CHELSEA striker sensation Armando Broja is the latest emerging talent set to play a big role in Thomas Tuchel’s senior squad this season.
The 19-year-old Albanian, who signed a new five-year deal on Sunday, grew up idolising club legend Didier Drogba.
And if that’s not enough the powerful striker was plucked from bitter rivals Spurs when he was a youngster.
TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS
After playing for his local club Burnham Juniors, Broja went on trial to Reading.
He trained there, but wanted bigger and better things.
Broja also played with the Fulham academy, and impressed coaches so much he was placed in a team with players on scholarship deals.
But it was Premier League giants Tottenham who were the first to secure a deal with Broja.
“I went to a tournament with Burnham Juniors and there was a Spurs scout there watching,” he told Chelseafc.com.
“He actually came to watch another player in my team but I ended up winning Player of the Tournament and he took me on instead, so I went to Tottenham and signed for them.”
MOVE TO THE BLUES
In youth games, Broja starred against Chelsea.
Immediately, the west London giants wanted the youngster to join their academy after being impressed by his ability.
“I was at Spurs for two years from Under-8s until the end of Under-9s and in those two years, we played Chelsea a lot and they really liked me as a player and that’s when I joined the Academy,” he said.
FOOTBALL IDOLS
Like many aspiring Chelsea star, Broja’s footballing idol is Ivory Coast hero Drogba.
“My Chelsea idol is Didier Drogba,” he said.
“He was a machine, very strong, a great finisher and he had an amazing career.
“At Chelsea, he achieved so much and he was always the one to produce in the big games.”
Broja also grew up watching clips of Brazilian legend Ronaldo.
“My dad first introduced me to him and I watched so many of his clips,” he said.
“He was strong, fast, two-footed, he had everything. That’s who I aspire to be like.”
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Broja finally made his Chelsea debut last year under old boss Frank Lampard
He then spent the 20/21 campaign on loan at Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem, where he scored 11 times.
Having impressed abroad, Broja has since been training with Chelsea’s senior side.
He came off the bench to score in yesterday’s 6-1 friendly win over Peterborough.
And on Sunday the club confirmed Broja had put pen to paper on a lucrative long-term contract.
With Olivier Giroud sold to AC Milan and Tammy Abraham’s future also in doubt, Broja now looks set to play a role for Tuchel’s European champions.
