Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP via Getty Images
Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP via Getty Images
Yakubu is more than established as a cult hero in the Premier League’s rich history, and now has revealed he was actually close to making a move to Chelsea.
The striker was close to being part of the Premier League’s 100 club, a feat managed by only seven players who have ever played for the Blues.
Chelsea’s strikeforce in their 2009/10 winning season consisted of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, with the former picking up the golden boot in that campaign.
Blackburn Rovers v Chelsea - Premier League
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Yakubu says he nearly joined Chelsea in 2009
This didn’t seem to stop the Blues looking to strengthen their options though, with Yakubu revealing to RE:Match that if he hadn’t been injured, he would’ve made his move to Stamford Bridge.
He said: “I was close in 2009. I was close to joining Chelsea then, but then I ruptured my achilles, so it took me 11 months.”
Despite being a stalwart in the Premier League for close to a decade, the Nigerian never got a move to one of the so called ‘big six’.
Romeo Lavia, Reece James, Valentin Barco and Jordan Henderson
Romeo Lavia, Reece James, Valentin Barco and Jordan Henderson
Yakubu’s record against Chelsea
During a time where Chelsea dominated mid-table and relegation-threatened Premier League clubs, Yakubu can be proud of the record he personally managed against them.
The forward scored three goals and registered two assists in his 13 games against the Blues, playing for Blackburn, Everton, Middlesbrough and Portsmouth.
One of these goals came in his first game against Chelsea after the aforementioned achilles injury, finding the net in a 3-3 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Yakubu’s influence on the pitch did not frequently lead to positive results for his side though. He was only on the winning side twice, both for Middlesbrough away from Stamford Bridge.