Semi Ajayi reveals why he snubbed Ajax move

West Brom defender, Semi Ajayi, has admitted that his quest for first-team football made him reject Ajax.

The 27-year-old started his career at Charlton Athletic academy and was promoted to the senior team in 2012.

The Super Eagles star then moved to Arsenal permanently in 2013.

The defender spent two years at the Emirates, but did not get a chance to feature for the senior team.

Ajayi went on trial at Ajax, before sealing a deal with Cardiff City and has revealed why he decided not to join the Dutch side despite their interest to sign him.

“When I left Arsenal, they allowed me to go and train at clubs and have a look at clubs and explore my options. Ajax happened to be one of them. It was a really good experience and I enjoyed it a lot,” Ajayi told BBC Sport Africa.

“Their academy and the set up they have there is amazing. You can see why they produce so many players when you enter their facilities and see how they do things.

“They were interested, they wanted a young athletic centre back to groom for the first team and get ready for the first team and I fit their criteria, so they invited me for a trial.

“It went really well but I was looking for first-team football and the route that they wanted me to go would have been to initially play for the B team and then maybe work my way up into the first team.

“I just thought if I was going to leave home and then move all the way over there it would be for the first-team only, although the B team is technically a first-team.”