In-depth with Idris Odutayo – Coming through at Fulham with Harvey Elliott, training with Aleksandar Mitrovic and why his Bromley move was three years in the making

Idris Odutayo’s Bromley move was one that was three years in the making.

Odutayo impressed Andy Woodman during a pre-season clash 1-1 draw between the Ravens and Fulham’s U21s in July 2021.

But it was not until deadline day in February 2024 – via a loan move to National League rivals Maidenhead United – that ex-Crystal Palace goalkeeper coach Woodman finally managed to land the Elephant and Castle-born defender.

Explaining how the permanent switch came about, Odutayo told the South London Press: “The gaffer [Woodman] and Vic Bettinelli [Fulham academy goalkeeper coach] are really close. Vic would always give an update and keep saying: ‘Do you want to go to Bromley?’

“When I came here and met Andy Woodman, he told me the plan and what he saw in me. He told me about getting to League Two and that he would push me on – there was no better chance than now to get involved.

“I chose the right time to come here.”

The 21-year-old quickly became a key part of the Ravens squad pushing to win promotion to League Two for the first time in the club’s 132 history.

After breaking into the squad for the final 10 games of the regular National League season, Odutayo made the left wing-back role his own and registered three goal contributions to help Bromley reach the play-off semi-finals.

The Ravens reach the final at Wembley after bypassing Altrincham, with Odutayo playing the full 120 minutes of the clash against Solihull Moors for a place in League Two.

The match ended in a 2-2 draw – with Michael Cheek netting a brace – but Bromley came out victorious on penalties to secure their very first EFL season.

“It was surreal,” said Odutayo, looking back on the tie in May.

“I didn’t realise I was at Wembley throughout the game. When it got to the last two minutes of extra time, I looked around and thought: ‘Wow’. That’s when it got emotional and you start realising.

“It just felt like another game.

“It got to penalties, but I wasn’t taking one so it was out of my hands. I was more calm when Byron Webster stepped up. It was like a story – I knew it was going to be finished the correct way.”
Odutayo’s journey to promotion with the Ravens began at Motspur Park in Fulham’s academy.

While many players have trials with a number of clubs within the surrounding London area, with his close friend Jesurun Rak-Sakyi spending time with Chelsea before moving to Crystal Palace, Oduatyo’s entire youth career was spent with Fulham.

He said: “It was good – it was like a family. They knew my character – I’m very bubbly. But they accepted that, and they knew that on the pitch, I would show up.

“I was always at Fulham. It was the first club I trialled with, and I just stayed there from the beginning.

“As time went on, it became a special club to me because of all of the people I had seen come and go.

“I played with Harvey Elliott. From a young age, you knew he had that outstanding ability.

“Jay [Stansfield] came in at U17s. We had never heard of him before, but as soon as he would take a shot, you thought: ‘Wow, it’s definitely going in.’

While Stansfield became the League One record signing this summer in his £10million switch to Birmingham, Elliott’s time at Fulham saw him sold to Liverpool for a record fee £4.3m for a 16-year-old in 2019 that was decided by a tribunal.

Odutayo added: “Because I was playing at left-back at the time and Harvey was a right winger, the coaches wanted to challenge us against each other. It was one-on-one in every training session.

“I did well with handeling him, but he was a very tricky customer. I’m proud of him. Even though he has that ability, you can tell he works hard – he deserves to be where he is right now.”

Odutayo’s first taste of senior football saw him join Maidenhead United for the entirety of the 2022-23 season.

He made 21 appearances in the National League for Alan Devonshire’s side as they secured safety by two points.

“I needed that loan,” said Odutayo.

“When you come from an academy, especially a category one academy, if you’re going on loan all the way to the National League, you think: ‘I should play.’

“It was a wake-up call because everyone has been at an academy – it doesn’t affect anything. You actually have to work hard to get into the team.

“I’m happy I went on loan there. Without that loan, I wouldn’t have succeeded at Bromley when I first joined.

“At an academy, you’re given everything, but when you get to men’s football, you have to look after yourself.

“You have to bring in your own towel and shower stuff – that had been all provided before. You had to mature in certain aspects.

“It’s what I needed.”

He returned to Fulham and jetted off with Marco Silva’s first team for the pre-season tour of the USA ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.

“It was my opportunity to show the manager what I could do,” he added.

“Marco Silva was a good gaffer. He asks for a lot, but if you are going to coach a Premier League team, you need to do that.

“He is very strict, but he has a fun side to him.

“In one of the sessions, I was trying to impress the gaffer, and he told me to get tight with Aleksandar Mitrovic.

“I did that and he just gave me a little elbow in the back. The next minute, he grabbed me and floored me!”

Odutayo has started every game in League Two this season.

Despite the Ravens winning both of their opening games and hitting the ground running, they are winless in five and without a clean sheet in that period.

Odutayo added: “The first two games were a bit of a honeymoon period, but we understand these teams, with the quality of passes and crossing, is just better than the National League.

“We’re understanding and learning on the job. I want to achieve promotion. I know people think we’re going back down, but I don’t feel there is any chance of that.

“The only way we can look forward to is getting promoted.”

PICTURE: ED BOYDEN