Moving out of his childhood home and into a footballer’s mansion has been the crowning achievement of bukayo Saka, the newly discovered teenage sensation from England, according to MailOnline.
The 19-year-old lived with his parents and siblings in Wembley, five miles away, in low living conditions.
Bukayo grew up kicking a ball on the community green after school in the family’s modest two-story semi-detached house in Greenford, in the London borough of Ealing.
But after making his way into Arsenal’s first team, he subtly upgraded by purchasing a modern villa with six bedrooms and large grounds.
Just before turning eighteen, in November 2019, he paid £2.3 million for the massive home in a beautiful Hertfordshire neighborhood.
After receiving his first professional contract from Arsenal at the age of 17, Bukayo is believed to have moved in with his parents and siblings.
Although the property had walk-in closets and a jacuzzi, he wanted to personalize it, so workers have been making updates on a monthly basis ever since.
Although the upgrade’s specifics have not been made public, it is believed to have involved significant improvements.
Even now, a group of laborers was working in the grounds to update the property, which is much larger than its neighbors.
New teenage England star Saka has crowned his breakthrough by moving out of the family home he grew up in – and into a footballers’ mansion (pictured), MailOnline can reveal
Following his breakthrough into the first team at Arsenal, he quietly upgraded by buying a six-bedroomed contemporary mansion (pictured – an artist’s impression of the building) with sprawling grounds
The stunning kitchen includes a breakfast bar and island hob, with separate ovens, hanging lights and and a seating area
The kitchen-diner looks out to the back garden of the property through huge sliding glass doors
The 19 year old grew up in modest circumstances just five miles from Wembley where he lived with his parents and siblings
Despite being named man of the match as England defeated the Czech Republic 1-0, Bukayo Saka continued to maintain contact with fans in his hometown following the play.
Because current stars Dele Alli and Serge Aurier live nearby, as well as club veterans Gary Mabbutt and Martin Chivers, the region is more commonly associated with Tottenham than Arsenal.
It is very different from his small boyhood home. Following yesterday night’s thrilling victory, England’s new hero got in touch with neighbors on his former estate. His giving family is well-known for assisting people with house moves and for donating footballs, game consoles, and cash to local impoverished individuals.
Born five miles from Wembley, the 19-year-old Arsenal winger who was christened ‘little chili’ by colleagues for his ability to spice up assaults, had an incredible journey that culminated in his man of the match performance against the Czech Republic last night.
The fully selfless hero and straight-Adeniki, the student’s mother, and Yomi, his father, usually tell him to go to bed early before important games. Last year, they relocated to Hertfordshire in order to be nearer to Arsenal’s training facility.
Buyako bought the enormous house in leafy Hertfordshire in November 2019 for £2.3 million – just as he turned 18
Bukayo, who had been given his first professional contract by Arsenal at 17, is thought to have moved his parents and siblings in with him soon after
The house came complete with spa and walk-in wardrobes but he wanted to personalise it and workmen have been upgrading it regularly ever since
Although the upgrade’s specifics have not been made public, it is believed to have involved significant improvements. Even now, a group of laborers was working in the grounds to update the property, which is much larger than its neighbors.
Meseret Degeti, 34, an Ethiopian mother of three boys, told MailOnline that the Saka family presented her sons with a sack full of 20 footballs as a way of introducing themselves when she moved in two years ago.
“They are so kind, friendly, and always helpful,” the woman remarked. Upon moving in, Bukayo and his brother assisted me in moving furnishings. Their wife is incredibly kind, and their father is just wonderful.
“Last Christmas, Yomi gave my boys an X-box and £40.” He constantly gave my youngsters encouragement to play football. All he told me was that his kids were good football players, but he didn’t specify how good. Even now, he still pays me a visit, particularly when I have problems with the house. In April, he came to take care of a plumbing problem. He would frequently take my kids to school when they were living here.
Devoted Christians from Nigeria, Bukayo’s parents immigrated to the UK in the 1990s as economic migrants hoping to provide a better life for their unborn children. They settled in Ealing. Although their youngster dazzled on the flawless Wembley field last night, it all started on a plot of land outside his family’s previous terraced house in west London.
According to Loraine Cain, 62, Saka attended Edward Betham C of E Primary School and then Greenford High School. Saka was known for “always kicking a football in front of the house.”
“They were a lovely, polite, and very quiet family,” she told MailOnline. Bukayo used to spend all of his time outside kicking around a ball.
Saka starred for England last night as the Three Lions beat Czech Republic 1-0 to secure top spot in Euro 2020 Group D
Fellow neighbour Eileen Nolder, 91, said he had moved to be closer to the Arsenal football ground to give his son every chance of succeeding without having to leave home.
She said: ‘They are a lovely family, Yomi in particular. He was fantastic and the boys were lovely. There were a couple of times when an ambulance was called for me. Yoni noticed and came straight over to help. Anything you needed carrying or doing, he would come and do it. She added: ‘Yomi was convinced his son was going to be a star and they moved to be closer to Arsenal. I was very sad when the family left.’
Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, texted Bukayo to congratulate him last night. He said: ‘We’re very proud of him.’
Meseret Degeti, 34, from Ethiopia and a mother of three boys, remembered the Sakas as a generous family always willing to lend a helping hand. Although they left the house where Bukayo grew up in April last year, his father Lionel – known affectionately in the neighbourhood as Yomi – still pops back to see if Mrs Degeti needs any jobs doing around the house and helps with the school run.
Mrs Degeti said the Sakas were devoted Christians and when Bukayo’s father visited, he would encourage her children to pray with him.
She said: ‘He would tell them they needed to pray, to help their mother and to be kind to each other. He would ask them what they wanted to be when they grew up. He would talk to them all the time about football and always brought them gifts.
‘My eldest is now 11 years old and obsessed with football.’ Mr Saka worked as a businessman and manages property.
From the age of three he was playing football on a small green with his father Yomi and older brother Abayomi every night, who were so worn they had to beg him to go inside to bed.
His mother Adenike and father worked menial jobs to pay the bills while ferrying their son to football in the evenings and on weekends after he signed for Arsenal aged seven – but were clear that if he wanted to be a professional footballer he must also succeed at school.
Bukayo Saka, believed to be pictured with his brother Abayomi on holiday, in a rare personal picture on his Instagram
His football career began here on this green in Ealing, where he would play every night with his brother and father from the age of three
Bukayo duly left Greenford High School in the summer of 2018 with four A*s and three As in his GCSEs, with his teachers describing him as ‘the humble boy who achieved his dreams as well as a first-class education’.
The school’s PE department tweeted last night: ‘Bukayo Saka at Greenford High School: always ready to learn, so respectful towards staff and peers, wonderful family and top grades. Such a proud night!’.
After a brilliant season at Arsenal, where he became player of the year, and a turgid performance by England against Scotland last Friday, Saka showed his world class football skills when he replaced Phil Foden and sparked the team into life last night. He was also instrumental in Raheem Sterling’s goal that saw England beat the Czechs 1-0 and win the group.
Bukayo and his family played football outside every day despite the warnings.
And just like after every game, Bukayo—whose Yoruba name, derived from West Africa, meaning ‘adds to happiness’—will have spent his entire game FaceTimed with his adoring parents.
Saka was ‘burdened with glorious purpose’, according to Arsenal veteran Ian Wright, following a barnstorming first half. Loki is a mischievous deity, adoptive son of Odin and brother of Thor, and a Marvel anti-hero.
Due to his tendency to’spices up’ the team, Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has nicknamed him ‘Little chili’. He even purchased a jacket with Saka’s stitched along the front and a red chilli adorned with jewels.
Living with his parents and near his brother, his family serves as his pillar of support. Unlike other football players, Bukayo has only one vacation photo on his Instagram account and only one picture of a mansion, fancy automobile, or costly jewelry. His bio is titled “God’s Child.”
In the team lounge, he was apparently the only England player without booze on his table. Smoothies, milkshakes, and juices are his favorites.
And even though he inked a four-year contract at an estimated £10,000 per week, he still resides with his parents, having purchased a house for them close to the Barnet training field of the team. He travels on vacation with his brother and is thought to be unmarried.
He stated to arsenal.com that he began playing football at home with his father and older brother Yomi when he was three or four years old.
That was the way it was always. We used to play for a long time. I never allowed my dad or brother to go back inside, even if they would want to. Until I won, we continued to play. Really, you should ask them! I wouldn’t allow them to return inside as long as they were winning.
He continued, “My brother moved to Reading to attend university, but we still live with my parents in Greenford. We moved away from the training ground recently.”
New England hero Bukayo with staff at his former school during a visit after leaving in 2019
One source close to the star says his feet are firmly on the ground, adding: ‘He’s a brilliant, brilliant kid. Very polite, very courteous, actually very smart and very studious’.
Describing his personality Neil Dewsnip, who coached Saka for England’s Under-18s, told The Athletic: ‘He’s really quiet, self-disciplined, really focused. But underlying all that is a really dry sense of humour. He’s a cheeky little chap, whose self-confidence is obviously growing all the time.’
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Bukayo was given a hug and a pat on the back after a brilliant game as he made his Euro 2020 debut
Just six months after leaving school he made his first team debut in 2019, aged 17, but the humble footballer chose to praise his family rather than his own performance.
He said at the time: ‘My family were buzzing, they couldn’t stop smiling when I told them. But they managed to put me to bed early to focus on today, they were so happy.’
After the game he tried to speak to his proud parents and brother but was taken away for an ice bath. But he still managed to FaceTime them from the freezing water.
Saka is also a hero to students at Greenford High School in Ealing, where his framed and signed Arsenal shirt is on the wall.
His former PE teacher Mark Harvey told The Times: ‘In the last year of doing GCSEs, Bukayo was out of school with Arsenal quite a bit, but he was brilliant.
‘He knuckled down, got really good grades and came out with flying colours. In terms of a sportsman: superb. In terms of a student: role model’.
He added: ‘The family were always insistent that schoolwork had to be addressed. Thankfully, Bukayo was brilliant with his studies — and it was never a concern for us.’
His school are rightly proud of the heights their former student has reached
Greenford High School where Bukayo Saka was a pupil, gaining all As and A*s at GCSE
He started his academic life at Edward Betham of E Primary School School, where his sporting prowess also showed
For Bukayo there was never any doubt he would choose England over his parents’ native Nigeria.
He said recently: ‘My whole family has been in England like forever. When I grew up all my documents stated that I am English, hopefully Nigerian people will understand’.
From the age of three he was playing football on a small green with his father Yomi and older brother Abayomi every night.
He played for his local club, Greenford Celtic, until he was picked up by Arsenal, aged seven.