Official: Fulham sign Josh Maja on loan from Bordeaux

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 2 min read

Fulham have completed the signing of striker Josh Maja on loan from Bordeaux with the option to buy this summer for £8.8 million (€10m).

Manager Scott Parker had previously made his desire known to add to his attacking ranks in the January transfer window, and had to wait until deadline day to get his wish.

Maja actually spent some of his youth career at Fulham, as well as periods at Crystal Palace and Man City.

His senior career would commence with Sunderland where he scored 17 goals in 49 appearances before leaving for Bordeaux in January of 2019, with the Black Cats keen to offload him for a fee after the player turned down the offer of a new contract, with his current deal at that time expiring in the summer.

Last week, Parker said:

“We all understand where we may need help with the squad, but whether that happens I’m not confident.

“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 (Mitrovic) and he’s been fantastic for us. (Ivan) Cavaleiro has been playing as a nine for us as well and has done remarkably well.

“I feel for competition to help the team evolve in this division, it is an area we need to look at. At the same time, I also understand how difficult it is in this present time.”

Mitrovic has scored just two goals in the Premier League this season, which is another reason Parker was looking to bring in some extra competition for the centre-forward role in the winter window.

Maja, meanwhile, has made 20 starts in Ligue 1 for Bordeaux since his move from Sunderland, scoring nine times in the league.

He completed his medical with Fulham on Monday, with the announcement coming on deadline day.