Ola Aina spent last season playing for Hull City in the Championship, mostly as a right-back. His solid showings in England’s second tier had pique the interest of team such as PSV Eindhoven, Frosinone, Villarreal and even Frank Lampard’s Derby County.
Chelsea defender Ola Aina has completed a season-long loan deal to Serie A club Torino.
The Bulls signed the Nigeria international with an option to make the move permanent at the end of the season, less than a week after compatriot Joel Obi departed the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino for Chievo.
Plenty of teams were interested in taking in young Chelsea full back Ola Aina on loan this season, in both England and Europe, who recently had won his first cap for Nigeria though did not take part in the World Cup.
Given the recent surge of rumor from Italy, it’s not surprising that the winner of the loan-sweepstakes is Torino FC of Serie A. Aina joins Il Toro on a season-long loan, but only after extending his Chelsea contract by a year, to 2021. Previous reports indicated that he would have a €10m buy-option with Torino, but it’s unclear if that is still the case. (It is possible that he signed a new contract and Torino still maintained their buy-option of course.)
Le prime foto di Aina al Toro! 📸https://t.co/q8enZB2vky#SFT pic.twitter.com/dLXTmBi8Ob
— Torino Football Club (@TorinoFC_1906) August 14, 2018
Aina spent last season playing for Hull City in the Championship, mostly as a right-back. His solid showings in England’s second tier had pique the interest of team such as PSV Eindhoven, Frosinone, Villarreal and even Frank Lampard’s Derby County. Torino were a relatively late entrant on the scene, but have toppled everyone else to capture Ola’s signature.
Part of Aina’s decision probably stemmed from the level of competition he will face, as well as Torino’s level within their domestic scene. The Italian top flight is one of the strongest leagues in the world, and after plying his trade in the Championship it was time for Aina to take on the next challenge in a promising career.
— Torino Football Club (@TorinoFC_1906) August 14, 2018
Ola Aina a Torino Channel https://t.co/s4nMsZYcbw Le prime parole del terzino prelevato dal Chelsea pic.twitter.com/sNoEx5IDDu
— Torino Football Club (@TorinoFC_1906) August 14, 2018
