Arsenal legend inspired USA star who is now chasing Premier League dream
United States star Haji Wright has revealed his admiration for idol Thierry Henry as he sets his sights on following in his hero's footsteps by playing in the Premier League.
The Coventry City forward made the switch from Turkish outfit Antalyaspor over the summer after scoring 29 goals across two seasons in the Super Lig. So far, the 25-year-old has impressed in the EFL Championship, notching five times in his initial 19 appearances.
The California-born ace has experienced something of a journeyman career before his arrival at the Sky Blues since first appearing for the New York Cosmos in the NASL in 2015. Since then, he has played in Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Turkey, but his ambition has always been to test himself in England.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the American has now spoken of his longstanding admiration for the country and its relationship with football, saying: "England was always my goal. It's always been a dream for me to play here. I appreciate the culture and the style of play. The intensity and style of play is pretty similar to Germany.
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"It's so competitive. I'm really enjoying the fans, the support is fantastic home and away, he confessed as he revealed that he is relishing travelling around the country and taking in the atmosphere at opposition grounds, adding: "Going to every stadium has been a new experience for me, and so far I'm really enjoying it."
Although his exposure to MLS in his home country provided his first taste of the sport in the form of leading lights such as LA Galaxy icons Landon Donovan and David Beckham, he also explained how Gunners legend Henry inspired him from afar. He continued: "It was probably more Donovan for me [than Beckham].
"His impact, being the national team captain, was more influential for me as a player in the [LA] Galaxy academy at a young age. I grew up going to the StubHub Center and watching their games. I met him then. He was a really nice guy, but kind of intense! You could tell he was goal-driven at that age, and still had a lot of fire in his belly.
Thierry Henry was a big hit in MLS during his stint with the New York Red Bulls (Getty)"I also grew up idolising Thierry Henry. I watched a lot of Arsenal and Premier League, then Barcelona games. When I was younger he would be the guy I'd search on YouTube and watch his highlights and stuff."
He too is hoping to inspire the next generation of players by appearing at the World Cup in 2026 on home turf, with his desire to impress national team boss Gregg Berhalter in the interim years clear. The Coventry star admitted: "It would be amazing to be there as a player," he says.
"When that opportunity arises, hopefully I'll be there with a team," he stated as he outlined his aspirations to play in the first World Cup held stateside since the 1994 showpiece. Explaining how his appearance at the last tournament in Qatar has inspired him to want to make the next squad, Wright added: "The last World Cup was an amazing experience, and it would be amazing to play in my own country."
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