A striker who has repeatedly said his mother would be proudest to see him in green and white has found a fresh start at Ashton Gate.
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Bristol City have announced the signing of forward Elijah Adebayo, who has Nigerian heritage through his parents, on a free transfer following his departure from Luton Town.
Adebayo joins the Robins on a two year deal, becoming the club’s tenth signing of the summer as they continue building their squad ahead of the new Championship season.
“The Place Has A Feel-Good Factor”
Speaking to Bristol City’s official website, Adebayo said he was excited to get started, describing the club as having a feel good factor that made it easy for him to settle in quickly. He credited the manager’s clarity about what he expects from the squad as a key reason for the move, and said he intends to use his experience to help push the group in the same direction. Sporting director James Ellis said the club had already benefited from having Adebayo around, praising the experience and different attacking dimension he brings, along with the added competition for places up front.
A Frequently Stated Wish To Play For Nigeria
The 28 year old, who came through Fulham’s academy before making his name at Luton Town, has repeatedly and publicly said he would choose Nigeria over England if given the international opportunity, describing his Nigerian heritage through his mother as important to him. He has never earned a cap for either country. With Nigeria’s forward pool remaining deep and competitive, a fresh start at Bristol City offers Adebayo a platform to rebuild his case, following a Luton spell disrupted by a serious ACL injury.
📌 Did You Know?
- Adebayo scored Luton Town’s first-ever Premier League hat trick, netting three times in a 4-0 win over Brighton during the 2023/24 season.
- He came through Fulham’s academy for nine years without making a first team appearance, instead building his career through a string of loan spells at Slough Town, Bognor Regis, Cheltenham, Swindon and Stevenage.
- Adebayo has said his mother, who was born in Nigeria, would be especially proud to see him represent the Super Eagles.
- His Luton Town spell was disrupted by a serious ACL injury that required surgery and a lengthy recovery period.
- Bristol City’s ten signings this summer reflect one of the more active rebuilding projects in the Championship this transfer window.
- Adebayo previously celebrated Luton’s promotion to the Premier League by wrapping a Nigerian flag around his waist, a gesture that drew attention from Nigerian football fans.