At just 12 years old, Kirubel Solomon is already turning heads in the football world. A versatile player who can operate as a left-back, left-winger or striker, Kirubel has been scouted by four professional clubs: Ipswich Town, Crystal Palace, West Ham United, and Millwall F.C. 

His football journey began at Samuel Montagu F.C, where he has played for the last four years. During that time, Kirubel has attended six UK Football Trials events, showing commitment, consistency, and an impressive level of performance that led to him being scouted on three separate occasions. 

“I first started my football journey at Samuel Montagu and have stayed there up until now,” Kirubel said. “Going to six different UKFT events helped me get seen. I was scouted by Ipswich, Crystal Palace, West Ham and Millwall.” 

After being told he’d been scouted, Kirubel felt a surge of excitement — and then the waiting game began. 

“It was all about waiting for the scout to email me about next steps,” he said. 

He’s now preparing for what could be a major opportunity: a trial with Millwall F.C. Meanwhile, a West Ham United scout has expressed interest in attending one of his upcoming matches, and although his Ipswich Town trial was unfortunately cancelled due to living outside their catchment area, the level of interest from top clubs shows how much potential Kirubel has. 

One of the standout moments from his trial experience came when a scout from a Premier League giant pulled him aside. 

“The best moment was when the Chelsea scout approached me after the trial and said that he liked the way I played. That gave me so much confidence.” 

Kirubel believes the UK Football Trials have helped him not just on the pitch, but off it as well. 

“I learned that patience and hard work are the key to success. It’s not always instant. You need to stay focused and keep going.” 

When asked how he found out about UKFT, Kirubel credited his father. 

“My dad was looking on his phone and found UKFT. He booked me in for my first trial and I’ve been going back ever since.” 

Would he recommend it to others? 

“Definitely. I would recommend UKFT to anyone because it’s a great opportunity to be scouted and to improve your football career.” 

With scouts showing strong interest and a trial at Millwall F.C. on the horizon, Kirubel is in a fantastic position to take the next step in his football journey. For now, he’s staying ready, working hard, and continuing to play the game he loves. 

“Just waiting to go on trial — I’m excited for what’s next!”