Fulham loanee Fode Ballo-Toure opens up on deadline day shock: ‘I didn’t expect it’
ew signing Fode Ballo-Toure believes Fulham can improve on last season’s 10th-place Premier League finish, and revealed that a move to Craven Cottage was too good to turn down.
Manager Marco Silva bemoaned Fulham’s lack of options at full-back in the final week of the summer transfer window. And after bringing in Timothy Castagne from Leicester, the club also announced the loan signing of left-back Ballo-Toure late on deadline day.
The 26-year-old Senegal international signed a one-year loan deal with Fulham, temporarily leaving AC Milan, who he joined from Monaco in 2021.
“It’s a very big club, a historic club”, Ballo-Toure said of Fulham. “It’s been very peculiar. I didn’t expect it — I thought I was going to stay in Milan.
“At the last minute, I got a phone call from my agent, who told me that Fulham wanted me. I didn’t hesitate. I said yes and it happened very fast.
“I’m a very big fan of the Premier League. I followed Fulham last season and they played very good football. I know I will improve here.
Surprise loan move: Fode Ballo-Toure swapped AC Milan for Fulham on transfer deadline day
/ Getty Images“For me, you can’t turn down Fulham. I saw how they played last season and it was hard for me to turn them down. I hope [Fulham] do better than last season.”
Ballo-Toure did not make his Fulham debut in their 5-1 drubbing away at reigning champions Manchester City last weekend, but will hope to be in contention after the international break when Silva’s side take on newly-promoted Luton at home.
