Polish-born sportsman Babatunde Aiyegbusi has signed a contract with the Minnesota Vikings, joining the National Football League, the highest level of American football.
According to the Vikings, “Aiyegbusi went from obtaining a visa to travel to the United States to signing an NFL contract in a seven-day span”.
Born in Oleśnica, Lower Silesia, to a Polish mother and a Nigerian father, Aiyegbusi initially seemed destined for a career as a professional basketballer with his imposing height of six foot nine.
However, after being repeatedly booked for fouling, in 2005 he decided to switch to a less dainty sport.
He left basketball side Słąsk Wrocław, and in 2007 won his first cap for American football team Giants Wrocław.
In 2014 he joined German side the Dresden Monarchs, helping the tean reach the semi-finals of the German league. Although signed to play for Warsaw Eagles in December 2014, he was soon invited for a tryout by Minnesota Vikings.
The 26-year-old has now become the fifth Polish-born player to join an NFL team.
“Feeling stoked”, the rising star commented on his Facebook profile.
