BOY WONDER
Ryan Sessegnon, just 17, is attracting the world’s biggest clubs after taking the Championship by storm. He is English football’s….
It was March 2016 when Fulham’s academy staff recommended to manager slavisa Jokanovic that Ryan sessegnon, then just 15, should take part in firstteam training. Jokanovic agreed and arranged for sessegnon to be included in a Friday morning session.
there was a slight problem though. sessegnon was in class at Coombe Boys’ school — and didn’t have his boots with him.
academy director Huw Jennings drove sessegnon home to collect them but there was another issue.
‘we roared down to Roehampton, but he didn’t have a key on him and sort of broke in to try to get the boots,’ Jennings says.
Not many can say they broke into their own home to get their big break, but it would pay off.
Now 17, sessegnon has become the first player outside the top flight to be named on the PFa Young Player of the Year shortlist, and has been named the Championship’s player of the season in just his first year as a professional.
‘In that first session with the first team he just looked like it was no different from training with the Under 18s or under 16s,’ Jennings says.
Five months later, sessegnon would make his first-team debut away at Leeds in the Championship while still on a scholarship contract.
It is a day captain tom Cairney remembers with a smile. ‘I thought the manager had made a mistake,’ Cairney says. ‘Elland Road is not a place you’d expect a 16-year-old to be given a chance.’ But sessegnon was up to the task. ‘He was the best player on the pitch,’ says Cairney. ‘Leeds didn’t really know what to do with him and he just looked so comfortable.’
Four days later, aged 16 years and 94 days, sessegnon became the youngest ever Championship goalscorer when Fulham drew 2-2 with Cardiff at Craven Cottage.
Now, two years on from that Friday training session, sessegnon has scored 21 goals since his full debut, won the European Under 19 Championship with England, changed position and is being talked about as a future superstar with some of the world’s biggest clubs trying to sign him.
‘He’s been incredible,’ says Cairney. ‘what he’s done for his age is unheard of, especially in this league.’
His importance to Fulham has only grown as the club have moved up to third in the Championship. Before the 2-0 win at Norwich on Good Friday, when he came off the bench, he had started every one of the club’s 38 league games this season.
‘He’s got unbelievable athleticism for his age,’ Jennings says. ‘the numbers that he posts in games and training are outstanding. It almost demands that he’s selected.’ attend any press conference and it’s likely Jokanovic will be asked about sessegnon.
‘He is a special player — what more can I say?’ Jokanovic says with a smile. ‘It is a privilege to work with such a talent and someone who has such a positive effect on the team.’
Last year, Mario Kart on Nintendo Ds became the latest dressingroom craze. the players would play one another as they travelled to matches. Everyone had the handheld console — except sessegnon.
He had no interest in video games but midfielder Kevin McDonald wanted to integrate him into the group so went out and bought him one. McDonald and his team-mates soon discovered that sessegnon was hopeless at video games. In every single race, he would finish last.
when other players are heading home after a training session, sessegnon is often seen in the gym. that perhaps explains why he has never had time to hone his video game skills. He signed his first youth-team deal with Fulham in summer 2008 with the Under 9s.
It was the same time that Jennings became head of the club’s academy. He arrived with a reputation for developing players, having worked with Gareth Bale, adam Lallana and theo walcott at southampton.
sessegnon has had opportunities to move on. top Premier League clubs were circling long before he made his debut. tottenham have been sending scouts since early last season. they are favourites to sign him should he leave in the summer. Barcelona have been watching and Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid have been linked with a move.
Sportsmail understands, however, that tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is viewed as a manager who would be ideal for sessegnon’s development.
Unique sports Management, who represent sessegnon and twin brother steven who also plays for Fulham, have a number of high-profile players in their stable, including tottenham striker Harry Kane.
sessegnon signed a professional contract last summer, which runs until June 2020, but when he turns 18 in May there is every chance he will become significantly richer, with a new deal to reflect his status.
talks with spurs have continued and some believe a deal has already been done.
‘Ryan is growing up in the right direction. He is a young player with a clear head, he wants to improve and learn. He wants to be better and we will support him where we can,’ said Jokanovic. step by step that is what has happened.
sessegnon was pushed forward when Matt targett arrived on loan from southampton in January. the results have been spectacular. since the turn of the year he has scored nine goals and claimed three assists.
the transformation from full back to winger has led targett to suggest sessegnon could emulate Bale. the Real Madrid star played at left back as a teenager. ‘ He’s definitely right up there (with Bale) at the same age,’ said targett. ‘He has a massive future.’
Jennings coached both players, and believes sessegnon is ahead of Bale in his development.
‘Gareth was a later developer and came into the southampton team at the end of his Under 17 year — whereas Ryan has a level of athleticism that has enabled him to train in a first-team environment since he was 15,’ he said.
‘But yes, I’d argue that there are similarities. Gareth all of a sudden developed a power base and it’ll be interesting to see when Ryan reaches his full maturity.
‘I think it is invidious sometimes to be making comparisons, but there is an inevitability about it. I’m sure Ryan will be delighted if he has a career that resembles Gareth’s.’