Seydou Traore, a 23-year-old from south London, has become the first graduate of England's NFL Academy to be selected in the NFL Draft, being picked by the Miami Dolphins. His journey began when he discovered American football at 16 after playing as a goalkeeper, before joining the inaugural intake of the NFL Academy in 2019, a programme designed to help international players earn US college scholarships and prepare for a professional career.

The odds against him were steep: roughly one million teenagers play high school American football in the US each year, with only about 0.08% reaching the NFL. Traore's path took him to Florida's Clearwater Academy after a highlight video caught the attention of head coach Jesse Chinchar, and he spent five years away from his family in London to pursue the dream. His mother's emotional reaction to the draft call, including a traditional celebratory trilling sound, went viral online.