It has been revealed that former Wycombe Wanderers striker Adebayo Akinfenwa could have joined a Premier League club at the start of his career.
The 40-year-old, who retired from the game in May after spending the last six seasons at Adams Park, played 794 career games and scored 233 career goals across the Football League, as well as in fixtures in the Welsh and Lithuanian divisions respectively.
Gearing up for this evening's premiere of @daRealAkinfenwa's #BeastModeOn at the @wycombeswan. A brilliant chat with Bayo followed and how did he describe the Wycombe fans that chanted his name for six years? He said: "For me, they're extended family'. #Chairboys pic.twitter.com/tXrTVCvp64
— James Richings (@James_BFP) October 26, 2022
READ MORE: Thousands of fans attend Adebayo Akinfenwa's Amazon Prime documentary at the Wycombe Swan
However, during the premiere of his Amazon Prime documentary, ‘Beast Mode On’, at the Wycombe Swan on October 26, it was discovered that the striker could have joined Arsenal when he was in his pre-teens.
READ MORE: Adebayo Akinfenwa reflects on his three cherished memories at Wycombe Wanderers
Born in Islington, scouts from the North London club were impressed by Akinfenwa’s ability, but the then youngster turned down the opportunity as he ‘only wanted to play for Liverpool’, which is the club he supports.
During the official screening of his film at the theatre, Akinfenwa’s agent, who was in the crowd, also confirmed in the Q and A after the documentary had ended that Wolverhampton Wanderers were ‘interested’ in the striker.
It’s up & live ppl ( go run up the streams) 😂😂😂 honoured, blessed. 🙏🏿🙏🏿@primevideosport pic.twitter.com/MG7pY82VrB
— daRealAAkinfenwa (@daRealAkinfenwa) October 28, 2022
READ MORE: Adebayo Akinfenwa on why he stayed at Wycombe Wanderers for six years
The potential transfer would have occurred in the summer of 2007, however, the popular forward suffered a broken leg in February of that year when at Swansea City.
His injury occurred in a 2-0 home loss for the Welsh team against Scunthorpe United.
READ MORE: Adebayo Akinfenwa on being a 'gimmick' when signing for Wycombe back in 2016
A night on the red carpet and the big screen!
— Wycombe Wanderers (@wwfcofficial) October 28, 2022
A look at @daRealAkinfenwa's documentary premiere night, where WanderersTV spoke to the man himself and stars in attendance to sing their praises about a special human being.#Chairboys pic.twitter.com/x9VcchMCWu
He eventually turned down a new contract with the club and joined Millwall that November on a free transfer following his recovery.
The Chairboys legend admitted in his film that the interim period between those moves was ‘the scariest time’ of his life as his daughter had not long been born and that he was ‘broke’.
He also revealed that leaving Swansea when injured was one of the ‘few regrets’ he had in his career, but said that he was ‘meant to take that path’.
The documentary was released on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, October 28.
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