Nice’s Jeremie Boga reveals which Chelsea legend compelled him to join the Blues at 11 years old

Jeremie Boga says Didier Drogba motivated him to join Chelsea at age of 11

Jeremie Boga reveals which Chelsea star told him to join the Blues when he was a teenager, where he couldn’t become a player he thought he would and ultimately spent most of his career on loan.

Boga joined Chelsea in 2015 but played only a game for them before his loan career started. He first joined Ligue 1 side Rennes on loan before signing for Granada on loan. He returned to England and played for Birmingham City on loan before spending four years at Sassuolo.

It was the first club without a loan, and after four years there, he joined Atlanta on loan. There, he played for a year before he signed for Nice in 2023, and now the attacking midfielder seems to have found his permanent club as he is currently playing for the Ligue 1 club.

However, looking back at his time at Chelsea, the midfielder reveals who motivated him to join the Blues, (h/t EuroSport), Speaking exclusively to TNT Sports, he said:

‘’There are several explanations. Didier Drogba was the first reason I went to Chelsea. He was a role model for all young Ivorians. His career inspired me and motivated me. Once I’d done the trials there, seen the facilities, their mentality, and their plan for me, my whole family was won over, especially me. That’s why we decided to leave so early.’’

Boga was unfortunate in that, although having a fantastic run with Chelsea’s junior team, he was rarely given the opportunity to showcase his skills at the senior level. After that, he played on loan for the majority of his career until finding a play where he could sign a permanent deal.

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It is extremely uncommon to wind up at the team you have dedicated your entire playing career to, so even if you are gifted, you won’t always wind up at Chelsea. For several years, Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah were also unable to play for the team. Thus, it’s quite difficult to demonstrate your commitment and passion at Chelsea and rise to the top of the team at such a young age.