Connor McAvoy and Taye Ashby-Hammond have agreed new deals to stay with Fulham, the club have announced this afternoon.
Scottish centre back McAvoy has made real strides since impressing as a scholar at Motspur Park, making 24 appearances for Fulham’s under 23s last season having shown leadership potential as skipper of the club’s under-18 side. The 19 year-old was delighted to put pen to paper on a new two-year contract:
“It means everything to me to extend my time at Fulham. Having been here since I was eight, it’s the place I’ve learnt everything I know as a footballer. I enjoy playing for the club and it’s like a second home to me. I was taught and supported by the coaches here from a young age and I’ve grown up in an environment I felt comfortable in, which helped me enjoy football for the last 10 years.”
McAvoy is open to going out on loan to further his development when the new campaign gets underway. “I’m going to see how pre-season progresses for me and maybe look for a loan option to gain some experience in men’s football. I think I need a challenge to take me to the next level and a loan could represent that.”
Ashby-Hammond, part of a formidable group of young goalkeepers at Fulham, earned invaluable senior football experience last term – making 33 appearances in the National League for Maidenhead. He has agreed a new one-year contract with the Whites.
“I’m delighted to extend my contract! This will be my 15th season at the club and I’m really looking forward to the next challenge. I learnt a lot from my loan in the National League, a difficult, physical division. There were lots of crosses and through balls to deal with, but I enjoyed it a lot.”
Academy director Huw Jennings added: “Connor was the defensive leader for the Under-23s last season as a right-sided centre-back who could also play at right-back. He has featured with Scotland’s youth teams, captaining the Under-19s. He’ll be looking to push on with his journey at the club towards senior football during the course of this contract. Taye will be aiming to get more experience in goal having excelled with Maidenhead in the last two Covid interrupted seasons.”
Fulham hold a one-year extension option on both McAvoy’s and Ashby-Hammond’s new contracts.
