Fulham FC has confirmed the permanent signing of 19-year-old Australian midfielder, Chris Donnell, from Perth Glory.
The Glasgow-born player, who grew up in Australia, honed his skills at the Perth Glory Academy before making his senior debut in a 2021 Australia Cup clash against Melbourne Victory.
Following his debut, Donnell went on to make his first A-League appearance in April 2022 and played in two more matches by the end of the season. His performances led to his selection for the Young Socceroos squad at the 2023 AFC Under-20 Asian Cup.
“I’m buzzing. Ever since I got told that there was potential for me to come here I’ve been really excited and now that it’s finalised I can’t wait to get going,” expressed Donnell, who had spent a brief trial period at Fulham.
In terms of his playing style, Donnell commented, “I leave everything on the pitch and try and play with as much passion as I can. I’d like to think I have a lot of energy as a player.”
Academy Director Sean Cullen welcomed the signing, stating, “Chris is a youth international who joins us after a successful trial last season. Chris is a hard-working and determined player, who also has good technical abilities that we believe will complement our Under-21 squad well next season.”
Donnell is set to join Fulham’s Under-21 team for the upcoming campaign, with clear ambitions: “My main aim is to try and get into that Under-21 team as much as I can. Hopefully, I can get to a point where I’m playing week in week out and then I’ll be able to build from there.”
