When the Red Bulls started tinkering with their roster for the summer transfer window, a lot of you started asking “Whatever happened to Babajide Ogunbiyi?” Well, apparently the Red Bulls’ unsigned second-round pick is still in England, trying to latch on with Oldham Athletic.
After a few phone calls and a tip (much love, Chic Charnley) this is the story as best as I can tell: Many of you will recall that Ogunbiyi had a great combine to become a trendy sleeper pick by this winter’s draft. The Red Bulls selected him, but he elected to skip training camp _ he was finishing up a finance degree _ and never could come to terms with the club. But this part I just found out.
At the time, I’d been led to believe the club was only willing to offer him a developmental deal because he was a raw rookie learning a new position _ moving from striker to centerback late in his collegiate career _ and had to be in camp to ensure he was worth a senior contract.
Now I’m hearing that the club actually agreed to a senior deal, but then pulled the offer a few days later. A vexed Ogunbiyi determined he didn’t want any part of New York, and went to try his hand abroad.
The problem is he didn’t qualify for a work permit in England at the time, but he insisted on bulling ahead and trying anyway. After a failed trial at Leeds, where boss Simon Grayson already had Yank Mike Grella on the books, Ogunbiyi disappeared.
Now, after switching agents and kicking around for months, the hulking Nigerian has resurfaced. He’s trialing at Oldham, playing Monday night and reportedly acquitting himself well.