Bukayo Saka, a new adolescent England star, has celebrated his breakthrough by leaving his childhood home and moved into a footballers’ house, MailOnline can disclose.
The 19-year-old grew raised in poor circumstances, five miles from Wembley, with his parents and brothers.
Bukayo and his family lived in a small two-story semi-detached house in Greenford, in the London borough of Ealing, where he used to kick a ball on the communal green after school.
But, after breaking into the first squad at Arsenal, he quietly upgraded by purchasing a six-bedroom contemporary villa with wide grounds.
He purchased the massive mansion in green Hertfordshire for £2.3 million in November 2019, just before he turned 18.
Bukayo, who signed his first professional contract with Arsenal at the age of 17, is believed to have moved in with his parents and siblings shortly after.
The mansion came with a jacuzzi and walk-in wardrobes, but he wanted to personalize it, so contractors have been renovating it on a regular basis since then.
The exact details of the makeover have not been released, however it is thought that the renovations were considerable.
A crew of workers was even working in the grounds today to update the mansion, which dwarfs its neighbors.
New teenage England star Saka has crowned his breakthrough by moving out of the family home he grew up in – and into a footballers’ mansion (pictured), MailOnline can reveal
Following his breakthrough into the first team at Arsenal, he quietly upgraded by buying a six-bedroomed contemporary mansion (pictured – an artist’s impression of the building) with sprawling grounds
The stunning kitchen includes a breakfast bar and island hob, with separate ovens, hanging lights and and a seating area
The kitchen-diner looks out to the back garden of the property through huge sliding glass doors
The 19 year old grew up in modest circumstances just five miles from Wembley where he lived with his parents and siblings
Bukayo Saka dribbles past Tomas Holes as England beat the Czech Republic 1-0 in a man of the match performance—but individuals in his area are still in contact with him after the game.
The suburb is more closely linked with Tottenham than Arsenal, as club legends Gary Mabbutt and Martin Chivers resided there, while current players Dele Alli and Serge Aurier live nearby.
It is a vast cry from his humble boyhood home. Following yesterday night’s stunning triumph, England’s new hero contacted neighbours on his old estate, and his charitable family is well-known for assisting individuals in moving houses as well as sending footballs, game consoles, and money to help those in need in the region.
His man-of-the-match performance against the Czech Republic last night caps an incredible journey for the Arsenal winger, 19, who was born five miles from Wembley Stadium and is dubbed ‘little chili’ by colleagues because he spices up assaults.
The teetotal hero and straight—A student lives with his parents, Adeniki and Yomi, who require him to sleep early before big games. Last year, they moved to Hertfordshire to be closer to Arsenal’s training base.
Buyako bought the enormous house in leafy Hertfordshire in November 2019 for £2.3 million – just as he turned 18
Bukayo, who had been given his first professional contract by Arsenal at 17, is thought to have moved his parents and siblings in with him soon after
The house came complete with spa and walk-in wardrobes but he wanted to personalise it and workmen have been upgrading it regularly ever since
The exact details of the makeover have not been released, however it is thought that the renovations were considerable. A crew of workers was even working in the grounds today to further modernize the property, which dwarfs its neighbors.
Meseret Degeti, a 34-year-old Ethiopian mother of three boys, shared with MailOnline that when she moved in two years ago, the Saka family welcomed her with a sack containing 20 footballs.
She said, ‘They’re very nice, pleasant, and always helpful. Bukayo and his brother assisted me with moving furnishings when I first moved in. Their father is very amazing, and his wife is extremely caring.
Last Christmas, Yomi gifted my lads an X-box and £40. He always encouraged my sons to play football. He simply told me his children played football and were good, but he didn’t specify how good. He still comes and visits, especially when I have problems with the house. He went here in April to resolve a plumbing problem. When they lived here, he frequently drove my children to school.
Bukayo’s Nigerian parents were economic migrants who arrived in Ealing in the 1990s to provide a better life for their unborn children. They are devout Christians. While their youngster wowed on the beautiful Wembley field last night, it was a strip of land outside his family’s previous terraced property in west London that started it all.
Loraine Cain, 62, said Saka, who attended Edward Betham C of E Primary School and subsequently Greenford High School, was ‘always kicking a football in front of the home’.
She told MailOnline: “They were a lovely, polite, and very quiet family.” Bukayo was never without a ball and was always kicking it around outside.
Saka starred for England last night as the Three Lions defeated the Czech Republic 1-0 to secure top spot in Euro 2020 Group D.
Eileen Nolder, 91, a neighbour, said he moved closer to the Arsenal football stadium to offer his son every opportunity of success without having to leave the house.
She stated, “They are a great family, Yomi in particular. He was amazing, and the boys were adorable. There were a few occasions when an ambulance was called for me. Yoni noticed and came right over to help. He would come and carry or do whatever you asked him to do. She continued, ‘Yomi was confident his son would be a star, so they relocated to be closer to Arsenal. I was quite upset when the family went.
Another neighbour, who did not want to be identified, texted Bukayo to congratulate him last night. He stated, ‘We’re quite proud of him.
Meseret Degeti, 34, an Ethiopian mother of three boys, recalls the Sakas as a generous family who were always prepared to help. Although they left the house where Bukayo grew up in April of last year, his father Lionel – popularly known in the area as Yomi – regularly visits to see if Mrs Degeti needs any help around the house and assists with the school run.
Mrs Degeti stated that the Sakas were devout Christians, and that when Bukayo’s father visited, he encouraged her children to pray with him.
She explained, ‘He would advise them to pray, help their mother, and be kind to one another. He asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up. He often talked to them about football and always brought them gifts.
‘My eldest is 11 years old and infatuated with football.’ Mr Saka is a businessman that oversees properties.
From the age of three, he played football on a little green every night with his father Yomi and older brother Abayomi, who were so exhausted that they had to persuade him to go inside to bed.
After signing for Arsenal at the age of seven, his mother Adenike and father did menial jobs while ferrying him to football in the evenings and weekends. However, they were clear that if he wanted to be a professional footballer, he needed to excel in school as well.
Bukayo Saka, believed to be pictured with his brother Abayomi on holiday, in a rare personal picture on his Instagram
His football career began on this green in Ealing, where he would play every night with his brother and father since the age of three.
Bukayo graduated from Greenford High School in 2018 with four A*s and three As in his GCSEs. His professors praised him for achieving his dreams while still receiving a first-rate education.
Last night, the school’s PE department tweeted, “Bukayo Saka at Greenford High School: always ready to learn, so respectful of staff and peers, wonderful family, and top grades.” “What a proud night!”
After a successful season at Arsenal and a lackluster performance by England against Scotland, Saka demonstrated his world-class football ability by replacing Phil Foden and bringing the team to life last night. He was also vital in Raheem Sterling’s goal, which helped England defeat the Czechs 1-0 and win the group.
Bukayo and his family ignored the signs, playing football outside every day.
And, like with every game, Bukayo, whose name comes from the West African Yoruba tribe and means ‘adds to delight’, will have FaceTimed his adoring parents in full force.
After a barnstorming first half, Arsenal great Ian Wright stated that Saka was ‘burdened with brilliant purpose’, which is the credo of Marvel anti-hero Loki, the mischievous god and adopted son of Odin and brother of Thor.
While Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has nicknamed him ‘Little Chilli’ because he’spices up’ the team, he even bought him a blazer with a jewel-encrusted red chilli and Saka’s embroidered on the front.
His family is his anchor; he lives with his parents and is close to his brother. Bukayo’s Instagram bio reads ‘God’s Child’, and unlike other footballers, he does not post photographs of mansions, flash vehicles, or fancy jewelry. He only has one vacation photo.
He was apparently the only England player who did not have booze on his table in the team’s lounge. He prefers juice, smoothies, and milkshakes.
Despite signing a four-year contract worth a reputed £10,000 per week, he still lives with his parents after purchasing a home near the club’s training base in Barnet. He is thought to be single and travels on vacation with his brother.
He told arsenal.com that he has been playing football at home with his father and older brother, Yomi, since he was three or four.
‘It was always like that. We’d play for hours. My father and brother would want to go back inside, but I would never allow them. We continued playing till I won. I am serious; you may ask them! As long as they were winning, I wouldn’t let them back in.
He said, ‘I still live with my parents, but we’ve relocated farther from Greenford, closer to the training area, and my brother has moved to Reading to attend university.
Bukayo, a New England star, visits his previous school after leaving it in 2019.
According to a source close to the star, his feet are firmly planted, adding, ‘He’s a wonderful, brilliant kid. Very nice, very courteous, very smart, and very studious.
Coach Neil Dewsnip of England’s Under-18s described Saka’s disposition as modest, self-disciplined, and dedicated. However, beneath all of this is a really dry sense of humor. He’s a mischievous young lad whose self-confidence is clearly rising.
Bukayo was given a hug and a pat on the back after a superb game while making his Euro 2020 debut.
He earned his first team debut in 2019, just six months after leaving school, at the age of 17, but the humble sportsman preferred to credit his family over his own achievement.
He claimed at the time, ‘My family was overjoyed; they couldn’t stop smiling when I told them. They were overjoyed that they were able to put me to bed early so that I could concentrate on today.
After the game, he attempted to talk with his proud parents and sibling, but was hauled away for an ice bath. Despite being in frigid water, he was able to FaceTime them.
Saka is a hero for kids at Greenford High School in Ealing, where his framed and signed Arsenal shirt hangs on the wall.
Mark Harvey, his former PE teacher, told The Times that Bukayo was out of school a lot with Arsenal during his last year of GCSEs, but he was great.
‘He worked hard, received excellent grades, and graduated with honors. Excellent as a sportsman. In terms of a pupil, ‘role model’.
He added: ‘The family was always insistent that schooling be completed. Fortunately, Bukayo excelled at his schoolwork, so we were never concerned.
His school are rightly proud of the heights their former student has reached
Greenford High School where Bukayo Saka was a pupil, gaining all As and A*s at GCSE
He began his academic career at Edward Betham of E Primary School, where his athletic prowess was also demonstrated.
Bukayo had no doubt that he would chose England over his parents’ birthplace Nigeria.
He recently stated, “My entire family has lived in England for what seems like an eternity.” When I grew up, all of my documentation stated that I am English; perhaps, Nigerians will understand.
Every night since he was three, he has played football on a little green with his father Yomi and older brother Abayomi.
He played for his local team, Greenford Celtic, before being signed by Arsenal at the age of seven.