AliousWest Ham United and Everton, two prominent Premier League clubs, had expressed interest in acquiring David Datro Fofana during the summer transfer window. However, the young Chelsea forward has ultimately secured a last-minute loan move to AEK Athens, a Greek club, in pursuit of more consistent playing time for the current season.
Fofana, a 21-year-old striker, had caught the attention of several top-flight English teams, including West Ham, following his loan spell at Burnley in the previous season. Despite Burnley’s struggles and eventual relegation from the Premier League, Fofana managed to impress, scoring four goals in just 879 minutes of play. His notable performances included a remarkable 26-minute brace against Fulham and a goal against West Ham in an away fixture in March.
Julen Lopetegui, then-manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers, had been in the market for a new striker and reportedly made a £12.6 million bid for Fofana in July, as reported by AfricaFoot. However, Wolves ultimately opted to sign Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund instead.
Everton’s interest in Fofana was also significant, with GiveMeSport reporting in September that Chelsea had offered the young forward to the Toffees as part of a potential loan swap deal involving Dominic Calvert-Lewin. However, Everton declined this proposal.
Having not featured in any of Chelsea’s opening fixtures this season, Fofana has now secured a loan move to AEK Athens. The Greek club will have the option to make the transfer permanent for £20 million at the end of the season. According to The Independent, the deal is nearly complete, with only final paperwork remaining to be signed between the two clubs.
It’s worth noting that while the transfer window has closed in the UK, Greek clubs can continue to make acquisitions until Wednesday. This extended deadline has worked in Chelsea’s favor as they aim to reduce the size of their squad.
Chelsea initially brought Fofana to Stamford Bridge in January 2023 for a fee of £8.4 million. If AEK Athens exercises their option to buy at the end of the loan spell, it would represent a significant profit for Chelsea after just a year and a half. During his time with the Blues, Fofana made limited appearances, featuring in three Premier League matches and one FA Cup game during the 2022/23 season.
This move to AEK Athens presents an opportunity for Fofana to gain valuable playing time and potentially increase his market value, while also allowing Chelsea to potentially realize a healthy return on their initial investment in the young striker.
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