Jake Daniels Becomes First Out U.K. Pro Soccer Player in 30 Years

Blackpool forward Jake Daniels has come out as gay. The 17-year-old is the first professional U.K. soccer player to come out in more than 30 years, after Justin Fashanu did in 1990.

"Off the pitch I've been hiding the real me and who I really am," the teenage player said in a statement on Blackpool's website. "I've known my whole life that I'm gay, and I now feel that I'm ready to come out and be myself."

He added that he's been inspired by other gay athletes like Australian pro soccer player Josh Cavallo and Olympic diver Tom Daley.

"I've hated lying my whole life and feeling the need to change to fit in. I want to be a role model myself by doing this," Daniels said. "There are people out there in the same space as me that may not feel comfortable revealing their sexuality. I just want to tell them that you don't have to change who you are, or how you should be, just to fit in."

In an interview with Sky Sports News, Daniels told the outlet that he thought he had to hide his sexual orientation while pursuing professional soccer. He said that he'd planned to only come out once he retired from the sport.

"But I just knew that was just such a long time of just lying and not being able to have what I want," Daniels told the outlet.

He said he'd known he was gay when he was younger, about 5 or 6. He explained that he didn't think soccer and being gay mixed at first.

"And as you do get older you realize you just can't ... and it's just something you won't be able to do. I've had girlfriends in the past to try and make all my mates think I'm straight, and it was just a massive cover-up. So it has been a struggle," he said. Daniels told Sky Sports News that he first came out to his mother and sister.

Daniels signed with Blackpool in February. He made his team debut earlier this month.