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“Non league to the Bundesliga. Anything is possible” – Afolayan overjoyed at St Pauli promotion

“Non league to the Bundesliga. Anything is possible” – Dapo Afolayan has been left overjoyed at his St Pauli winning promotion this weekend.

The 26 year old’s remarkable rise from non league to the Bundesliga was complete on Sunday when FC St. Pauli secured promotion to the top tier of German football, having last been in it 13 years ago.

Dapo showcased his prowess by scoring two goals, leading his team to a 3-1 victory over VFL Osnabruck and secure their place in the Bundesliga for the 2024/25 season.

With a total of 10 goals this season and 11 goals in 48 games since his arrival in January last year, Afolayan’s impressive performance has caught the attention of English football once again.

He tweeted: “NON LEAGUE TO THE BUNDESLIGA!!!!! ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE ✝️ ❤️.”

Following his departure from Chelsea’s youth academy due to prioritising his education over football, Afolayan then went on to make appearances at Toronto, Barnet, Tooting & Mitcham, and Loughborough University.

The forward, who hails from Harrow, then had an 18-month journey with Solihull Moors in the National League, before catching the eye of West Ham in 2018.

After spending three years with the Hammers, Afolayan only made one appearance – during the FA Cup clash against Doncaster in 2021, where he found the back of the net in a 4-0 victory.

During his time at the club, he also had loan stints with Oldham, Mansfield, and Bolton, eventually securing a permanent move to Bolton in February 2021.

Afolayan achieved an impressive record of scoring 20 goals in 80 games for the third tier side, earning him the Player of the Year award in his debut season.

In January 2023, he made a move to St. Pauli for a reported fee of £500,000, following the acceptance of the German club’s fourth bid by Bolton.

Afolayan has played a vital role in St. Pauli’s promotion to the Bundesliga, and will now come up against Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen who are on course for an unbeaten season, and also Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich.

St. Pauli’s inclusion in the Bundesliga is highly anticipated, as they are a club known for its distinctive characteristics and progressive political stance.

Notably, in 2017, they also made a classy gesture of donating 1,000 litres of beer to their supporters as a celebration of surviving relegation.

They also have near-30,000 capacity stadium with unique amenities, such as the “sausage train,” catering to VIP fans who can conveniently order food without leaving their seats.

“Non league to the Bundesliga. Anything is possible” – Afolayan overjoyed at St Pauli promotion, here’s how fans reacted…

@WHUFCGeezer: Congrats @dapo_afolayan 👏👏⚒️

@Lesleyd83061610: Huge congratulations Dapo wonderful achievement good luck next season

@Sophthecatsmum: Brilliant news that you’ve been promoted with St Pauli and not just coz we get to benefit from it either.😆 Genuinely happy for you anyway!!👏👏👏

@tecallaghan1910: You have been excellent for yourself but even more so for the team Dapo! So damn proud of you right now 🤎🤍🤎🤍🤎🤍 Congratulations!

@bear_mystic: Amazing, Dapo. Totally deserved. Enjoy your summer and do yourselves proud next season. Make your mark.

@jonny_wanderer: Could not be happier for @dapo_afolayan. B-tec okocha to Bundesliga, what a guy and what a player!!! Go smash it Dapo 🤩

@LiamTLTLT: Congratulations @dapo_afolayan brought so many good times to the Wanderers and now deservedly stepping into the Bundesliga, best of luck #starman

@cjvilliers: Awesome game and awesome season Dapo. Well done and a huge congratulations.

@tamnwhu: congrats Dapo, 100% deserved ⚒️

@MichaelSouther7:
Hi Dapo
You are ace in Germany, well done
Bolton miss you
Are you going to watch the Wembley game on Saturday?

@BwfcBhoy: Top work, from a top guy! 💪

@Lukebenbow1: Fair play dapo! Was always written #barla 👏🏾

@EireTrotter: Congratulations Dapo, superb player, hope Bolton can make it a double celebration ⚽️⚽️👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

@andyroodaddyo: Fantastic Dapo, well done.

@CalvinBWFC1984: Congrats Dapo ⭐️

@craig_rashleigh: Well done Dapo. Hope your golf is going as well as your football!

@Chaz_B_Cole: Congrats Dapo!!!

@WestHamStand: Seems to be loved by every club he’s represented, very rare. What a bloke and what a player ⚒️

@MatthewRushton7: Well in Dapo, congrats! 👊👏

@FitzpatrickKev: Well done mate. All chuffed for you at @OfficialBWFC Get Ian Evatt a 🍺 in #bwfc

@RodIrelandphoto: Massive congratulations dapo. So pleased for you and still in our hearts 🤜🏻🤜🏻🤜🏻 #bwfc

@TrotterChatPod: 🎵 There’s a star man! 🎶

@GreenManForest: Well done Dapo – great season and excited for you and St.Pauli to be in Bundesliga 1 next season 👏👏⚽️⚽️

@saylett11: Well done dapo bwfc

@KianJ090: Fair play to Dapo Afolayan man went from chilling in non league with solihull to kicking ball in the Bundesliga genuinely sound geeza aswell

@craggybwfc: well done @dapo_afolayan! I was gutted when you left BWFC but joining my second team St Pauli made it a whole lot better!

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