'A hugely positive step': English footballer Jake Daniels comes out as gay

Jake Daniels has come out as gay, making him the only active male professional footballer in the UK to do so, and one of a handful worldwide.

The 17-year-old Blackpool forward made a ground-breaking announcement at the end of his first season with the Championship club.

“This season has been a fantastic one for me on the pitch,” he said in a statement.

“But off the pitch I’ve been hiding the real me and who I really am. I’ve known my whole life that I’m gay, and I now feel that I’m ready to come out and be myself."

“It’s a step into the unknown being one of the first footballers in this country to reveal my sexuality.”

Daniels said he was inspired by Adelaide United's Josh Cavallo, who is the only openly gay man currently playing top-flight football around the world.

While women’s football features many prominent LGBT+ players, the men’s professional game lacks players who are publicly gay.

“I’ve hated lying my whole life and feeling the need to change to fit in,” Daniels said.

“I want to be a role model myself by doing this. There are people out there in the same space as me that may not feel comfortable revealing their sexuality."

“I just want to tell them that you don’t have to change who you are, or how you should be, just to fit in. You being you, and being happy, is what matters most.”

Daniels said teammates at Blackpool embraced his sexuality after he confided in them. The English club said it was “incredibly proud that he has reached a stage where he is empowered to express himself both on and off the pitch.”

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the English Football Association have also described Daniels as an "inspiration".

“This is a hugely positive step as we strive to build an inclusive game that we can all be proud of,"