Two-time Super Eagles’ invite, Josh Maja has achieved a sensational January transfer move, as he has sealed a deal that makes him the fourth Nigerian player to line out with Fulham of England this season, megasportsarena.com reports.
With Ola Aina, Tosin Adarabioyo and Ademola Lookman already holding regular spots in The Cottagers’ squad this term, Maja will now add to their numbers week in, week out in the English Premier League, following his arrival from Girondins-Bordeaux of France.
It will be another Nigerian connection for him at Craven Cottage,, as Maja also played alongside Samuel Kalu during his days at Bordeaux, but his inability to tie down a regular starting berth with the French Ligue 1 side has led to his departure.
Consequently, the barging attacker, who made top marks during his days with Sunderland of England, before imploding at Bordeaux, will now seek a revival to his fading career, as he links forces with the Nigerian trio at Fulham.
Maja, though, makes the move from Bordeaux on loan with an option to buy, as the 22-year-old striker has joined The Cottagers on a temporary basis until the summer, with an option to make the deal permanent for £9m.
The move comes after Fulham’s coach, Scott Parker admitted he had been eager to bring in a new striker on Deadline Day to provide more firepower and cover for Aleksandar Mitrovic in The Cottagers’ attack
Parker said: “I think we need that in that area because we’re light in numbers. We have one recognised striker at our football club in Aleksandar and he’s been fantastic for us. [Ivan] Cavaleiro has been playing as a nine for us as well and has done remarkably well.”
Maja originally arrived at Bordeaux from Sunderland in January 2019 in a deal worth up to £3.5m, signing a four-and-a-half-year deal with the Ligue 1 side.
He had scored 16 goals for Sunderland in League One and made the move to France having turned down the offer of a new contract with his deal up the following summer, then scored nine goals in 20 Ligue 1 starts since arriving in France.
Fulham and Bordeaux have already conducted transfer business with each other in the current window, with midfielder Jean Michael Seri recently joining the French club on loan for the rest of the season.
In the wake of his official unveiling at Craven Cottage, Maja said he is excited and proud to return to Fulham, seven years after leaving the London-based club’s academy to join Manchester City’s youth set-up.
Maja enthused: “This is a big opportunity and I look forward to meeting up with the team and working hard to achieve positive results.”
