Being reunited with Neal Ardley was the key
Adedeji Oshilaja said that linking-up with Neal Ardley once again convinced him to choose AFC Wimbledon ahead of other clubs interested in his signature.
yesterday, the 21-year-old has joined Wimbledon on loan from Cardiff City, subject to international clearance, and being reunited with Neal was the deciding factor.announcedAs we
Speaking to Rob Cornell during an interview for Dons Player, Deji, as he prefers to be called, said: “I’m really excited to make this move. I have worked with the manager before when I was a youth team player at Cardiff. He was a good coach then so I can imagine the amazing work that the manager is doing here.
“The manager took a chance by bringing me to Cardiff. It was all about working hard and on technical play. My first training session here was high quality. Cardiff showed that they believed in me by offering a professional contract and now it’s up to me to prove myself again. I want to help the team climb up the table.
“I heard that other clubs in League 1 and League 2 were interested, but my main focus was coming here once I knew the manager was interested in me. I watched the highlights of the Liverpool game and the team did really well. I said to the lads that they could have nicked a draw and earned a replay at Anfield, but that’s football and now hopefully we can build some momentum by taking that form into Saturday’s game.”
Deji is pictured above left playing for Cardiff in a League Cup tie at Northampton in 2013.
The centre-back, who was brought up in Bermondsey, added that a previous loan spell at Newport County had toughened him up for the rigours of League 2 football.
“At Newport I was playing regularly, but I got injured during my loan at Sheffield Wednesday so it was a bit stop-start there,” he added. “I had to ‘man-up’ and be stronger at Newport because I’d stepped up from Under-21 football. I had to adjust to playing against players who tested me physically.
“I had to do a lot of growing up when I left home at 17 to go to Cardiff and it’s nice to now be back in London with family and friends. Now it’s time though to get my head down and work hard for the team.”
.The full interview with Deji Oshilaja appeared on Dons Player yesterday, along with interviews with Neal Ardley and Jake Goodman
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