Fulham defender Marlon Fossey turned down Inter Miami in favour of making a loan switch to Bolton Wanderers, according to his new manager Ian Evatt.
Fossey completed his loan move from Craven Cottage this afternoon and could make his Bolton debut in the Football League Trophy tie at Hartlepool United tomorrow night. The American has had an outstanding season for Fulham’s under 23 side, creating five goals in eleven appearances from right back, after overcoming a succession of serious injuries to earn a new contract with the Cottagers.
Evatt told the Bolton News of his delight at concluding the deal:
“When I first spoke to Marlon, believe or not we were in big competition with Inter Miami, who wanted to take him over there. He wants to get into the US team, that’s his goal, but I spoke to him at length, showed him around, told him about the clubs, the plans, the future and what we want to try and do, and he bought into it by choosing us over them.
“It is credit to us and to him because he wants to stay in England and make a good go of it. Yes, he has had some injuries but he is one of those players who has outgrown the Under-23s model now and needs to go out there and play senior football to forge a career. He has an immense talent, so many attributes, and I am looking forward to working with him.”
Both Evatt and Fossey feel the time is right for the 23 year-old to make his mark in senior football.
“He isn’t a young player, so to speak, he has been with Fulham’s Under-23s for a while and is physically ready for first team football. He is a loan but also someone who might be looking to the future for something more permanent. Marlon is athletically fantastic, lightning fast, has that profile and can do the sprinting you need to do for us as a full-back. He can handle the ball and is used to playing in a similar system at Fulham.
