![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/incoming\/article31059981.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_Screenshot-2023-09-29-at-101358.jpg\")
![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/incoming\/article31059983.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-628261656.jpg\")
<\/p>\nA player dubbed the world\u2019s richest footballer lived in modest digs and wore casual clothes during his time in English footballer.<\/p>\n
The name Faiq Bolkiah will be unfamiliar to most fans but the former Chelsea and Arsenal youngster has an incredible backstory. Bolkiah, now 25 and playing in the Thai league, is a nephew of the Sultan of Brunei and is one of several heirs to a \u00a3200billion fortune.<\/p>\n
Born in Los Angeles, Bolkiah moved to the UK and grew up in leafy Berkshire, quickly falling in love with football. After spells at Southampton, Reading and Arsenal, he moved to Chelsea, playing alongside the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tammy Abraham in the Blues\u2019 youth ranks.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Ex-Chelsea star and football legend investigated by police over match-fixing allegations <\/b><\/p>\n
READ MORE: Club owned by Everton-linked 777 Partners hit with FIFA transfer ban for late payments<\/b><\/p>\n
One of his team-mates at Chelsea was Ruben Sammut, who described Bolkiah as one of the boys who never boasted about his background. He told The Athletic: \u201cYou would never ever have thought he was something like the 12th in line to the throne. You would not have thought of him as royalty. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe was a humble guy, trying every day like every academy player. We used to joke he didn\u2019t need to play football but he wanted to play because he loved football.<\/p>\n
Do you recall Faiq Bolkiah's time in English football? Tell us in the comments section below<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t a regular thing we mentioned. It was that typical banter, saying he is royalty, saying, \u2018What\u2019s he doing playing with us?\u2019 But we all knew deep down how much he wanted to play, so it was more good-willed passing comments.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t know the ins and outs of the wealth of his family but he took football seriously, so full credit to him. He lived in digs like everyone else. I can\u2019t remember who with.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/incoming\/article31059980.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_Screenshot-2023-09-29-at-101407.jpg\")
![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/incoming\/article31059984.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_GettyImages-1090938390.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\u201cHe just came in with the boy he was in digs with. This would have been age around 16-18, youth team group. We lived in digs, walking distance to the training ground. He didn\u2019t do the schooling.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was youth team full-time training and stayed with a host family. He was just humble, he never wore flash clothes or came in flash gear, he just wore a tracksuit, just a down-to-earth guy. I think he did it so he didn\u2019t draw attention to himself. He knew if he was splashing the cash, it would create a bad image for himself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Following the expiry of his Chelsea contract, Bolkiah reportedly had a trial at Stoke before moving to Leicester City in 2016, just as the Foxes were winning the Premier League. Bolkiah played in Leicester\u2019s U18 and U23 sides but failed to break through into the first-team.<\/p>\n
After four years with the Foxes, he moved on to Maritimo in Portugal before switching closer to his royalty in Thailand, playing for Chonburi and then current club Ratchaburi.<\/p>\n