Fulham have finally completed the protracted loan deal to bring Armando Broja from Chelsea until the end of the season.
The local rivals had been negotiating for much of January to ensure that Marco Silva’s top target arrived at Craven Cottage – with the signing becoming all the more vital after Raul Jimenez strained his hamstring in the midweek draw against Everton. The 22 year-old’s short switch along the Fulham Road was ratified by the Premier League after the Whites had submitted a deal sheet as they were unable to complete all the paperwork that accompanied Broja’s change of registration before the 11pm deadline.
Broja, who had an unsuccessful train as a child at Motspur Park, rejected a move to Wolverhampton Wanderers once Chelsea and Fulham had reached agreement on the terms of the loan on Thursday. He joins Fulham having scored his only Premier League goal of an injury-hit campaign at Craven Cottage for Chelsea in October – with the Cottagers able to pay no loan fee for his services should he start more than half of their games between now and the end of the season.
Broja, who has spent time on loan at Vitesse Arnhem and Southampton earlier in his career, told FFCTV:
“It feels amazing. I’m really happy to be here and I can’t wait to get started, meet the players and manager and play for the fans. The fans always play a big role and I can’t wait to go to Craven Cottage and meet them all. I’m going to work hard for the team and create a real bond. I’m really honoured and excited to be here.”
The Albanian international could make his Fulham debut at Burnley on Saturday.
Too little too late too ridiculous to ridicule…happens every window…myopic hypertrophic or just plain blind…building a team at the speed of the stupid stand and gauging while you do it…Vinicius 9 million…makes Mitrovic worth 9 trillion.
Terrible stats. Expectations are low as can be and that’s probably a good thing. Reminds me of the good old days in the Championship, where recruitment had a thing for unknown french speaking wingers.
But it starts way back in August when they allowed Mitro to be sold right at the end off the window with no replacement. Our most important player who scored regularly. Unbelievable incompetence. The farce of Paulinho’s almost sale just underline how bad our recruitment department is.
A competent replacement for Mitro should have been sorted out during the autumn, with all terms agreed, ready to sign on January 1st. We might well have still been in at least one of the cup competitions if that had been done.
But lets hope Broja finds some form and fits in well and helps to keep us out of the relegation fight. If he does of course we will just be helping improve someone else’s player. Deja vu.