two weeks at Cobham, Chelsea’s training ground. He managed to secure a visa and had a video call with Sterling before coming over.

Ibrahim currently plays for Ojodu City in Nigeria. He caught Chelsea’s attention after a trial period with Bodo/Glimt, a team in Norway.

During his trial at Chelsea, Ibrahim will have the chance to impress the coaches and earn himself a contract. If successful, he’ll get to train under Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea’s head coach.

Chelsea has been increasingly scouting talent from African academies. Joe Shields, who works in recruitment and talent development, played a role in bringing Ibrahim in.

If Ibrahim performs well during the trial, he’s expected to join Strasbourg, a club partnered with Chelsea, in France.

The owners of Chelsea, Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, are focused on building a young team at Strasbourg as part of their broader strategy.

Ibrahim has been on the radar of European clubs since his impressive performance at the Viareggio Cup in Italy, where he scored 10 goals in six games, including against Manchester City’s Under-21 team.

He sees himself as similar to Romelu Lukaku, a former Chelsea striker known for his strength and scoring abilities.

If Ibrahim doesn’t secure a contract with Chelsea, clubs in Spain and Italy are ready to give him a trial opportunity.