Semi Ajayi bids emotional farewell to West Brom after six years

By Monsurah Olatunji

Nigeria international defender Semi Ajayi has confirmed he will leave West Bromwich Albion next month, bringing an end to a memorable six-year stint at The Hawthorns just ahead of his participation in the upcoming Unity Cup with the Super Eagles.

Ajayi, 31, joined West Brom in 2019 from Rotherham United for a £1.5 million fee and quickly established himself as a key player, making 177 appearances and playing a crucial role in the club’s promotion to the Premier League during his debut season.

Despite encountering injuries and stiff competition for his place, Ajayi’s dedication and dependability remained steadfast. The former Charlton and Arsenal youth product scored 13 goals for the Baggies, including a vital strike in the fierce Black Country derby and an unforgettable goal in a comeback victory at Peterborough in August 2021.

Expressing gratitude on Instagram, Ajayi wrote: “Thank you to everyone connected with @WBA for an incredible six years. To the staff, my teammates, and the fans — thank you for accepting me and embracing me in a way that truly made me feel at home. I’ll never forget the special bonds and memories we’ve built since I joined the club.”

He added: “From the incredible promotion season in my first year to the unforgettable scenes at Peterborough away in front of our amazing fans — and, of course, scoring in that Black Country derby win! West Bromwich Albion will always hold a special place in my heart, and the memories we’ve shared will stay with me for a lifetime.”

Ajayi’s departure was announced alongside those of fellow first-team players John Swift and Grady Diangana, all leaving after their contracts expire.

With his West Brom chapter closing, Ajayi’s focus now turns to representing Nigeria in the Unity Cup, where he will bring his experience and leadership to the national team.

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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