The Emenalo household story is about greater than a Chelsea-linked father and his son.
Brothers Sebastien and Landon Emenalo – raised by former Nigeria worldwide and lengthy‑serving Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo – may change into the primary siblings to play within the Premier League and the NBA on the identical time.
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Landon, 18, operates as a midfielder or defender, is an everyday for Chelsea Below‑21s and represents England at youth degree.
Older Sebastien, in the meantime, stands at 6ft 7in and commenced as a goalkeeper in Chelsea’s academy earlier than switching sports activities. He progressed by way of the NBA International Academy in Canberra, Australia, and is now a freshman guard at Loyola College Maryland in america.
His ambition is obvious: to enter the NBA draft throughout the subsequent two or three years.
Sporting excellence runs all through the household. Their mom, Erin, was an All‑American goalkeeper on the College of Portland earlier than taking part in for the Washington Freedom within the first skilled ladies’s league within the US.
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Inside Chelsea circles, the Emenalo identify has lengthy been acquainted due to Michael, who represented Nigeria on the 1994 World Cup and performed within the US, England and Spain, earlier than later working in govt roles at Monaco and within the Saudi Professional League.
For Sebastien and Landon, it has been a mix of nature and nurture that has positioned them to pursue an unprecedented twin rise in two of the world’s best sporting environments.
Landon is extremely considered at Chelsea. He has skilled beneath three managers – Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca and now Liam Rosenior – and has been on the bench in Premier League, Champions League and Convention League matches.
And having represented each England and america – whereas remaining eligible for Nigeria – he may but change into the main focus of a future tug‑of‑struggle over his worldwide allegiance.
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