Super Eagles defender Ola Aina has revealed that he was close to signing with Tottenham Hotspur as a youngster, but a frustrating experience with the club led him to walk away and eventually join Chelsea instead.

Now 28 and playing for Nottingham Forest, Aina recounted the incident during an appearance on the 90s Baby Show, explaining how poor treatment from Spurs shifted the course of his footballing journey.

“I was training with Spurs regularly, and they told me they were going to sign me after one session,” Aina said. “On the day it was supposed to happen, my dad and I were told to wait in an office. We waited for nearly five hours. I even told my dad I was hungry. He said to go ask what was going on—but we both got fed up and left. We never heard from them again.”

Disheartened by the ordeal, Aina opted to join Chelsea’s academy in 2013, where he developed through the youth ranks. However, he struggled to break into Chelsea’s first team and was eventually loaned to Hull City and Torino before sealing a permanent move to the Italian side in 2019.

He later had a loan stint at Fulham before settling at Nottingham Forest in 2023. At Forest, Aina has become a key player, earning praise for his performances last season and even being nominated for the Premier League Team of the Season.

Looking ahead, Aina is set to face a new challenge as Nottingham Forest prepares for European competition. The club finished seventh in the Premier League and qualified for the UEFA Europa League after Crystal Palace, winners of the FA Cup, were bumped down to the Conference League due to UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules.

With Forest gearing up for their European campaign, Aina—who has never played in the Europa League—will be eager to make his mark on the continental stage.