The life story of Oluwafikayomi Oluwadamilola Fikayo Tomori is already worth some movie screenplay, although he’s only 23.Born in Canada, this son of Nigerian parents travelled across the ocean to join Chelsea youth setups and their U-8 side. After successfully marching through the Blues’ academy, Tomori signed his first professional contract with Stamford Bridge outfit back in 2016.However, he found it challenging to book his place in the squad, let alone starting XI, which led to a series of loans (Brighton, Hull City and Derby County) before the crucial one – to AC Milan.Tomori in action for Chelsea against Tottenham in 2020 (©REUTERS/Matt Dunham)Albeit it sounded a bit strange to pursue a move to Italy at the beginning of 2021, a young centre-back didn’t hesitate, feeling this could be just what he needed at the moment. And he was more than right.After 17 splendid performances during the six-month loan – which is the same number of appearances Tomori picked up while at Chelsea for six years – he was offered a permanent deal with Rossoneri.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Once again, it was a no brainer for him – Italian Serie A is definitely the place where he’ll flourish and reach the levels he was dreaming about as a kid.”I’m really happy that it has gone well so far,” he said.”We have started the new season well [unbeaten in Serie A], the club has shown a lot of faith in me. I feel really settled, and it has led me to be here.”And that ‘here’ is a call up for the Three Lions squad since Tomori decided to become an England international in 2016.##NAJAVA_MECA_5874134##But he only played six times in the whole of 2020 and once in January 2021 before joining Milan.”It was a difficult time, every footballer wants to play, and I got the opportunity to do that at Milan,” he said on BBC.”I didn’t dwell on it. It is part of football and part of life. I’m really happy and had a good support system with my family and friends.”I believe so [that he’s justified the move]. In the tail-end of my time at Chelsea, I wasn’t in the England squad. To go to Milan and be back in it, something must have gone right.”Tomori and Kane during England training (©Reuters/Carl Recine)England will face Andorra on Saturday and Hungary on Tuesday in the World Cup qualifiers, with a lot at stake for Tomori.”There’s definitely a chance to impress,” he said. “I’m going to show myself on the training pitch, and if I get a chance on the pitch, I’ll do that. I’ll just do what the manager asks me to do.”
