‘Life is not straightforward’: Dapo Afolayan’s journey from ninth tier to Bundesliga

St Pauli striker on his long road, the club’s political role and being the only English forward to win a title in Germany this term

The former Bolton player was an influential member of St Pauli’s promotion-winning side after swapping Greater Manchester for Hamburg 18 months ago. It has been a long journey for the 26-year-old, one in which Afolayan left Chelsea’s academy aged 14 in order to get the education he wanted, leading to a degree in civil engineering while playing part-time at Loughborough University and withbefore being plucked from the bottom of the fifth tier by West Ham.

“It’s been special for many reasons,” Afolayan says. “Obviously we got promoted, won the league and great moments, but the thing I’ve enjoyed the most is the way we’ve played and gone about it this year. To be able to come here and achieve what I have in such a short space of time is a blessing and I am very very happy.”Afolayan celebrates his second goal against VFL Osnabrück. ‘I hope everyone that comes to play us has a terrible time next season,’ he says.

“It was a good thing for me to come and learn about the football club and why it is the way it is. Once you know that, you want to give even more for the fans and more moments like this season.”

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