The once ‘shy’ boy from Ealing has become one of the best players in the world
Bukayo Saka will need to be at his best if England is to bring home its first World Cup this summer. The Arsenal and England star has become a monumental figure ever since his debut in 2020.
After breaking into the Arsenal setup in 2018 as a 17-year-old, he has since achieved great success. He recently won the Premier League, breaking their 22-year drought. Now, he sets his sights on the World Cup 2026 in the USA, Mexico and Canada, where he hopes to be an influential figure in Tomas Tuchel’s first international tournament as manager.
Saka grew up in Ealing, West London. He attended Greenford High School, where his teachers described him as ‘shy’. Yet, his talent always shone through, on the pitch and with his grades.
Saka showed promise from a young age and was soon balancing playing for Arsenal’s youth teams with his studies. He did remarkably well, achieving high grades in his GCSEs, including four A*S and three As.
His PE teacher at the time, Mr Mark Harvey, previously told MyLondon: “We worked with both his parents the whole time and still maintain a good relationship with them,” Mr Harvey said. “We all agreed he should complete his education alongside his Arsenal career, and by the time he was 16, he had completed all his exams with us and came out with really good grades across the board.”
He regularly returns to his old schools, surprising pupils with visits. Last year, he surprised students at his former primary school, Edward Betham Primary School, with a visit while they were discussing role models.
He has become a stalwart in England’s setup and hopes to bring success to the nation after losing to Spain in the Euro 2024 final. His time with England has been highly successful, earning him England Player of the Year honours in 2021/2022 and 2022/2023.
He has also bounced back from setbacks such as missing the final penalty in the Euro 2020 final against Italy, which led to him being racially abused online. Since then, he has shown poise and leadership, becoming one of the best players in the world.
He is currently promoting his new documentary, “Bukayo Saka: The Time is Now”, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at his journey, setbacks, and everything that went into this defining season of his career so far.
Now, with the World Cup 2026 kicking off in under a week and England’s first game against Croatia on Wednesday, June 17, England fans will be hoping Saka can get off to a good start.
Stay informed about the latest West London news. Sign up for our MyWestLondon newsletter HERE to receive daily updates and more.
