Sheffield Wednesday, Stoke City and West Brom may be surprised by striker's new club: View | OneFootball

Saido Berahino has moved to India to continue his footballing career, as he links up with Rajasthan United

Key Takeaways

It’s safe to say that Saido Berahino’s career hasn’t gone the way that plenty would have thought when he made his debut as a teenager.

The former West Bromwich Albion man was a revelation when he took to life in the Premier League with the Baggies ten years ago, with 14 goals in the 2014/15 campaign proving the quality he has in his feet.

But a decade on from those heady days at the Hawthorns, the 31-year-old is ready for a new challenge on a different continent, having just signed for Rajasthan United in India’s I-League.

The striker was last seen on these shores playing for Sheffield Wednesday back in the 2021/22 season - where he scored eight times in 29 games in League One - but has now become a marquee signing for the Indian outfit.

The nomadic career of Saido Berahino

There was plenty of hype over Berahino during his early days with West Brom, with the frontman earning international recognition right through the age groups as a young star.

With the enthusiasm of youth and a deadly eye for goal, the Burundi-born star was a breath of fresh air in the Black Country at the time, as the Baggies continued to hold their own in the top tier.

With plenty of furore over the top talent, it was no surprise that a number of clubs were after his services at the time, and Stoke City must have thought they had a star on their hands in January 2017, when they brought him to the Potteries in a reported £12 million deal.

That early promise soon dissipated once he made the move to Stafford though, with just three goals in 51 league matches for the Potters summing up a dismal time for both club and player, as relegation from the top flight was confirmed.

With the forward looking less and less bothered during his time at the bet365 Stadium, a fresh start was needed for all parties, and that came in Belgium with Zulte Waregem, where he managed to net six times in 18 appearances in his first campaign with the club.

The lure of the EFL proved to be too much though, as another stint back in England with Sheffield Wednesday followed, before once again setting sail to join AEL Limassol in Cyprus.

You’d think that amount of travelling would have been enough for the frontman, but the temptation of India proved too intriguing for him this summer, with Rajasthan only too happy to make him theirs.

Saido Berahino completes Rajasthan United move

The I-League club took to X to announce the news that Berahino had joined the club, with the following caption above photos of the star in action throughout his career.

“From the Premier League to our team

“The future looks bright with Saido Berahino in our lineup”

After finishing 11th out of 13 teams in the previous campaign, Rajasthan will be looking to improve on their standing in the campaign to come, and they have the perfect man up top to help them find the back of the net.

After initially playing for the English youth sides, Berahino switched his allegiance to Burundi in 2018, and has since led them to the Africa Cup of Nations.

With that sort of experience under his belt, the striker is a statement signing for his new side this summer and will be looking to make a name for himself in his new surroundings as his unique footballing journey continues.