Former West Bromwich Albion forward Saido Berahino has found a new club in the form of Slovenian second tier side NK Tabor Sežana.
The Burundi international was once tipped for great things following a brilliant 2014/15 campaign with The Baggies, scoring 20 times across 45 matches and a stint with the England 21s which saw him find the net 10 times in as many games.
Berahino Returns To Europe
Berahino’s career would nosedive following that season after a prolonged transfer saga that saw Albion reject what was a reported £15 million bid from Tottenham Hotspur due to them failing to meet their valuation. He was offloaded to Stoke City two years later, but failed to score for them in his first season. He would score three times in their first season back in the Championship but had his contract terminated towards the end of that season and moved to Belgian side Zulte Waregem.
After a prolonged stay in Belgium, Sheffield Wednesday took a gamble for the striker in their ambitions to gain promotion to League One, but only lasted one season at Hillsborough before being released. Most recently he was with Indian Premier League side Rajasthan United, but did not play a single game for the club.
Upon arriving at the Slovenian side, Berahino said (Quotes via Yorkshire Post):
“I’m excited to be a part of a team that’s fighting for progress. We have a lot of young and talented players who have done a great job so far, now it’s time to come together as a team and pursue one goal – progress.”
Writer’s View
It was a case of what could have been with Saido Berahino and his career in England. He was a brilliant forward for West Brom and within the grasp of an England call up but it all came crumbling down due to the off-field issues surrounding his failed move to Tottenham Hotspur. It is unlikely that we will see Berahino in professional football in England again but perhaps a non-league move could come to fruition in the future should he decide Slovenia isn’t the place for him.
