Fulham have confirmed the re signing of Ryan Sessegnon.
The 24 year old, a product of Fulham’s academy, left Craven Cottage in 2019 to join Tottenham.
He has been plagued by injuries since and has been looking for a new club since being released by Spurs at the end of last season.
Sessegnon recently had a trial at Crystal Palace but has now agreed a two-year contract with Fulham, which includes the option of a further year.
“It’s amazing to be back. Emotional, as well. It’s where it started for me, where everything began, and it’s amazing to be back,” he told the club website.
“It will always be home for me. I think it had the feeling that it was meant to be, coming back here, so I’m delighted to get it done.”
Fulham FC statement by Geoff Pruce
The Club is delighted to confirm the signing of Ryan Sessegnon on a free transfer.
Sessegnon returns to Fulham following the expiry of his Tottenham Hotspur contract last month, with the 24 year old agreeing a deal until 2026, with an option to extend by a further year.
Speaking to FFCtv, Sess said: “It’s amazing to be back. Emotional, as well. It’s where it started for me, where everything began, and it’s amazing to be back.
“It will always be home for me. I think it had the feeling that it was meant to be, coming back here, so I’m delighted to get it done.”
Tony Khan added: “I'm thrilled to announce that Ryan Sessegnon has returned to Fulham Football Club! Ryan grew up in our Academy, he spent 11 years at the Club, as he developed here into a wonderful young man and a phenomenal talent.
“I remember travelling to Leeds for the first league start of his career on 16/8/16 as if it was yesterday. We're all so pleased that Ryan has come back, he is beloved here at the Club by our staff and supporters, and we know that he'll be right at home, working with old friends and new, under Marco Silva's great leadership. Welcome home, Sess!
“Come on Fulham!”
Sessegnon’s relationship with Fulham Football Club runs deep. Born just down the road in Roehampton, he rapidly moved up the age groups after initially joining as an Under-9 alongside his twin brother Steven, making his debut for the First Team as a 16 year old in a 3-2 League Cup win against Leyton Orient.
After dazzling at left-back on his league debut at Leeds United a week later, he became the youngest scorer in our history when he netted just three minutes after coming off the bench in a 2-2 draw with Cardiff City.
The youngster racked up 30 appearances in that maiden campaign, scoring seven times – including a famous brace in our 3-1 win away to eventual Championship winners Newcastle United. He was subsequently named in the PFA Team of the Year.
If that season was an impressive one for Sess, 2017/18 was in another stratosphere.
Primarily playing in a more attacking position on the left-wing, he was the Club’s top scorer with 16 goals as we won promotion. In fact, he was involved in all three of our Play-Off goals, scoring against Derby County before sending in the corner for Denis Odoi’s famous header in the same game, and also providing the perfect assist for Tom Cairney’s winner in the Final against Aston Villa.
The recognition for Sessegnon that year was endless. At the EFL awards, he won Championship Player of the Season, EFL Young Player of the Year, and the Championship Apprentice award, in addition to being named in the EFL Team of the Season.
There was a similar theme at the PFA Awards, where he was named Fans’ Championship Player of the Year, beating the likes of Diogo Jota and James Maddison to the accolade. He was also the first ever player outside of the Premier League to be nominated for PFA Young Player of the Year.
A top flight goal was the next achievement to tick off, with his strike against Cardiff making him the first person born in the year 2000 to score in the Premier League.
After 120 appearances for Fulham which featured 25 goals and 18 assists Sessegnon joined Spurs in the summer of 2019 for what was, at the time, a record fee received.
He sampled Champions League football in his first season, scoring against Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena on his first start in the competition.
Sess was back in Germany the following year, registering five goal involvements in 29 appearances while on loan with TSG Hoffenheim.
Back in North London, Sessegnon got regular gametime the following two seasons, but was unfortunate with injury in his final campaign at the club, and departed with 57 appearances to his name.
Sessegnon has enjoyed success on an international scale, helping England win the Under-19 European Championship in 2017, claiming the Golden Boot and being named in the Team of the Tournament at the same time.
He has represented his country up to Under-21 level, for whom he won 20 caps.