AN Inverness teenager has agreed a deal to join a football club in Finland as he aspires to become a professional goalkeeper.
Danar Strzelec. Picture: James Mackenzie
Danar Strzelec is set to leave Scotland and head out on Saturday to join up with Peimari United.
The 18-year-old has signed a one-year contract with the club which are based in Paimio in South-west Finland.
It is the next step up for Strzelec, who after playing in the youth system with Inverness Caledonian Thistle, went on trial with Chelsea before joining Abingdon Town in the seventh tier of English football in November.
Danar Strzelec. Picture: James Mackenzie
Strzelec caught the attention of the Finnish club and he says it is a deal which represented the next step in his progression.
He said: “It all came about while I was in England and my agent got in touch to tell me he had found me a better deal.
“It was a no brainer as they are a professional club which have a strong side. They are mostly built around young players my age from 18-years-old up. They are more about the development of young players and a good team which I am excited to be joining.
“They seem to be excited to have me on board too.”
Danar Strzelec. Picture: James Mackenzie
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Strzelec says he enjoyed his time at Abingdon Town and learned a lot during his time there, but says moving to Finland was the right deal for him.
“I did well at Abingdon and at the time I was also studying in the college which they supported me with. I enjoyed every minute I was at Abingdon Town and don’t have one bad word to say about the club. But moving to Finland represented a better deal for me.”
Danar Strzelec.
Strzelec has overcome major injuries as a child to get his football career back on track. An extra bone was found growing on his hip which snapped his tendon. It has kept him out of action for two lengthy periods of his career as a youngster. His injury was originally misdiagnosed as bone cancer.
Strzelec has played football all his life starting his career at Balloan before going to within the youth set-up at Highland League club Clachnacuddin and then went on to spend two years with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
He was released when he was 16 which left him considering his future in football. However, he then went to a UK Football Trials day hoping that he would catch the attention of a club.
He ended up going on trial with London giants Chelsea for six months which led to him signing with Abingdon Town.
Danar Strzelec. Picture: James Mackenzie
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Strzelec who was born in Inverness, but whose mother is from Poland, had to travel to the Polish Embassy in Edinburgh on Wednesday, to renew his Polish passport before heading out to Finland.
The Finnish season plays a calendar year and not through the winter, with the season beginning in March and finishing in November.
Strzelec heads out from his family home in Dalneigh to Finland on Saturday to join up with his new teammates and is looking forward to the challenge which awaits him.
He said: “It will be different playing through the summer compared to the winter like here. I didn’t realise that they play through the summer in Finland until I signed the deal.
“I will be living in club accommodation which is provided for players who don’t come with their families. I know that there will be players from Germany and Nigeria living there too.
“It will be scary moving to a new country, but it is something that I am looking forward to.
“It is a chance to gain more experience and a chance to meet new faces. Football is my family and it is a chance to make new family bonds.“
Danar Strzelec with labrador Daisy. Picture: James Mackenzie