‘Micah Olabiyi embodies everything Wycombe Wanderers stand for’ – Jeremy Sauer

Wycombe Wanderers Academy Director Jeremy Sauer believes Micah Olabiyi is the ideal embodiment of the club’s academy values after the teenage winger signed his first professional contract following a remarkable breakthrough campaign.

The highly-rated wide player marked his 17th birthday by committing his future to the League One club after an outstanding 2025/26 season that saw him emerge as one of Wycombe’s brightest young prospects.

His rapid rise included a senior debut in the Carabao Cup against Bromley before he etched his name into the club’s history books by becoming Wycombe’s second-youngest EFL goalscorer with a dramatic winner against Rotherham on his league debut in May.

For Sauer, Olabiyi’s journey represents more than just individual success. It also validates the work being done by the club’s re-established academy.

“We’ve been talking about it for a few months now with the family and with Micah, so to get it done is really fantastic, and to celebrate on his birthday is a real bonus,” Sauer told Flashscore.com.

The academy chief pointed to the significance of Olabiyi’s emergence, noting that the winger is among the first products of the club’s revived youth system to make a genuine impact at senior level.

“As a football club, we’ve only been running the academy for a year before that was closed, so Micah is one of the first players from the academy, the new academy, that has really made an impact with the first team.”

Sauer highlights development beyond natural talent

While Olabiyi’s pace and attacking flair have caught the eye, Sauer insists the teenager’s growth over the past year has been driven by relentless improvement rather than raw ability alone.

He explained that the winger has sharpened his end product through dedicated work, refining his goals, assists and final delivery while proving his physical resilience by featuring in around 50 academy matches last season.

“Micah is a player who is obsessed with football, so he is most comfortable when he’s on the pitch,” Sauer said.

The academy director also praised the youngster’s mentality, insisting his willingness to learn, humility and resilience perfectly reflect the principles Wycombe aim to instil in every academy player.

“However, from the values of what we do as an academy, we talk about curiosity, being a good learner; we talk about humility… and then we talk about grit… so yeah, Micah has fallen into that really, really well.”

Family sacrifices fuelled Olabiyi’s rise

Behind Olabiyi’s success lies years of unwavering support from his family. His father, Shola, revealed the countless sacrifices made to help his son chase his football dream, describing the contract as the reward for years of commitment rather than a final destination.

“I’m bursting with pride. First of all, thanks to God Almighty. Seeing Micah sign his first professional contract with Wycombe Wanderers is not just a milestone; it is proof that grit, sacrifice and belief really do pay off,” he said.

Shola recalled the early-morning journeys, financial sacrifices and emotional setbacks the family endured, adding that signing the contract brought tears rather than celebrations.

Looking ahead, he hopes his son remains grounded and continues developing into a first-team regular at Adams Park before potentially reaching even greater heights.

Eligible to represent both England and Nigeria, Olabiyi’s growing reputation has already extended beyond club football after he was invited to train with Eric Chelle’s Super Eagles squad during the 2026 Unity Cup in London.