Oluwafikayomi Oluwadamilola Tomori: a big name aiming to get bigger and bigger. “Fik” is what they call him at AC Milan, where the England international has already made himself at home. Relaxed, talkative and ready to joke, he looks properly at ease at Milanello, where he has won over staff and colleagues with a proactive and fun-loving attitude. It helps that he also fits the brief of the kind of footballer that the club is trying to recruit: progressive, young and technically adept.

Italian football boasts a rich tradition of centre-backs – and Tomori’s breathing it first hand at Milanello, with the likes of Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi still at the club. As he talks about his roots you can read the London years in his eyes, growing up with one thing on his mind: football. Inspired primarily by his father, he was always hungry to learn from the best, be it watching the Rossoneri lift the trophy in Athens in 2007 or learning from Frank Lampard during his stint at Chelsea.

With more time will come more exploration and knowledge, something the 23-year-old is eager to grasp – just like Italian itself. He understands everything that coach Stefano Pioli says and, challenged to speak the local language, he impressed our interviewing crew with a perfectly structured sentence. “I’m hoping to do this kind of interview in Italian next time,” he calmly says to end the chat. Ready when you are, Fik. The story so far isn’t bad either.

Tell us about your journey. Where did it all begin?

When I was about five or six, I had a few friends who were around my age in southeast London. My mum got all the other mums together and said, “Let’s give these boys something to spend their energy on.” So we went to a local leisure centre and I used to score so many goals. Then I had to move to Kent and the coaches were saying, “He’s good so make sure you put him in a club.” Then I joined my school team, then I ended up playing for Chelsea when I was seven and it’s gone on from there.

And you were born in Canada?

Yes. I moved to England before I was one but Canada is part of my story. I used to go back a lot but then football came and I was playing four times a week, so it was difficult. But I’ve got a lot of friends and family there; they keep an eye on what I’m doing and I always get messages. I want to go back; I haven’t had the opportunity but hopefully I can soon.

And you have roots in Nigeria too, is that right?

Very much so. My grandparents are from there, my parents are from there; all the friends that I have back home are all from Nigeria. And my parents used to speak to me in Yoruba, which is a language there, so I understand it. I’m very much present in the Nigerian culture: eating the food and things like that. I am very Nigerian.

Can you tell us a bit more about your first steps at Chelsea?

When you’re young you’re just playing for fun and you never really know how far it’s going to go. Then, as you get older, you get closer and closer and you see people playing with the first team; you start to take it more seriously. So growing up at Chelsea has definitely shaped me as the player I am today. I’ve played with a lot of good players, been with a lot of good coaches, and then I had the opportunity to play in the first team – and it’s got me to the stage I am now.

Did you have a moment where you realised that you'd made it?

I managed to start off at Brighton in the Championship, where they were top of the league and they got promoted to the Premier League. I didn’t really play too much for them though. The next step for me was to go to a team where I could be in the thick of it for a full season; at Hull City I managed to do that. Then I think going to Derby was the time where I thought, “OK, maybe I can really make a career.” Then Chelsea, playing in the Champions League and Premier League, playing 20-something games that season, that’s when I thought, “OK, I believe I can play at this level.” I wouldn’t say I’ve made it yet, but I’m still on the way.

What are your memories of playing in the Champions League for the very first time?

I was lucky enough to do it with people that I’ve been playing with growing up: Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Reece James. I remember walking out against Valencia and to hear the Champions League music, it was surreal. Talking before the game we were so excited, and during the game and after we were kind of like, “Wow, this is the Champions League; this is the real stage.” It was a special day.

And do you have any standout memories of watching AC Milan when you were a kid?

Yeah, of course, the Champions League nights come to mind. I remember when I was really getting into football, watching it a lot – unfortunately it was the Istanbul game. But obviously that was a great football match. And then I remember watching the 2007 final in Athens, when Milan won. And there are so many great players associated with Milan; one I really liked growing up was Kaká. So to be able to say I’m part of the club that these great players have played for is amazing.