Celtic's Nigerian defender reveals he was rejected by Fulham, QPR in his teen years

Glasgow Celtic's Nigerian central defender Osaze Urhoghide has revealed that he was rejected by London clubs Queens Park Rangers and Fulham in his teenage years.

After the Super Eagles hopeful was overlooked by the Hoops and Cottagers, he went on to sign scholarship forms at AFC Wimbledon following a successful trial.

At the time he was poached by The Dons, he was playing in Sunday League football with CB Hounslow United.

Born in the Netherlands, Urhoghide is now rubbing shoulders with Celtic's international stars such as Vasilis Barkas, Albian Ajeti, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Carl Starfelt, Nir Bitton and James McCarthy following his switch from Sheffield Wednesday in the summer transfer window.

In a question and answer session with his fans, Urhoghide was asked if he was rejected by a club in his teenage years and he replied : "Yes, twice to be honest. I think my first trial in England was Queens Park Rangers, done really well during the trials, got all the way to the last stage and then later I got a letter saying, 'No we are not going to take you'.

"Basically you're going to get cut then maybe like a year or two went down the line, got a trial at Fulham.

"For some reason I didn't take this seriously, I don't know why, then the next thing I got cut, and after the trials the next opportunity I get I have to take it. I have to fully grab it with two hands.

"I have to wait maybe about a year, maybe about two years, before I got scouted by AFC Wimbledon".

Urhoghide was a non-playing substitute as Celtic threw away a two-goal lead to lose 4-3 to Real Betis in a Europa League clash on Thursday.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel