Ola Aina Profile: Club, Market Value And Honors

Ola Aina, whose full name is Temitayo Olufisayo Olaoluwa Aina, was born on October 8, 1996, in Southwark, London, England.

He is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a full-back for Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. Though he was born in England, Ola Aina plays for the Nigeria national team.

Standing at 1.84 meters tall, or about 6 feet, he is known for his strong defensive skills on the field. Ola Aina also has a younger brother named Jordan, who is currently part of the Fulham Academy.

Ola Aina Club Career:

Ola Aina started his football career with Chelsea, joining their youth academy as an under-11 player. He debuted for the youth team during the 2012-13 season.

This period was important for Aina as he started in both legs of the semi-final and the final of the FA Youth Cup. His talent was noticeable, and he soon became a regular feature in Chelsea’s under-18s, under-19s, and under-21 teams.

In 2014, Aina got his first taste of senior football. On July 19, he played his first game for Chelsea’s first team in a pre-season friendly against AFC Wimbledon.

An injury to Todd Kane opened the door for Aina to start the match. He played the first half before being substituted by Branislav Ivanović, helping Chelsea secure a 3-2 victory.

The 2015-16 season was a big one for Aina. He was included in Chelsea’s pre-season tour, participating in three matches of the International Champions Cup.

His impressive performances caught the eye of then-manager José Mourinho, who included Aina in the first-team squad for the season.

Despite training full-time with the first team, Aina continued to play for the under-21s and under-19s. He was on the bench for a League Cup match against Walsall on September 23, 2015, but did not get to play.

As the season progressed, Aina faced a tough decision. With limited first-team opportunities, he chose not to renew his contract, which was set to expire at the end of the season.

In July 2016, Aina ended speculation about his future, signing a new four-year contract with Chelsea. This commitment saw him included in the club’s pre-season tours to Austria and the United States, where he played in all six pre-season matches.

On August 23, 2016, Aina made his professional debut under manager Antonio Conte in a 3-2 win over Bristol Rovers in the EFL Cup, replacing John Terry in the 77th minute.

His Premier League debut followed on October 15, 2016, when he came on as a substitute in a 3-0 victory against Leicester City, replacing Victor Moses.

In search of regular playing time, Aina moved on loan to Hull City in the Championship on July 11, 2017. He made his debut on August 5, 2017, in a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa.

Aina’s first goal for Hull came in the FA Cup, scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers on January 6, 2018.

This loan spell provided Aina with valuable experience and regular first-team football. Aina’s performances caught the attention of Italian club Torino, and on August 14, 2018, he joined them on a season-long loan after signing a new three-year deal with Chelsea.

He made his Serie A debut shortly after, coming on as a substitute in Torino’s 0-1 loss to Roma. Aina scored his first goal for Torino on February 2, 2019, against Udinese.

His strong performances throughout the season helped Torino finish seventh, securing a spot in the Europa League qualifiers.

Torino was impressed and decided to make Aina’s move permanent on June 11, 2019, for a reported fee of £9 million.

Aina continued to be a regular player for Torino, appearing in 37 matches across all competitions in his second season.

For the 2020-21 season, Aina returned to the Premier League, joining Fulham on a season-long loan with an option to buy.

He scored his first goal for Fulham on November 2, 2020, in a 2-0 win over West Brom. His stunning strike was later named the Premier League Goal of the Month.

This award made Aina the third Fulham player to receive this honor, following Jean Michaël Seri and André Schürrle. Yet, Fulham struggled that season and eventually faced relegation.

After leaving Torino, Aina joined Nottingham Forest on a one-year contract on July 22, 2023. He made his debut for Forest on August 12, 2023, in a 2-1 loss to Arsenal.

Aina scored his first goal for the club on November 5, 2023, in a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at the City Ground. His performances impressed the club, leading to the activation of a one-year contract extension on May 21, 2024.

Ola Aina International Career:

Ola Aina started his international career with England. He played for several youth teams, beginning with the under-16 team.

Aina then progressed through the ranks, playing for the under-17, under-18, under-19, and under-20 teams. Though he initially played for England, Aina later decided to switch his international allegiance to Nigeria.

On March 28, 2017, he was seen with Chuba Akpom, an Arsenal player, after meeting with Amaju Pinnick, the president of the Nigeria Football Federation.

This meeting indicated his interest in playing for Nigeria. In May 2017, Aina made his decision official. He pledged his future to Nigeria and obtained a Nigerian passport to make the switch from England.

That same month, he received his first call-up to the Nigerian national team, marking the beginning of his senior international career.

Aina’s commitment to Nigeria bore fruit. In May 2018, he was included in Nigeria’s preliminary 30-man squad for the World Cup in Russia.

He did not make the final 23-man squad for the tournament. However, he played an important part in Nigeria’s qualification for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.

Aina made a notable impact in the tournament, particularly in the first match against Burundi. He assisted the only goal of the match, helping Nigeria secure a win.

On December 25, 2021, Aina was shortlisted for the 2021 AFCON Nations Cup. He was included in the 28-man Nigeria squad by caretaker coach Augustine Eguavoen. Aina is also one of the 28-man who became the runner at the recent AFCON Cup of Nations.

Ola Aina Market Value:

Ola Aina’s market value is currently €12.00 million, which is also his highest value ever, reached on May 27, 2024. Over the years, his market value has seen a gradual increase, with notable growth since 2017. As of the latest update on May 27, 2024, he continues to be valued at €12.00 million.

Ola Aina Honors:

Chelsea Youth

2013/2014: Barclays U21 Premier League
2013/;2014, 2014/2015: FA Youth Cup
2014/2015, 2015/2016: UEFA Youth League

Nigeria

2023: Africa Cup of Nations runner-up

Individual

November 2022: Premier League Goal of the Month
2023: Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament

Orders

Member of the Order of the Niger

Pataka

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