Newly signed FC Fredericia goalkeeper Ovie Ejeheri has looked back on his early days at Arsenal, attributing the Premier League club with playing a crucial role in his development.
The Nigerian prospect was loaned to the newly promoted Portuguese top-flight club on Friday morning from Midtjylland to gain regular playing time.
Ejeheri joined the Arsenal academy at just eight years old and signed his first professional contract with the club in August 2021.
Over his more than 14 years at the Emirates Stadium, he benefited from elite training, earning praise for his potential from club and Germany legend Per Mertesacker.
"There were a lot of the best facilities in England, so you can really improve as a player. There are the best coaches there. It's a joy," Ejeheri told Flashscore.com.
"And of course, outside of football, everyone knows you as the Arsenal player, so that's also good as well.
"All my coaches were good for sure, but I think I had a coach called Lee Smelt, and I think he was the most influential for me.
"Not even on the football side, but he really helped me off the pitch. He used to take me home after training. He was a really good guy.
"I think I learned all the basics at Arsenal. I was able to grow my confidence as a player. I was really able to be in a limelight, in a position where people can see me. That kind of pressure when you're young can help you develop mentally as well as on the pitch."
Unable to secure a regular spot in Arsenal’s star-studded squad, the goalkeeper - with Nigerian, Ugandan, and English roots - moved to four-time Danish Superliga champions Midtjylland in 2024.
Before signing the five-year deal, Ejeheri had impressive loan spells at Chelmsford City and Finnish top-flight giants SJK.
When asked why he chose to join the Wolves at that time despite competing with Jonas Lossl and Elias Rafn Olafsson, and moving to a country with a different football culture, he explained: "It's a big club. They just won the Danish League.
"So, I think for me it was not a hard choice to go there and get a good experience there.
"And of course, the goalkeeper coach there as well, he wanted me. You go where you're wanted really.
"Football is football and I think no matter where you are it's not going to be that much different. It's more the life off the pitch that's different. It's much quieter, much more peaceful I would say."
He has no regrets about being unable to help the club retain their Danish top-flight title, which they lost to cross-city rivals FC Copenhagen.
He added: "The team did well. Of course we didn't end up winning the league, but I think you can have a good season without winning the league.
"We did well to get through a lot of periods where most of our best players were injured. And to finish second is still a good result, I think.
"I think the time when we had a lot of players injured really affected us. I think if we didn't have as many injuries as we did, we would have for sure won the league."
With his loan move to Monjasa Park, the Super Eagles prospect is expected to feature regularly under former Danish star and current manager Michael Hansen.
Barring any fitness concerns, he is set to make his debut on July 20th in a Superliga clash against FC Nordsjælland.
Thomas Thomasberg’s squad features nine African players: Mario Dorgeles, Levy Nene, Araphat Mohammed, Prince Amoako, Diallo Sanoussi, Issaka Seidu, Souleymane Alio, Stephen Acquah, and Caleb Yirenkyi.
On the international stage, Ejeheri is expected to make his debut for Nigeria as Eric Chelle's side continues their push for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and prepares for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations set to take place in Morocco.
Shina OludareFlashscore