Fulham sign £100k 15-year-old
last updated Tuesday 09th October 2001, 2:53 PM
Fulham have today signed Wales Under-17 international Matthew Collins from Swindon Town in a deal worth a reported £100,000.
Collins is rated as one of the best young players in his age group in the country and has been with Swindon since he was eight.
Swindon director of football Roy Evans and his youth coaching team offered the 15-year-old a four-year deal in a bid to stop him leaving the County Ground. But Collins, younger brother of Chris who plays for the Robins reserves found the offer of joining Jean Tigana's set-up too tempting to resist and he has signed a contract which will keep him at Craven Cottage until June 2006.
Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan was also interested in acquiring the talents of Collins, who has played for his country at both youth and Under-17 level. But once he heard that Tigana was interested in promoting the interests of younger players there was no question where he was going to continue his career.
Collins's father Jeff revealed he had nothing but good things to say about Swindon and his time with the Wiltshire club, but was pleased with his son's decision to join Fulham.
He said: "Swindon have done a terrific job in helping Matthew develop. They were very keen to keep him and we spoke to Roy Evans and his team.
"But this is a tremendous chance which was just too good to turn down and Swindon understand that. There is no animosity." |
Source Teamtalk
Share this article
Views
814
Comments
Article Tags