Ola Aina admits he thought about staying at Chelsea due to transfer ban

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Defender Ola Aina chose to leave Chelsea for Torino this summer.

Torino defender Ola Aina has told London News Online that he thought about staying at the club to try and force his way into Frank Lampard’s plans.

Aina, 22, was born in South London and joined the Chelsea youth ranks way back in 2007, with the right back being tipped for a bright future.

In fact, as quoted by Calciomercato, Jose Mourinho suggested that Aina had ‘great potential’ and ‘represented the future of the club’ – but that didn’t really materialise.

Aina was sent on loan to Hull City for the 2017-18 season, before heading off to Italy last term with Torino, making his move there permanent this past summer.

Now a Nigerian international, Aina is thriving for club and country, but he is now seeing a generation of Chelsea youth products get chances that few before them were given.

Reece James, Fikayo Tomori, Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tammy Abraham are all emerging, with Frank Lampard leading a youth movement at Stamford Bridge.

That was partly forced because of the club’s transfer ban this past summer, but Lampard is recently embracing the new direction – and Aina has admitted that he had second thoughts about leaving this summer in order to fight for a spot under Lampard.

Aina admitted that his decision to leave was tough, but it was the right time to go, and whilst staying crossed his mind given the transfer ban, he spoke to Eddie Newton and decided to leave for a permanent move to Italy.

“It was tough because that is all I knew, my whole life,” said Aina. “It was a hard decision, but for me, just going on the season I had last season, it was right for me to do.”

“It would cross anyone’s mind. I thought about it but I wasn’t sure if it would be the right time for me. I had a lot of contact with Eddie Newton, I spoke with Eddie at length and in detail so we both came to sort of an agreement and he wished me all the best of luck and said if I ever needed his help, or some of the staff’s help in future, I could always knock on their door,” he added.