Saido Berahino

At 31 years old, Saido Berahino has this physical status:

Saido Berahino (born 4 August 1993) is a professional footballer in Burundi who plays for Zulte Waregem and the Burundi national team. He obtained political asylum in Birmingham as a youth and cites football for his introduction into English society.

Berahino joined West Bromwich Albion at the age of 11 and became a professional seven years later.

He spent time on loan at Northampton Town, Brentford, and Peterborough United. Berahino made his West Bromwich Albion debut in the 2013–14 season, with highlights from his campaign including a hat-trick against Newport County and the winning goal against Manchester United.

He scored 20 goals in 45 games across all competitions in his second full season.

Berahino became embroiled in a lengthy transfer saga involving Tottenham Hotspur, putting a strain on his relationship with manager Tony Pulis and chairman Jeremy Peace, which culminated in his resignation.

He was chastised for his conduct and dropped out of favour in the 2015–16 season, scoring only 7 goals; he did not score a single goal from February 2016 to August 28, 2018, a goal drought of 913 days.

He joined Stoke City in January 2017 for £12 million, potentially increasing to £15 million.

Stoke were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2017-18 season, but Berahino was released by Stoke after a single season in the EFL Championship, with three years remaining on his deal. Berahino competed for England at all ages from under the age of 16 to under 21, as well as the under-17 team that defeated the 2010 European Championships.

In November 2014, he was called up for the first time to the senior squad, but did not play.

In August 2018, he changed his international allegiance to Burundi and scored on his international debut in September, later leading the team in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Early life

Berahino, a child in Bujumbura, Burundi's then-capital, played football as a child with a ball of plastic bags tied up with laces. During the Burundian Civil War in 1997, his father was killed. He travelled to England alone at the age of 10, fleeing the unaffected war to help his mother, brother, and sisters who had already been refused asylum in Newtown, Birmingham. On arrival, he was unable to find his family and was put in a care home. Following the discovery of his mother Liliane, migrant officials were required to perform a DNA test to establish their relationship.

Berahino attended Aston Manor School, where he obtained ten GCSE certificates and competed in basketball and athletics instead of football. Ateeq Javid and Recordo Gordon, both of whom went on to play County Championship cricket for Warwickshire, were among his childhood friends. Berahino said he loved football in Burundi and played street football, aiding him in his integration more smoothly into English society.

Personal life

Berahino supports Manchester United. He is a Christian and regularly reads the Bible with his mother.

Berahino apologised to West Bromwich Albion in April 2014 after videos of him inhaling nitrous oxide for recreational use were discovered by the media. "This was very poor judgement on my part and not the correct example to be leading," he said. At the time, I wasn't aware of the serious health risks involved, but now I know, I won't be doing it again." Berahino denied allegations that he drove 120 miles under the influence of the drug.

Berahino established his own charitable foundation in April 2015 to assist WaterAid's homeless people in the United Kingdom and abroad. "I grew up in Burundi, I know only too well the devastating effect that a lack of access to clean water or sanitation can have on families." Pulis's tale is "inciting," he said, "this is what I've been saying for several months about his attitude and his growing maturity." Berahino denied allegations that his foundation failed to provide "promised" to WaterAid in April 2017.

Berahino was found guilty of being inebriated in the charge of a vehicle in 2012.

Berahino was arrested on the M6 in Lymm, Cheshire, on suspicion of drink driving on October 22, 2014. He was charged with the offence in January 2015 and confessed to it until North Cheshire Magistrates in Runcorn, who suspended him for a 12-month driving suspension and a fine of £3,400.

Berahino was arrested in the early hours of 18 February 2019 in central London and charged with drink driving. He was found guilty of drinking and driving at Highbury Magistrates' Court on May 15th and barred from driving for 30 months. Berahino had been robbed of his jewelry before his detention, according to the court, but that it was not necessary for him to drive while his partner was driving ahead.

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Club career

Berahino joined the West Bromwich Albion Centre of Excellence in 2004 at the under-12 level, rising from inner-city youth club Phoenix United. He progressed through the Baggies' youth system, and in summer 2011, he signed a professional deal with them.

Berahino joined Northampton Town, a one-month loan agreement, on October 20, 2011. In a 2–1 loss to Bradford City at Valley Parade two days later, he made his professional debut for the Cobblers. He scored his first senior goal against Hereford United three days after, but in a 3–1 home loss at Sixfields. On 3 November and 5 January 2012, his loan was extended twice. Berahino scored twice away from Gillingham in the first half of a 4–3 loss, two days after his first extension. He came to an end with 6 league goals in 14 appearances for Northampton, but the team was losing in League Two.

Berahino went out on loan again on February 9, this time at a higher rate than ever before, joining Brentford in League One. Marcus Bean was brought back to his debut five days later by replacing him at the end of a 2–1 loss at Colchester United. Gary Alexander came on for Gary Alexander in the 28th minute and scored in each half of a 4–0 victory over Carlisle United in the next match. In a 2–0 victory over Exeter City on March 6, the club's caretaker manager Alan Kernaghan praised him, "Saido got the nod and he did fine, but this was win [sic] built on a solid defensive foundation, as shown by another clean sheet." The loan spell with Brentford came to an end early, and the manager, Uwe Rösler, returned to West Bromwich Albion on April 3rd, scoring four goals in eight appearances.

Berahino made his West Brom debut against Yeovil Town in a League Cup second round match on August 28, 2012, replacing Shane Long for the final six minutes of a 4–2 away victory. On October 1, 2013 he signed a loan for Peterborough United Championship club Peterborough United. He made his debut in a 2–0 victory at Barnsley on the following day, replacing Emile Sinclair after 65 minutes. Berahino scored twice in a 3–0 victory over Derby County on October 27. Berahino will play more often at Peterbrough United, according to manager Darren Ferguson. He appeared in ten matches on his loan term, but it was cut short due to a knee injury.

Berahino should be West Bromwich Albion's main centre forward, rather than the club's signing a new one at the start of the 2013-14 season. Romelu Lukaku had been on a season-long loan, and Peter Odemwingie had fallen out of favour at the club, and he had been on a season-long loan.

In a 3–0 home win, Tony made his first appearance for West Brom in a League Cup tie against Newport County on August 27. In a 2–0 home loss against Swansea City on September 1, 2013, he made his first league appearance for the Baggies when he came on as a replacement. Scott Sinclair was recalled for the last 15 minutes of the game. In a 2–1 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on September 28, he took the injured Sinclair in the first half and scored his first Premier League goal. Berahino agreed to West Bromwich Albion's contract until June 2017, committing him to the team until June 2017.

Berahino scored both of West Brom's goals in their first match of the 2014–15 Premier League season, a draw against Sunderland on August 16, 2014. On September 28, he scored twice more for the Baggies, netting in either direction of the half-time whistle as West Brom defeated Burnley 4–0. With a penalty in a 2–1 loss to Liverpool on October 4, he tied his league record from the previous season, defeating Dejan Lovren and winning the penalty. Following his good start to the season, the club was prompted to consider a new deal worth over £50,000 per week, but discussions of it were suspended in late November due to his detention on suspicion of drink driving.

Berahino scored four goals in a 7–0 victory over Gateshead in the FA Cup third round on January 3, 2015. He did not endorse any of these goals, which caused questions to new boss Tony Pulis' assertion that "you should go and see him in the dressing room; he's more content in there." "I was just doing business and being courteous, and that's it," Berahino said later. West Bromwich Albion ended their employment talks with Berahino in February and announced that they would consider bids over £20 million to sell him at the end of the season. His conduct had been ruled out of the club, as well as an unlawful interview with Sky Sports in which he said he was playing in order to gain a transfer to a "larger" team.

Berahino scored his 10th goal of the Premier League season and his fifteenth overall on Sunday, leading to a 2–0 home win over Swansea City on February 11th. For the first time since 2008, he scored the team's last goal in a 4–0 victory over West Ham United, placing the Baggies in the FA Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2008. Berahino scored twice in a 3–0 victory over Chelsea, the new league champions. He earned the Player of the Year award with the club at the end of the season.

West Bromwich Albion refused a bid estimated at £15 million for Berahino to sign for Tottenham Hotspur in August 2015, with the club valuing him at £25 million. Pulis left Berahino out of his squad for the match against Chelsea on August 23, replacing him with Salomón Rondón, a new record signing. Berahino was left out after the match, according to Pulis, because previous experiences in the transfer market had been "disruptive." Berahino's transfer request was turned down the next day. Berahino said he was dissatisfied with his team's behavior and told Twitter that he would never play for the club again under new chairman Jeremy Peace; he was fined for these remarks. Pulis told the media on September 7 that all sides had reconciled and Berahino was back to training as normal.

Berahino was back as a substitute for Albion in a 0–0 draw against Southampton on September 12th, attracting a mixed reception. He started a week later against Aston Villa, scoring the only goal of the match by deflecting James Morrison's shot into the air. Berahino did not start a single match from October 31 to December of the calendar year, with Pulis saying that "He's lucky to be on the bench, never mind starting." He's a fantastic kid but he lets himself down at times."

In January 2016, Berahino scored in a 2–2 draw against Bristol City in the third round of the FA Cup, but did not make the squad for the repeat. Pulis attributed the illness to an infection and recalled that he wanted to keep the player at West Bromwich Albion until the end of the month's transfer window. In a 2–2 home draw against former loan team Peterborough, he returned to the next round on January 30th, scoring both goals. Newcastle made a £21 million bid for the player the next day. Berahino, on the other hand, remained at West Bromwich Albion, and apologised on February 26 for threatening to strike. Berahino lost by two penalty kicks to Heurelho Gomes in a 1–0 home loss to Watford on April 16th.

In July 2016, Stoke City tabled an offer of £17 million, potentially increasing to £20 million. That bid was turned down by West Bromwich Albion, who then gave the same one from Crystal Palace. As West Bromwich Albion lost on a shootout to his former team Northampton in the first round of the EFL Cup on August 23, he missed from the penalty spot.

Berahino was given additional training and sent to a camp in France in November after being found to be 8 pounds overweight by West Brom's medical staff. In an open statement on the team's website, he said that constant rumors made it the "most difficult year" of his career, causing him to "feel sick" and impact his health.

Berahino joined Stoke on January 20, 2017 for a fee of £12 million, with the possibility of increasing to £15 million, a five-and-a-half year deal. Pulis wished him well, but he said he wanted to "get his act together." Berahino said he had 'lost his way' at West Brom after joining Stoke. Stoke beat Everton 1–1 on February 1, 2017, marking his debut for the club.

Berahino was suspended by the FA for eight weeks during his time at West Brom after failing an out-of-competition drug test, according to boss Mark Hughes. He was positive for MDMA. Berahino said he failed the drug screening because someone spiked his drink, according to BBC's Football Focus in March 2017. Berahino's first nine matches for Stoke were disappointing, but Hughes backed him to make a bigger difference in the 2017-18 season. Berahino also revealed that he had shed a stone in weight since joining the club. Stoke finished in 13th position in 2016, and Berahino went into the 2016–17 season without scoring.

Berahino won a penalty when fouled by Southampton's Virgil van Dijk and took it himself on September 30, 2017, but Fraser Forster saved it. After the game, Hughes and fellow striker Peter Crouch were able to assist him. Berahino scored the first goal on February 27. Berahino continued to fail in 2017-18, with the team in deep relegation grief in April and Hughes dismissed in January, who was suspended to the under-23s by new manager Paul Lambert due to poor discipline. He did not play again under Lambert and Stoke's relegation was announced shortly after the season's end.

Berahino scored his first goal in a 2–0 win over Huddersfield Town in the second round of the EFL Cup on August 28, his first goal since February 27, 2016, bringing an end to a drought of 913 days. After the game, boss Gary Rowett praised him. In a 3–2 home loss to Blackburn Rovers on September 22, Berahino scored his first league goal for the club, although he missed a stoppage time penalty in the same match. On December 22, 2018, he scored his only goal of the game against Millwall. Following his detention for drink-driving in February 2019, he was not chosen by Nathan Jones again in the 2018-19 season and was suspended without compensation during court hearings, although the club sought legal assistance regarding the striker's employment. He was later informed that his employment would be terminated.

Berahino began training with Belgian First Division club Zulte Waregem in July 2019, with his Stoke contract being terminated. He also played a friendly for Nîmes Olympique, but was not offered a deal. Stoke confirmed his resignation by "mutual compromise" on August 7, 2019.

Glen Johnson, his former Stoke teammate, appeared on Talksport shortly after, blaming Berahino's attitude at Stoke, consistent lateness, and a lack of motivation. "I don't take him if you paid me," he said after the interview. Peter Crouch, a former Stoke teammate, spoke out about the situation, saying, "I'm not going to say Glen was wrong (about Berahino), but there were other players in the squad who didn't pull their weight, not just him."

Berahino signed a two-year contract with Zulte Waregem, with the possibility of a third. He made his debut in Belgium's First Division A on August 10, 2019, winning by 2–0 at K.R.C. Genk.

Berahino was loaned to R. Charleroi S.C. of the same league on October 5th, 2020, with the option to buy.

Berahino, 21, returned to England on September 31 to join Sheffield Wednesday in League One. Darren Moore, the Owls' manager, had previously worked with West Brom at West Brom. He would make his Plymouth debut off the bench against Plymouth Argyle on September 11th and his first goal for the club against Shrewsbury Town the next week. In a 6–0 victory over Cambridge United at home on March 20, 2022, he would score a hat-trick. It was revealed that he would be released at the end of the season after one season with the Owls.

International career

Berahino said in 2013 that he had no allegiance to international football: he said nothing about him.

Berahino appeared at various youth clubs for England. He was under the age of 17 when England triumphed the 2010 European Championship in Liechtenstein, scoring the equalizer and advancing to a 1-1 victory over Turkey. He served with Estonia's under-19 team in 2012, assisting them in reaching the semi-finals before losing in extra time to Greece.

For the first time in the match against Scotland on August 13, he was called up to the England under-21 squad for the first time. He scored on his England under-21 debut on September 6th, a European qualifier against Moldova that resulted in his team's 1–0 victory, and Gareth Southgate's first in charge. Berahino was credited with a 1–1 draw against Finland in the next qualifier away in Tampere four days later. Berahino scored twice in a 4–0 qualifier against Lithuania on October 15, bringing his team's total number to 4 goals in three matches to 4 goals.

Berahino was yellow-carded after the first of his two goals in a 3–0 victory over Finland under 21 in a European qualifier on November 15, 2013 for lifting his shirt to announce a salute to his late father, who died in the Burundian Civil War. He was named the 2014 Under-21 Player of the Year by fans, finishing ahead of Harry Kane with 16% of the vote after a year in which he scored at a rate of a goal in every other match, including three in the team's qualification for the European Championship. Berahino has the fourth-best goal total for the England under-21 team, with 10 goals in 13 appearances, behind Eddie Nketiah, Francis Jeffers, and Alan Shearer.

England boss Roy Hodgson named Berahino in his squad on Friday for the first time since the 2011 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier against Slovenia and a friendly against Scotland at Celtic Park three days later. Berahino was not allowed to participate in any of the senior England matches for which he had been called up.

Berahino was selected in the England Under-21 squad for the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in the Czech Republic, but he was forced to return to the team after suffering a fractured skull on June 18th, allowing Benik Afobe to replace him.

Berahino was invited to represent Burundi at an international level in March 2015, a decision that could be disputed because he has not played for England in a competitive senior international.

Berahino was given permission by FIFA to move to the Burundi national team in August 2018, after nearly three years of not being called up to the senior England squad. He made his debut on September 8th in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Gabon, scoring first in a 1–1 draw.

Berahino was selected in Egypt's provisional 28-man squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Coach Olivier Niyungeko praised the good work he and another British-raised player, Gal Bigirimana, brought to the team. He captained the team and attended all three games – two starts – as they were barred from Group B without a goal or point.

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