New arrival of Fulham of England, Ola Aina has declared that he feels ‘amazing’ being back close to his roots in London, and he hopes to make the best of the season-loan deal that gives him yet another lifeline in the country of his birth after spending two seasons with AS Torino of Italy, megasportsarena.com reports.
Reports had already appeared midway through last season depicting that Aina was feeling home sick, which was then forwarded as the major reason behind his inability to match the excellent form he had while on loan from Chelsea of England during his first season in the Italian Serie A.
With his second and first full season at Torino turning into a shaky spectacle, there had been speculation linking Aina with a summer transfer exit from the Turin-based side, and that has now been achieved with The Cottagers confirmation that they have signed him on a season-long loan agreement, with an option to make the move permanent should the star excel this term.
It also provides a new chapter in the career of 23-year-old Aina, who passed through Chelsea’s youth system before joining Hull City for a loan spell in the English Championship and later on moved to Torino in a similar deal in 2018, after which he then signed a full contract in July.
The 23-year-old returns for a fresh feel of action in the EPL, having made three appearances in the competition in Chelsea’s title-winning 2016/17 campaign after progressing through the Academy of Fulham’s west-London neighbours.
Italian transfer market expert, Gianluca Di Marzio revealed that Aina joined Fulham on a season-long loan deal with a purchase option set at 12.5m euro included in the deal; with The Cottagers also expected to pay a loan fee of 2.5m euro to Torino, who will also get a 10% sell-on bonus if the EPL returnees decide to sell the defender before the expiration of his contract.
Aina’s fellow-former-Chelsea of England youth team striker, Timmy Abraham and Nigerian-born midfielder, Josh Onomah were on ground at Craven Cottage to welcome the dark-skinned full-back from his sojourn with The Maroons and celebrated his return to London.
The Turin-based side signed Aina for 10m Euro last summer after his highly successful loan spell and he agreed a five-year contract, but the situation changed last season, and the Super Eagles versatile defender started feeling home sick despite playing regularly in the Serie A.
The right-back, who can fill in across defence or as a wing-back and played a key role for the Super Eagles in winning bronze at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, arrives at Craven Cottage after making 37 appearances across all competitions for Torino in 2019/20.
After helping Marco Giampaolo’s Turin-based side escape relegation with three assists in the last Serie A campaign, Aina will hope for better thrills this time out and The Cottagers also have an option to make his move permanent in a deal around £11m provided he impresses during his temporary stay this season.
Aina said he is already looking forward to a rosy time with Fulham and the dark-skinned defender enthused: “I feel very excited and privileged to be able to play for a Club like this. It feels amazing to be back closer to my family, back in the capital where I was born and raised.”
