Chuba Akpom has revealed how he “lay awake for days” after receiving an offer from Saudi Arabia whilst at Middlesbrough.
Voetbal International cover comments from the striker today as he reflects on what might have been in 2023.
The 29-year-old has been playing Lille after joining them on loan from Ajax at the end of the January transfer window. It was the latest in a series of moves in recent years for the striker, who has bounced around Europe since coming out of Arsenal’s youth set up.
He joined Middlesbrough in 2020 from PAOK Salonika and proved to be a massive hit, bagging 34 goals and four assists in 82 games for the club in his most successful spell to date.
That saw the Premier League knocking on his door but also Saudi Arabia, who were willing to offer big financial bonuses to secure his signature from Middlesbrough.
Ultimately, he didn’t end up making the move, instead deciding to join Ajax in a €12.3m move in August of 2023. They didn’t offer the same money as their Saudi counterparts, and Akpom admits he lay awake for days thinking about the sums he was offered.
“Before I signed for Ajax, I received an offer from Saudi Arabia,” he said on LavieCutz’ TikTok
“I barely slept for five nights. When you hear that there is interest in you, it is different than when you actually see it on paper. Then all kinds of things happen in your body. Everything starts to itch. I lay awake for days. My girlfriend and I were lying in bed thinking about everything.
“You’re about to get a certain amount of money, but you don’t have it yet, but in your head, you’re already spending it. My girlfriend and I were in Disneyland and thinking about everything we could get…”