United sign Fulham defender

The Team

Wednesday, 27 January 2010 06:19

Manchester United have revealed Fulham defender Chris Smalling, who had been linked with Arsenal, will join them for the start of 2010-11 season.

Smalling, 20, was playing non-league football for Maidstone until 2008 and only two of his league appearances for Fulham have been in the starting XI.

It has not been said how long a deal the Greenwich-born player has signed.

United have had defensive problems this season with both John O'Shea and Rio Ferdinand suffering injury problems.

"The club's accepted an offer - as far as I know he's going for a medical on Thursday," Fulham boss Roy Hodgson told BBC Sport after his side's 2-0 defeat by Tottenham on Tuesday.

Smalling's first-team debut for Fulham was on the final day of last season, and his first start was in the Europa League game away at CSKA Sofia in September last year.

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson was evidently impressed by his performance, saying he had "played with a maturity I'm not entitled to expect from a player so young".

Smalling's first Premier League start was on 28 December, at Chelsea, where he scored an own goal in a 2-1 defeat.

He also played against Spurs on the same day his transfer to United was made public, and was partly at fault for Peter Crouch's opening goal.

Discuss (5 posts)

alan

chris smaling
Jan 26 2010 19:09:23

we have bought the highly rated fulham centreback,chris smaling.we get him from the summer.
is this the end of vidic or maybe rio or evans?

my moneys on vidic going as much as i think hes the best weve had in that position since big jaap stam.

we are building a new team and i love it

#45967

RUUD RAUL

Re:chris smaling
Jan 26 2010 20:45:05

I think its a bit early to get excited over a player who has made only 10 appearances for Fulham in 2 seasons
I would really be sad to see Nemanja Vidic leaving as to me he is the best centre back in the world at the moment and unlike Jaap Stam he scores goals too...
as well as he has to have the coolest chant in the team..
All together now;
"
Nemanja ohhh,
Nemanja ohhh,
He comes from Serbia...
He'll f**kin' Murder Ya!

#45972

Sweets

Re:chris smaling
Jan 27 2010 04:50:57

Not a good start to score an own goal and to be partly to blame for Crouch's goal last night.

#45981

Theresonly1KEANO

Re:chris smaling
Jan 27 2010 06:00:47

He is NOT a replacement for Vidic. He is 20 yrs old. A player for the future. It will be at least two or three seasons before he breaks into the first team.

#45985