From playing for The New Saints to joining Caernarfon Town is not the biggest step. Throw in a headline-grabbing stint in the Middle East – including a game against a sulky Cristiano Ronaldo – in between, and it has been quite the journey for Brad Young.
Cymru Premier side Caernarfon confirmed the statement-signing of Young on 31 December from Baniyas in the United Arab Emirates, this after the 22-year-old played for Al-Orabah in Saudi Arabia.
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“It’s been quite a story, obviously I went and experienced playing abroad for a year-and-a-half, but it just felt that the time was right to come back,” Young told BBC Sport Wales.
“It was family commitments, when I went out there I never had a little one and funnily enough, the day I got to Saudi, I found out I was having a baby so that changed everything.
“In the end I thought it was best for me to go home because my missus is pregnant again.”
Young began his career with Aston Villa and made one senior appearance in the FA Cup in 2021.
After leaving Villa Park he moved to The New Saints, scoring 32 goals in 43 appearances to win the domestic treble and the Golden Boot prior to his surprise switch to the Middle East.
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“I enjoyed the experience, obviously every game you’re playing against world-class players, the league speaks for itself and the players speak for itself,” Young added.
One of Young’s highlights was playing against Cristiano Ronaldo’s side Al-Nassr – who they beat 2-1.
“I wanted to get his shirt but he was in a mood, he stormed off down the tunnel so I was disappointed with that,” joked Young.
“Ever since I was a kid, he’s been my idol. For me he’s the GOAT (greatest of all time), he’s the one player that I love.
“He’s the main reason that I wanted to go there and play against him, because he hasn’t got that long left in his legs so I thought I would never get that chance again.”
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Now back in Wales, Young is aiming to make his mark in the Cymru Premier again.
Caernarfon manager Richard Davies says he was as surprised as anyone when the opportunity to sign Young arose.
“It was a proposal that was given to me from the club to see if I would be interested as a manager, which I think was a bit of a daft question,” said Davies.
“If anybody offers Brad here as a possibility then you sit up and listen.
“Brad has come from Saudi and he didn’t want to go full-time. It didn’t suit him for the rest of the season, so for him he thought for the remainder of the season he’d be better off in a part-time environment so that’s how we’re going about it.
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“We’ve had conversations – we’ve told him about our vision and what our goals are.”
Young has so far played four games for the Canaries and is excited about the final few months of the season.
The club are aiming for Europe and will play Rhyl 1879 in the semi-final of the Welsh Cup in March.
“Those were the main reasons I came here and the main reason why they wanted me to come here to push for it,” Young added.
“It’s massive for the club, they’ve got to Europe once, so for them to get it again, it will be top for the fans. The fans, every game, are the best fans in the league.”
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