Choudhury: A Long Journey, With More To Come
The 21-year-old combative midfielder agreed a new deal to 2023 on Friday, having excelled in City’s three opening fixtures of the 2019/20 Premier League season, as well as the Carabao Cup shootout triumph over Newcastle United.
But it was from within the City Academy, and from the King Power Stadium touchline, that his love for the Football Club was forged.
It has been a journey that has seen him develop from an Academy hopeful, who regularly stood in as a ballboy on matchdays, into one of the most fearsome defensive midfielders in England’s top flight.
“It’s an amazing feeling to extend my contract at this great football club,” Choudhury exclusively told LCFC TV. “From being here since the age of seven to extending my deal until 2023, it’s been such a long journey and hopefully many more years to come.
“It’s difficult to sum up in so many words, but I’ve enjoyed every moment of it. There’s been highs and lows, like everyone’s career, but I’m just enjoying it and trying to fulfil all my potential.
“From the age of seven, I’ve been coming to the games. I’ve been a ball boy for so many years and I’ve obviously sat watching the games as well, so to be able to actually put that shirt on and play in front of a full King Power Stadium every week, it’s a dream come true.
“Growing up in the city, right in the centre of it, I know a lot of the people that go to the games week in, week out, so it does give me and my family a lot of pride. Hopefully I can carry it on.”
A new deal has seen him commit his future Leicester City, but Choudhury knows that it is also the Football Club that is investing in his future.
“To start the season well, and obviously the team has started really well as well, and to be given this new contract is obviously a massive confidence booster,” the Leicestershire favourite said.
“I think we set our standards at the back end of last season, finishing off the season strong. In pre-season, we’ve set our goals and we know what we want to do. Hopefully we can reach them by performing well and getting results.
“I want to play at the highest level, and first and foremost, to secure my place in this team and hopefully we can break into the top six like we say. Hopefully we can win a trophy this season.”
Hamza shares the King Power Stadium dressing room with a number of supremely-talented young players, and is one of three Academy graduates to have represented the Foxes in the Premier League this season.
His close friend Harvey Barnes scored the winning goal at Sheffield United in City’s last league outing, while Ben Chilwell has cemented his place in the England squad since his debut last year.
“I think when you’ve got people that go on your journey with you, it makes it sweeter because you can celebrate each other’s successes and then you can be there for them when things aren’t going too well,” he added.
“We’re quite close, us three, and we’re enjoying it. Hopefully we can carry it on this way.”
So far this term, he has had senior internationals Wilfred Ndidi and Youri Tielemans – both aged 22 years-old – for company in midfield, and he believes it has been highly beneficial for his personal development.
He said: “It’s been a really good experience. They’re young but they’ve played plenty of games so they’ve got quite a lot of experience I can learn from and tactically, I can improve, so it’s really good to be able to go out and play with them boys and improve.”
Another defining factor in Choudhury’s decision to extend his contract was the opportunity to continue working with manager Brendan Rodgers, who has placed a great deal of faith in the England youth international since his arrival in February 2019.
Since the 4-1 win at Huddersfield Town in early April, Choudhury has featured in seven of City’s nine Premier League games, and has acted as an enforcer in midfield against the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea.
“With the new manager coming in and the way he wants to work and the way he’s worked with me, it gives you so much confidence for the years to come,” he added.
“I think since he’s come in, he’s spent a lot of time with a lot of the boys just talking one to one and how he can improve them and how they can improve themselves.
“For a manager of his stature to come into the Club and give you so much of his time, it gives you a lot of confidence.
“It was never really a question for me to extend my contract. Leicester City’s been my footballing life so far, and I’m enjoying it. I can’t wait to carry on and play here.”