Nigerian music star Mr Eazi has revealed that Chelsea were interested in signing him as a footballer before the English Premier League club eventually secured the services of former Super Eagles midfielder John Obi Mikel.
The singer, whose real name is Oluwatosin Oluwole Ajibade, made the revelation during an interview with Beat FM, where he spoke about his football background and the decision to pursue a career in music.
According to Mr Eazi, he and Mikel were linked to a possible opportunity at Chelsea, but he eventually stepped aside to concentrate on his musical ambitions.
“They were gonna sign me. So it was like me and Mikel Obi,” he said.
Explaining his decision, the singer suggested that he believed Mikel was better suited to football, while he had the talent and potential to succeed in music.
“I just thought that Mikel Obi is not, he doesn’t have talent as a musician. But I can do that. So I let Mikel go to Chelsea,” Mr Eazi stated.
The musician also used the opportunity to explain his approach to success, suggesting that he was comfortable stepping back and allowing others to enjoy the spotlight while he pursued his own ambitions.
He added that he had adopted a similar mindset in the music industry, where he intended to build his wealth while giving other artistes room to shine.
“So with this, with the music too, I had to, like, step back, go make a couple billions and then let other people shine,” he said.
Mr Eazi also referenced fellow Nigerian singer Seyi Vibez, whom he jokingly described as a great Nigerian philosopher, while highlighting the message of allowing others to succeed.
“Let your brother shine,” he said, emphasising his willingness to let others take centre stage.
Meanwhile, Mikel joined Chelsea in 2006 and went on to enjoy a successful career at Stamford Bridge, spending more than a decade at the club and winning major honours, including two Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League.
Mr Eazi, on the other hand, has established himself as an internationally recognised Afrobeats artiste, earning attention for his distinctive sound and contributions to African music.
His latest revelation has offered fans an unusual glimpse into an alternative career path that could have seen the singer pursuing professional football instead of music.
