16-Year-Old Ajani Burchall Makes Debut
[Updated] 16-year-old Bermudian Ajani Burchall made his debut today in the English Championship league, becoming Bournemouth’s third youngest ever player.
The match took place today with Bournemouth matching up against Huddersfield Town, winning 5-0, and late in the match they brought the talented Bermudian teenager on for his professional debut.
During the television broadcast, the commentator said he was only 16-years-old, called it a “proud moment” and noted he was from Bermuda.
AFC Bournemouth Academy tweeted the photo below, saying: “The club’s third youngest ever player. 16 years and 38 days, what an achievement, Ajani.”
His profile on the club’s website says, “Born in Bermuda, Burchall has come through the younger age groups with the AFC Bournemouth Academy. He began to play for the under-18s at the start of the 2020/21 season and has played in the majority of matches for the youth team this campaign.
“Burchall predominantly plays wide and is an exciting forward player who likes to take opponents on and has an eye for goal, while also being a hard-working, tough-tackling winger.”
Local football fans were quick to react, with local football club NVCC tweeting, “Our home grown makes his professional debut! Love to see it,” while Bermudian football legend Shaun Goater also had words of praise on Twitter, saying: “Congratulations Ajani Burchall on your debut with @afcbournemouth. You’re the future so enjoy.”
For those who do not follow football, the Championship league [which is the same league Nahki Wells plays in] in English football is extremely high level, and to make a debut at only 16-years-old is a massive accomplishment.
Update Dec 13, 8.30am: The footballer said he was “delighted” to make his professional debut at at age 16, and said he only found out after school the day before that this would happen as his “phone started going.”
The interviewer asked if this is something that “we will be very interested” in here in Bermuda, and Ajani smiled and said he has had lots of messages from Bermuda and said it will likely be front page news, with the young footballer obviously aware that Bermudians will be more than interested in this news of one of our own excelling on the world stage.
Update 4.29pm: AFC Bournemouth Academy just tweeted the photo below and said, “A day he’ll never forget. Ajani Burchall had his debut shirt signed by the squad following yesterday’s win.”
Congrats to Ajani! What an accomplishment. Wishing you much success!
What a proud moment!!! Congrats and much success Ajani!!!