‘Meant to be’ – Ryan Sessegnon on ending Crystal Palace trial to seal feel-good return to Fulham

BY EDMUND BRACK
edmund@slpmedia.co.uk

Ryan Sessegnon says that re-signing for his boyhood club Fulham was “meant to be” after he became their first incoming deal of the transfer window.

The 24-year-old had been on trial with Crystal Palace and played in their friendlies against Sutton, Charlton and Bournemouth.

Sessegnon has penned a two-year deal with the Whites following his release by Tottenham Hotspur – with a 12-month option.

Left-footed Sessegnon can play at wing-back or on the wing.

He scored 25 goals and collected 18 assists in 120 appearances for Fulham before he was sold to Spurs in a £25million deal in August 2019. It was his pass which saw Tom Cairney score the Championship play-off final winner against Aston Villa at Wembley in May 2018.

Fulham have seen Bobby De Cordova-Reid turn down a new deal to join newly-promoted Leicester, Tosin Adarabioyo has signed with Chelsea after also rejecting new terms with Joao Palhinha sold to Bayern Munich.

Free agent Willian, 35, is also yet to announce his future plans.

“It’s very amazing to be back,” said Sessegnon, who had a loan at TSG Hoffenheim in the 2020-21 season. “It’s emotional as well. It’s where it started for me – where everything began.

“It will always be home for me. Even when I wasn’t here, I always knew that in the back of my mind.

“A lot has changed five years on, but a lot has stayed the same at the same time.

“My time at Spurs finished. Becoming a free agent, I had a feeling it was meant to be – to come back here.”

Sessegnon came through the academy at Fulham and won Championship Player of the Year as they were promoted to the Premier League.

“I’ve changed a lot,” said Sessegnon. “I was a kid when I started here. I did three years and left as a teenager. I’m coming back as a 24-year-old man.

“I’m a father now. A lot has happened. The year in Germany helped me a lot.

“I’m a different player. I don’t really play the same, but there will still be the same types of things that the fans will see.

“I still want to reach my full potential – I’m nowhere near that. I can still push so much more – I still have so much to give.”

He will be part of the Fulham squad for their pre-season trip to Portugal.

Fulham face Benfica on Friday and Sevilla three days later.

Sessegnon’s time at Spurs was plagued by injuries. He only featured 57 times for the north Londoners. He played once for Spurs last season, seven minutes in an FA Cup third round win over Burnley.

“I’m over that situation,” he said. “I’m in a much better place – physically and mentally.

“I had difficult spells at Tottenham with the setbacks and injuries – it’s a thing of the past. I want to move forward.”

PICTURE: PA