Fulham loanee Steven Sessegnon: This season at Charlton is a massive moment in my career

Steven Sessegnon is determined to be a Charlton Athletic regular and has described the 2022-23 campaign as “massive” in his development.

The 22-year-old defender became the Addicks’ fifth signing of the summer transfer window when he arrived on loan from Fulham on Monday.

Sessegnon could have been a free agent but opted to extend his contract with the Premier League new boys, who he joined before the age of 10, until the summer of 2023. They also have an option to extend his terms by a further 12 months.

But Sessegnon’s longer-term future will be decided by how he acquits himself in SE7.

He made his debut for Fulham in August 2017 but has only featured 18 times since.

While his twin brother Ryan, now at Tottenham, and Fabio Carvalho, snapped up by Liverpool this summer, have come through the Whites’ academy ranks it is hard for youngsters to command significant game time at a club which has either been going for promotion or battling to stay in the top flight.

“You see the rare people like Ryan Sessegnon and Fabio Carvalho who break through, and you know they really mean business,” Sessegnon told the South London Press.

“It’s really hard to do that. Matt O’Riley [now at Celtic after a spell at Milton Keynes] had his struggles – and he is an outstanding player. He could easily have gone into that team. It’s just a difficult time when Fulham are chasing promotion, there wasn’t a lot of time to develop players. That’s the reality. They’ve got very high expectations as a club.

“I’ve played in some very good [Fulham] teams and held my own when I did play.

“I played with a lot of good, experienced players and learned a lot. People forget that we had people like Ryan Babel there and Andre Schurrle, someone who has won the World Cup. I learned a lot.

“I was surrounded by some good personalities at Fulham over the years. I’ll use that experience throughout the rest of my career.”

Sessegnon has made 57 senior appearances and also had stints with Bristol City and Plymouth Argyle.

But he is the first to admit he now needs to kick on in his career.

Sessegnon, capped at every junior level by England between U16 and U21 level, has played in central midfield and on both wings.

“I’m a full-back at heart, right-footed,” he said. “I’ve been brought in [at Charlton] to play left-back but if I’m ever needed at right-back then it’s an easy switchover. So it’s not a problem, wherever I play.

“This season is massive for me. It’s a big year for me to hit big numbers. Hopefully I get up to 40, or more, games this season. That’s a big aim that I’ve been trying to reach for a long time.

“I’m hoping it helps that I’m at a club from the very beginning, where in the past I’ve only had six months or half a season [on loan]. Now I’m here and can start with the club in pre-season, that’s even better.”

Sessegnon featured 14 times in the Fulham team, bossed by former Charlton midfielder Scott Parker, that won the Championship play-off final in 2020.

But his greatest achievement was lifting the FIFA U17 World Cup. He played five of the Three Lions’ matches including starting the 5-2 victory over Spain in the final.

“I still have conversations about it, that’s how big it was,” said Sessegnon. “It was the first time in a very long time that an England team has won a World Cup.

“It was the first time I’d been away from family for so long, being in India. It had its challenges but when you win it in the end it is quite overwhelming, emotional and a great experience.

“I always say people can give their arguments about who is the best England youth team, but you put names on paper and there aren’t many better than the 2018 group I played in.

“I was very confident going into it. We had that belief that we had to win – that the group was way too good not to. You had Jadon Sancho, Rhian Brewster, [Morgan] Gibbs-White and Phil Foden. Emile Smith Rowe was on the bench and struggled to get game time, that’s how high the level was in that team. Marc Guehi is now captain at Crystal Palace at his young age.

“Anything less than winning would have been a disappointing tournament.”

Plymouth’s hopes of landing Sessegnon on loan last season were boosted by their technical director Neil Dewsnip previously being in the England youth set up.

The Roehampton-born player was not fully fit when he headed to Home Park at the end of January.

“I have to give big props to Plymouth – I was recovering from an injury but they took me anyway,” said Sessegnon.

“I played a few games there but of course it was hard when the team is winning and chasing promotion. When I was called upon I thought I did well. That was a good time for me, a very good time.

“As soon as he [Dewsnip] rang me, my mind was sold.”

Sessegnon had only played 74 minutes of football at Bristol City before he suffered a serious hamstring injury at home to Swansea City in October 2020.

He was stretchered off and did not make his return until late February.

“We were doing well as a team and then it was a re-occurring thing throughout the whole squad, people were breaking down with hamstring injuries,” said Sessegnon.

“I ended up having an operation on that. But as soon as I came back, months later, I was right back into the team and I played pretty much most of the games when I was fit.

“It’s something I’ve figured out a lot better now – I’m in much better shape and I’ve got much better knowledge of my body and things that work for me than I did when I was younger. I’m more than confident I can reach the amount of games I want to reach.”

Sessegnon credits his older brother Chris, 28, with helping him and his twin on their football journey. His elder sibling has knocked around the non-league game playing for the likes of Tooting & Mitcham, Sutton, Ebbsfleet and, most recently, Horsham.

“We learned a lot off my brother, especially when we were young,” said Sessegnon. “He used to take us to games and help us out. I wouldn’t be the player I am without him.”

The Sessegnon twins were spotted by Fulham while playing in a tournament for Worcester Park-based Wandgas.

“Even when we were growing up it was always a thing – to try and be in the same team and on the pitch together,” said Steven. “We were only thinking of Fulham, we didn’t know how big it could get. It was a dream come true, especially for my family.”

Sessegnon trained with his new team-mates on Tuesday and is set to get his first minutes in tomorrow’s friendly at Dartford.

“I’m always wanting to be around a promotion fight,” he said. “The quality here is so high. I really think we should push for the absolute maximum. The team is very strong, with experience in this league, there’s no reason we can’t get promoted. That’s got to be the aim, of course.

“The manager’s style of play suits me. It’s all I’ve known growing up – to be comfortable on the ball, dominate possession and attacking teams – not be on the back foot and hanging on. I’m looking forward to playing under the manager and it should be an exciting year.”