--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I just enjoyed playing, but I don't think…" description: "\"I just enjoyed playing, but I don't think I ever really thought I was going to make it to the first team until I actually signed my first professional ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/bukayo-saka-6395_contract_i-just-enjoyed-playing-but-i-don-t-think_1402286.jpg" --- # I just enjoyed playing, but I don't think I ever really… ![“I just enjoyed playing, but I don't think I ever really thought I was going to make it to the first team until I actually signed my first professional contract when I turned 17.” quote by Bukayo Saka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/bukayo-saka-6395_contract_i-just-enjoyed-playing-but-i-don-t-think_1402286.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/bukayo-saka-6395_contract_i-just-enjoyed-playing-but-i-don-t-think_1402286.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/bukayo-saka-6395_contract_i-just-enjoyed-playing-but-i-don-t-think_1402286.jpg) > “I just enjoyed playing, but I don't think I ever really thought I was going to make it to the first team until I actually signed my first professional contract when I turned 17.” [Bukayo Saka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bukayo-saka/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He realized his professional potential only after signing a contract at 17, highlighting unexpected self‑belief. **In simple terms:** He didn’t think he’d make the first team until he signed a pro contract. Key Takeaway Believe in your talent early. Themes confidence career sports Mood proud determined Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - youth academy - first professional contract - team selection - career planning Key Concepts self‑efficacy goal setting talent development Questions to Reflect On - What early achievements could you be undervaluing? - How can you recognize latent talent sooner? A Different Perspective May overlook early signs of potential, leading to delayed progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) ## Related quotes > [I was lucky to get a professional contract. 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They've been really good to us and all the people over there are great; they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-static/i-actually-re-signed-with-warner-bros-on-my-own-they-ve-been-really/) [Wayne Static](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-static/) > [“I saw a painting once where the artist had actually done that--signed his work in blood. ... When I saw that, I thought it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-bartlett/i-saw-a-painting-once-where-the-artist-had-actually-done-that-signed/) [Neil Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-bartlett/) > [I was never actually signed to the label; I was just the annoying rapper that was always around at the studio sessions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jd-era/i-was-never-actually-signed-to-the-label-i-was-just-the-annoying/) [JD Era](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jd-era/) > [I started playing with my dad, and football was my dream forever. Step by step, I learnt a lot. I worked really hard, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/i-started-playing-with-my-dad-and-football-was-my-dream-forever-step/) [Robert Pires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pires/) > [Dagenham offered me a two-year opportunity really. It wasn't a pro deal, just a chance to impress. I was sent out on loan straight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-gayle/dagenham-offered-me-a-two-year-opportunity-really-it-wasn-t-a-pro/) [Dwight Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-gayle/) > [When I got my first professional contract from Ian St John - the Portsmouth manager at the time - my wages went up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kamara/when-i-got-my-first-professional-contract-from-ian-st-john-the/) [Chris Kamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kamara/) > [She looked incredible, just turned 17](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mcfly/she-looked-incredible-just-turned-17/) [McFly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mcfly/) > [Around when I turned 17 and I bought my own studio equipment and started recording myself, I kinda found my own voice. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle/around-when-i-turned-17-and-i-bought-my-own-studio-equipment-and/) [Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle/) > [When I turned 17, that's when it all got a bit too much. I decided to stop doing pretty much everything. I quit football.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-kirby/when-i-turned-17-that-s-when-it-all-got-a-bit-too-much-i-decided-to/) [Fran Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-kirby/) > [When I turned 17, I had a bike malfunction at a race, and in my head, I went, 'You know what? I'm done. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-bonham/when-i-turned-17-i-had-a-bike-malfunction-at-a-race-and-in-my-head-i/) [Jason Bonham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-bonham/) > [When I turned 17, I created a website for the students at my University. It enabled students to share lectures and discuss exams, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-durov/when-i-turned-17-i-created-a-website-for-the-students-at-my/) [Pavel Durov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavel-durov/) > [I turned 17 last night and no one even my best-friends realized it , not even my dad ... but since I love Harry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila/i-turned-17-last-night-and-no-one-even-my-best-friends-realized-it/) [Leila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila/) ## More by Bukayo Saka > [I experienced discrimination online. I think every player does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bukayo-saka/i-experienced-discrimination-online-i-think-every-player-does/) [Bukayo Saka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bukayo-saka/) > [I always still watch Nigeria's games where I can, and I wish them all the best and support them all the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bukayo-saka/i-always-still-watch-nigeria-s-games-where-i-can-and-i-wish-them-all/) [Bukayo Saka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bukayo-saka/) > [I don't really have a game face and keep it, you know? I have a game face when it's time to think, to analyse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bukayo-saka/i-don-t-really-have-a-game-face-and-keep-it-you-know-i-have-a-game/) [Bukayo Saka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bukayo-saka/) > [Arteta is so detailed and clear and a lot of the players will tell you we are learning from him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bukayo-saka/arteta-is-so-detailed-and-clear-and-a-lot-of-the-players-will-tell/) [Bukayo Saka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bukayo-saka/) > [My dad will always tell me what I could have done better, even when I've played well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bukayo-saka/my-dad-will-always-tell-me-what-i-could-have-done-better-even-when-i/) [Bukayo Saka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bukayo-saka/) > [You could never be sure that you would make it, but what I said to myself is that I would always give my best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bukayo-saka/you-could-never-be-sure-that-you-would-make-it-but-what-i-said-to/) [Bukayo Saka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bukayo-saka/) > [Football's a team sport and as long as everyone is doing well, I think it makes things easier individually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bukayo-saka/football-s-a-team-sport-and-as-long-as-everyone-is-doing-well-i-think/) [Bukayo Saka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bukayo-saka/) > [I think the Champions League creates so many special nights and it's a dream for me still to experience one of them and hopefully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bukayo-saka/i-think-the-champions-league-creates-so-many-special-nights-and-it-s/) [Bukayo Saka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bukayo-saka/) > [There were some tough days, there were some good days, but you have to just keep going, keep dreaming, and keep believing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bukayo-saka/there-were-some-tough-days-there-were-some-good-days-but-you-have-to/) [Bukayo Saka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bukayo-saka/) > [The Champions League is the goal, but we've got to stay humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bukayo-saka/the-champions-league-is-the-goal-but-we-ve-got-to-stay-humble/) [Bukayo Saka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bukayo-saka/) > [My whole family has been in England like forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bukayo-saka/my-whole-family-has-been-in-england-like-forever/) [Bukayo Saka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bukayo-saka/) > [It started from Auba. He said it in French. We're doing one finishing drill one time in training and he kept saying it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bukayo-saka/it-started-from-auba-he-said-it-in-french-we-re-doing-one-finishing/) [Bukayo Saka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bukayo-saka/) > [I don't think that I'm the player that's carrying Arsenal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bukayo-saka/i-don-t-think-that-i-m-the-player-that-s-carrying-arsenal/) [Bukayo Saka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bukayo-saka/) > [I feel like I'm really, really proud of my Nigerian heritage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bukayo-saka/i-feel-like-i-m-really-really-proud-of-my-nigerian-heritage/) [Bukayo Saka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bukayo-saka/) > [Games against Belgium are the type of games you want to play in as a player - the big games, the games that mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bukayo-saka/games-against-belgium-are-the-type-of-games-you-want-to-play-in-as-a/) [Bukayo Saka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bukayo-saka/) [Explore all 99 Bukayo Saka quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bukayo-saka/) ## More Contract quotes > [I am very convinced that I did not contract Ebola in the isolation unit, because our process is so safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-brantly/i-am-very-convinced-that-i-did-not-contract-ebola-in-the-isolation/) [Kent Brantly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-brantly/) > [A contract is an ask game, and if it asks for an hour, and I submit to an hour, then it's an hour. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-berry/a-contract-is-an-ask-game-and-if-it-asks-for-an-hour-and-i-submit-to/) [Chuck Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-berry/) > [I love Scott Coker and I love Bellator and I love what we have built together and it's a little uneasy to think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chandler/i-love-scott-coker-and-i-love-bellator-and-i-love-what-we-have-built/) [Michael Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chandler/) > [I signed my first book contract without paying much attention to what it said. I didn't know at the time that the book would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-land/i-signed-my-first-book-contract-without-paying-much-attention-to-what/) [Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/) > [I work seriously with complete integrity. I never, never, never have offered a part to anyone who didn't deserve it, and I've never not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-toback/i-work-seriously-with-complete-integrity-i-never-never-never-have/) [James Toback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-toback/) > [Nowadays, in the contract that actors sign, you have to agree that you're going to do a certain amount of publicity-the hard part they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/nowadays-in-the-contract-that-actors-sign-you-have-to-agree-that-you/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [Society is indeed a contract. It is a partnership in all science; a partnership in all art; a partnership in every virtue, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/society-is-indeed-a-contract-it-is-a-partnership-in-all-science-a/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [“A prisoner is imprisoned by the crime that he has committed. A jailer is imprisoned — in the very same prison — by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-prisoner-is-imprisoned-by-the-crime-that-he-has-committed-a-jailer/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“When we are quiet and still we contract and settle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/when-we-are-quiet-and-still-we-contract-and-settle/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [When you sign a contract, that's your deal. Everyone has different deals anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-duggan/when-you-sign-a-contract-that-s-your-deal-everyone-has-different/) [Toni Duggan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-duggan/) > [When you need to renew your contract, you must demonstrate why they are renewing your contract.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-pellegrini/when-you-need-to-renew-your-contract-you-must-demonstrate-why-they/) [Manuel Pellegrini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-pellegrini/) > [“You don't know with who you are having to deal with... you just sign the contract to die”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deyth-banger/you-don-t-know-with-who-you-are-having-to-deal-with-you-just-sign-the/) Deyth Banger > [Even if you have a contract you can be sold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teemu-pukki/even-if-you-have-a-contract-you-can-be-sold/) [Teemu Pukki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teemu-pukki/) > [I worked in three local news markets and in every single one of them, they said: 'You're a lousy anchor. We would love to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-vargas/i-worked-in-three-local-news-markets-and-in-every-single-one-of-them/) [Elizabeth Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-vargas/) > [A group is as healthy as its 'social contract' is clear; a congregation as faithful as its covenant is mutually understood; a pastor as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-group-is-as-healthy-as-its-social-contract-is-clear-a-congregation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 518 Contract quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I just enjoyed playing, but I don't think I ever really thought I was going to make it to the first team until I actually signed my first professional contract when I turned 17.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bukayo Saka" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bukayo-saka/i-just-enjoyed-playing-but-i-don-t-think-i-ever-really-thought-i-was/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Contract" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bukayo-saka/i-just-enjoyed-playing-but-i-don-t-think-i-ever-really-thought-i-was/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/bukayo-saka-6395_contract_i-just-enjoyed-playing-but-i-don-t-think_1402286.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/bukayo-saka-6395_contract_i-just-enjoyed-playing-but-i-don-t-think_1402286.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/bukayo-saka-6395_contract_i-just-enjoyed-playing-but-i-don-t-think_1402286.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I just enjoyed playing, but I don't think I ever really thought I was going to make it to the first team…” — Bukayo Saka", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bukayo Saka", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bukayo-saka/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I just enjoyed playing, but I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bukayo-saka/i-just-enjoyed-playing-but-i-don-t-think-i-ever-really-thought-i-was/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bukayo-saka/i-just-enjoyed-playing-but-i-don-t-think-i-ever-really-thought-i-was/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```