Onyekuru: Everton Move Was A Risk

Nigeria’s Henry Onyekuru admits signing for Everton was something of a risk but insists he has no regrets about the move.

Onyekuru,23, joined the Tofees in 2017 but failed to make a competitive appearance for the club.

He arrived at Everton from Belgian club KAS Eupen on the back of a 22-goal season, but was immediately sent on loan to Anderlecht.

That was followed by another loan this time to Turkish side Galatasaray before sealing a permanent move to French club AS Monaco in 2019.

“The first dream is to play in the Premier League, it may not have worked out at Everton but I have no regrets about it,” Onyekuru told
BBC Africa Sport.

“When I received offers from top clubs in England I knew back then that I needed a work permit to play.

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“That it didn’t happen then has nothing to do with my talent but red tape that’s beyond my control.”

Onyekuru revealed he was keen on a move to his boyhood club Arsenal, but aware he faced a familiar huddle – work permit issues- he opted to fulfil his Champions League ambition instead at Anderlecht through Everton.

“I really wanted to go to Arsenal because I spoke to some people there as I was very young then,” he explained.

“It was obvious that I was not going to play without a UK work permit. So I went to Everton and played in the Champions League through a loan move to Anderlecht.

“It was important for me to get more playing time and experience that I had hoped would help boost my chances of earning the permit.

“I can’t say I regretted this because I got to play against Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich in the Uefa Champions League, this doesn’t happen to everyone.”