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Ola Aina praises John Terry’s mentorship during Chelsea Academy days

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Ola Aina praises John Terry’s mentorship during Chelsea Academy days

By Monsurah Olatunji

Nigeria international Ola Aina has credited Chelsea legend John Terry for playing a pivotal role in his development during his time at the club’s academy.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Aina reflected on his early career at Chelsea, where he rose through the ranks at the club’s renowned Cobham academy before making his senior debut.

Now playing for Nottingham Forest, the 28-year-old spent several years on loan before leaving Chelsea permanently in 2019 in search of consistent first-team football.

Despite limited appearances—just six for the senior squad—Aina looks back fondly on his time at Stamford Bridge, especially for the mentorship he received.

“JT (John Terry) was a big one for us because he was really good with the academy boys,” Aina said.

“All my memories that I’ve had with JT—they’ve been really good. He’s a really supportive guy. He just knows how to connect with the young ones.”

Aina was part of the Chelsea squad that won the Premier League in the 2016/17 season under Antonio Conte, which also marked Terry’s final campaign with the club.

He also recalled the presence of another Chelsea great during his youth career. “Ashley Cole was there,” Aina added, acknowledging the influence of multiple senior figures during his formative years.

A product of Chelsea’s youth system, Aina has since gone on to earn 46 caps for the Nigerian national team and establish himself as one of the Cobham Academy’s standout success stories.

In a twist of fate, reports suggest Chelsea may be interested in bringing Aina back to Stamford Bridge this summer, as his current contract with Nottingham Forest nears its end.

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Samuel Ahmadu
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
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