Fulham centre back Alfie Mawson has joined Bristol City on a season-long loan, the club have confirmed tonight.
The 26 year-old has struggled for both form and fitness since signing from Swansea for a reported fee of around £20m in August 2018. The former England under-21 international was still recovering from the after effects of knee surgery when he moved to Craven Cottage and picked up another serious injury in December. He made just sixteen appearances as Fulham were immediately relegated from the top flight and, despite starting this season as a first choice in Scott Parker’s back four, slipped down the pecking order following the arrival of Michael Hector from Chelsea.
Mawson, who has made 44 appearances in all for Fulham, could team up with Fulham team-mate Steven Sessegnon, who has also been tipped to make a loan move to City, at Ashton Gate this year. He has told the Bristol City website tonight:
“I’m massively looking forward to getting started. It’s been in the pipeline a while now and I’m just happy to get it over the line. I just want to meet up with the lads now. I’ve spoken to the gaffer and he was class.
We spoke a few times and I’ve bought into everything he said to me. He’s got a really good mindset and that’s good for the club, the way he was talking to me about players being brought in and what the club wants to do going forward was a massive selling point.
“I think it’s quite a young squad so I can bring a bit of experience. I know this league well enough to know when to do certain things. Everyone can say about being a ball-playing centre-half but, at the end of the day, I’m a defender and I’ve got to do the dirty work and then show my qualities on the ball at the right times.
Quite soon after the play-off final, when I hadn’t been involved after we came back after the coronavirus pandemic, that I felt I needed to go and play football. When I heard the opportunity at Bristol City had arisen, I thought that could be a good possibility. The Stadium is incredible, I like the area and it seems a good fit. The experience I gained last year was massive and I’m coming to get back-to-back promotions.”
I’m hoping this is a move to regain full fitness and form. I recall Mawson at Swansea and felt he had the makings of a good centre back, strong, mobile decisive and pretty good on the ball.
Good luck Alfie hope your injury’s are behind you and you have a great season, your a class defender that needs a little luck. Still think you can be a top player for us.
Mawson’s just been dreadfully unlucky at Fulham. I had hoped he’d prove his class for us this year – but it makes sense for him to prove his fitness in the Championship. I wonder if Scott doesn’t fancy him …
Good luck alfie hope you get form back and have a solid season.
Bit worried now we have let him go without already getting a replacement I know we won’t spend what we did a couple of seasons ago.
But concerned about the players we have missed out on.
We need a striker two centre backs and a right back which right back seems to be sorted today.
Who would you guys have at centre back with Hector I love Tim but don’t think he’s up to Premier league standard