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Jeddah - Yasmine El Tohamy - Riyadh:  Eritrean-born British football player Mohammed Adams has praised the “incredible” revolution taking place in Saudi football in his appearance on the latest episode of Arab News’ “The Mayman Show.”

The Al-Khaleej star recalled his journey from the fields of England and the US to the Saudi Pro League.

Adams was set to start his professional career with Blackburn Rovers in England. He took part in a two-week training camp and was offered a professional contract, but a last-minute injury brought an end to his plans.

“On a Friday I’m supposed to sign the contract. In training, I’m dribbling down the line, cut the ball back. Some guy smashes my ankle. OK, at that point I’m like, damn, this is painful, I can’t walk,” he said.

“So, at that point it was like, go home, get scanned, and then the club rang me. They said ‘Mo, if you snap four ligaments in your left ankle, you can’t sign the contract.’ So, at that point, I was that close from turning pro, and it just gets snatched at the moment, you know what I’m saying?”

The 27-year-old recalled his somber spirits as a result of the setback. “Just honestly, at that point, I kind of wanted to stop playing football because I felt like everything I’d ever worked for was just snatched from me, like, in an instant,” he said.

Adams contemplated taking his efforts to the US since his attempts at turning professional in UK had hit a roadblock. “But even prior to that, like, you know how competitive it is in the UK, you know, if you get released at a certain age, you can’t expect to jump back at that same age or that same level. It’s like a pyramid. You gotta start at the bottom.”

Despite the setback, he continued playing the sport on a part-time basis. “People were working two jobs at the same time. So, it was like I had this little dream, but this wasn’t the right environment for me. So, that’s when I obviously took the step to the US and inspired a lot of people, because I was one of the first people out of the UK.

“So, I’d say that was probably like, seeing my actual dream come true and the perseverance that I went through eventually paid off.”

In the US’ Major League Soccer, the 27-year-old enjoyed stints with Chicago Fire, Atlanta United and Inter Miami.

After playing for five years in the US, Adams moved to Al-Shabab in the Kingdom in 2022.

Now at Al-Khaleej, the midfielder is full of praise for the revolution taking place in Saudi football as a result of Vision 2030.

“It’s incredible, honestly, and I’m honestly blessed to actually be in the Saudi Pro League and even, like, thinking about it —  I came I think in July, and Ronaldo came in December,” he said.

“I was so blessed to come at that time because now to come to Saudi and play in the Saudi league is not easy, man. I got all my friends hitting me up saying ‘yo, what’s the Saudi League like, man? I want to come’.”

The signing of top international players to the Saudi Pro League is more than a marketing strategy, Adam said. “They’re actually able to pull all these world-class players and to see that and to remember like, you know, my debut against Al-Ittihad and then playing against Benzema,” he added.

Facing off against top players in the Kingdom is adding “skills and knowledge” to Adams’ game.

“But it has so much potential. And I think people are really starting to tap in and pay attention to what Saudi is doing, not just in the sports sector, but in everything, you know, as a whole.”