‘I didn’t know he had another different intention – to get me into the sex trade,’ Bangura told BBC Radio 4. Bangura says he was left alone in a building where he was attacked by several men.

“All of a sudden, I saw two or three guys come around me, trying to rape me and make me do stuff,” he said.

“Because I was young and I was small, I just started screaming. They probably thought I knew what I was there for – obviously I know what I came over here for, I was here to play football.

“I was just crying and proper screaming and I tried to make my way out – I was cold, I was crying, I was shaking, I didn’t know what to do, I was all over the place. I made my way outside. I didn’t know where to start, I thought it was the end of my life.”

Bangura says he managed to escape and seek asylum.

When he was 16 he was spotted by a talent scout and joined Watford United. He was later awarded a work permit based on his football contract.

He later signed for Blackpool. Earlier this year, he signed for Coventry City but was released from his contract without making an appearance.

Bangura’s case is not unique. Approximately 15,000 teenage footballers are said to be trafficked out of west African countries every year.

Bangura now works with the Premier League and charities to raise awareness of the issue.