'Felt it for a few years' - Bolton star's West Ham United admission & international ambitions

Dapo Afolayan believes it was the right time to leave West Ham United when he did for Bolton Wanderers as he hopes to one day represent Nigeria at international level.

The 24-year-old joined the Hammers in 2018 from Solihull Moors and went into the club's under-23 outfit. He scored on his only appearance for West Ham's first team with a goal in the FA Cup.

He moved to Wanderers on loan for the second half of the 2020/21 season and helped the Whites earn automatic promotion out of League Two. His contract at West Ham expired last summer and he put pen to paper on a three-year deal at Wanderers.

READ MORE:96 Championship free agents as Bolton Wanderers eye transfer window swoops

His first full season at Wanderers was a huge success. He scored 14 times to become the club's top scorer and was voted the League One side's player of ther season.

He has reflected on his departure from the London Stadium and admits it was the right time to do so and that he had felt it for a 'few years'. Things did not work out for several reasons but Afolayan believes it was the 'perfect' time to come to Wanderers.

He told the Manchester Evening News: "For my age it was – I’d felt it for a few years. When I joined West Ham I was 20 and came from Solihull Moors in the National League and my ambition was always to play first team football.

“It didn’t work out for a number of reasons, injuries, manager changes, all sorts, but again I just wanted to play first team and every window I was looking to get out on loan.

“When the opportunity to come to Bolton arrived I’d spoken to the manager about two or three days before the window closed and in my head it was done and dusted. I was buzzing because of everything I knew about the club, I just