 |
Midfielder
Jean-Michael Seri
|
| Position |
Central
midfielder |
| P.O.B. |
Grand-Béréby,
Ivory Coast |
| D.O.B |
19:07:91
|
| Height |
5' 06 |
| Last Club |
Nice |
| His Wiki page |
Fulham have completed the signing of midfielder Jean-Michael Seri from Nice on a four-year deal.
Seri had been linked with the likes of Chelsea, Napoli and Sevilla this summer but the 26-year-old has instead opted to join the Cottagers ahead of their return to the Premier League.
The Ivory Coast international has signed a contract until 2022 at Craven Cottage, with the club holding an option to extend his deal by a further year.
Fulham FC statement:
We are delighted to confirm the signing of Ivory Coast international Jean Michaël Seri on a four-year deal from OGC Nice.
The midfielder has signed a contract until June 2022, with the Club holding an option to extend by a further 12 months after beating a host of top European sides to Seri’s signature.
The deal is subject to international clearance, and the player obtaining a work permit.
A creative, intelligent central midfield player, Seri spent his younger years with Africa Sports d'Abidjan before joining the most successful side in Ivorian history in 2010, ASEC Mimosas.
After impressing in two seasons with the club, Seri was scouted by Porto and subsequently joined the Portuguese giants on loan for the 2012/13 campaign.
The following summer he made a permanent switch to a different top flight club in Portugal, Paços de Ferreira, who he helped retain Primeira Liga status, notably by scoring in their relegation play-off victory in his first season.
He also played in every one of their six Group Stage Europa League matches in 2013/14.
The subsequent campaign was a much more prosperous one for Paços de Ferreira, with Seri playing a major role as they secured an eighth-placed finish, missing out on a European spot by just a solitary point.
In the summer of 2015, Seri made the move to Nice and quickly established himself as a key component of the exciting Ligue 1 side.
Top-four and top-three finishes were achieved in his first two campaigns in France, while this term European qualification eluded Nice by one point.
The last two campaigns saw Seri top the charts in Ligue 1 in terms of passes played and completed, with an accuracy rate of 90.4 per cent last year, while he claimed a spot in the 2016/17 Team of the Season.
He made his debut for the Ivory Coast in September 2015, and now has 18 caps to his name.
Speaking at Motspur Park on Thursday morning, Seri said: “It was a long day yesterday so it was great to get the move finalised.
“Now, I’m ready to get started and looking forward to meeting the squad and getting to know them, the Head Coach and his staff better.
“I’m delighted to be here, it’s a new adventure that starts for me and I’m hoping it will all go well.”
Tony Khan said of Seri’s arrival: “I’m delighted to announce that Fulham Football Club has signed midfielder Jean Michaël Seri from Nice.
“Jean Michaël arrives with Premier League qualities as well as great promise for the future, which is why he has been at the very top of our target list for a long time.
“So, this is a big day for everyone associated with Fulham and working at Motspur Park, and I trust all Fulham supporters are collectively as thrilled and ecstatic as we are that Jean Michaël will be joining our squad as we return home to the Premier League!”