Ex-Premier League wonderkid who turned down 10-year contract at Barcelona signs for fifth tier club

A former Premier League wonderkid who once turned down the offer of a 10-year contract at Barcelona has signed for a fifth tier club in England.

After being let go by League Two side Notts County in the summer, former England youth star John Bostock has joined the 16th club of his professional career.

Bostock first caught the eye as a youngster at boyhood club Crystal Palace, playing above his age group in youth teams for the Eagles.

It was during this time he attracted the attention of La Liga giants Barcelona, who offered him an incredible decade-long deal to move to Spain.

"When I was 14, Barcelona offered me a 10-year contract," Bostock previously told the BBC.

"Ronaldinho was my favourite player at the time so they sent me a signed poster from him. I've still got it at my house in London. It said: 'To John from Ronaldinho'.

"You name the club, I had interest from them. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter [Milan], Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool - the who's who of European football."

He eventually left Palace for Tottenham in a move that saw the two clubs going to a tribunal in 2008.

However, he never managed to play in the Premier League and ended up being sent out on loan to Brentford, Hull, Sheffield Wednesday, Swindon and Toronto before leaving the club on a permanent deal in 2013.

Spells at Royal Antwerp, Leuven, Lens and Bursaspor followed before he joined Toulouse, who then loaned him to Nottingham Forest in the 2019/20 campaign.

He returned England to sign for Doncaster Rovers in 2021 but left after just one season following the club's relegation from League One that summer.

Bostock later joined Notts County in 2022 and went on to help them secure promotion to League Two last season.

But the midfielder managed just four goals in 66 appearances for the club, who decided to cut ties with him after a 14th-place finish.

Image credit: Getty

Now, the 32-year-old has penned a two-year deal with National League side Solihull Moors.

After putting pen to paper, Bostock said: "I'm very pleased, it's been a process coming to this decision but one I'm very grateful for and I'm pleased to get the season underway."

He added: "It was really important where the club was situated as a family man they're my priority.

"It came down to speaking to the gaffer, Wardy and the project about how they wanted to play and the plans for the club. The club have come quite far very quickly and last year they came so close to taking the next step."

Solihull's director of football, Stephen Ward, is delighted to have the midfielder on board ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

"We have all seen the talent he has as a footballer during his career, most recently during his successful time at Notts County," Ward said.

"We are thrilled to welcome him and his family to the club and we are really looking forward to working with him. We know the quality he has, and we are thrilled that he has bought into our vision here at Moors."