 |
Defender
Michael Hector |
| Position |
Defender |
| P.O.B. |
East Ham,
London |
| D.O.B |
19:07:92 |
| Height |
6' 04 |
| Last Club |
Chelsea
|
|
His Wiki page |
Fulham have agreed a deal to sign Chelsea defender Michael Hector in January 2020 for an undisclosed fee. (Reported to be £8m.)
The 27-year-old has not made a senior appearance for the Blues since joining the Premier League club from Reading in September 2015.
He has subsequently spent time back on loan with the Royals and has had stints with German side Eintracht Frankfurt, Hull City and Sheffield Wednesday.
Hector has signed a contract with the Whites until the summer of 2022.
The west London club have the option to extend the Jamaica international's stay at Craven Cottage by a further 12 months.
Hector will begin training with Fulham immediately ahead of his move.
Fulham FC statement
The Club is delighted to confirm that Michael Hector will join from Chelsea in January for an undisclosed fee.
Hector, 27, has penned a deal which ties him to Fulham until at least the summer of 2022, with the Club holding an option to extend by a further 12 months.
Hector will be training at Motspur Park ahead of what will be a vital second half of the season.
The imposing centre-back spent last season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, playing 37 times in the Championship and subsequently winning the Owls’ Player of the Year trophy.
Speaking after making the short move across SW6, Hector told fulhamfc.com: “It was an easy decision to make. My Mum’s from Fulham, so it’s nice to join a club that some of my family support.
“It’s good to now be a part of the setup here. Hopefully things can work out well and we can get promoted. I know how tough the Championship is and it won’t be any different for us.
“We’ll have to work hard for it but the squad is very good and my job will be to help them push for promotion.”
Having added a defender to his ranks, Tony Khan said: “Michael Hector is a talented central defender with experience in the Championship, where he was Sheffield Wednesday’s Player of the Year last season, and his imposing height will bring a new dimension to our defence.
“Although Michael can’t officially join our First Team until January, what's important is he’s now a member of Fulham Football Club. Michael will help us challenge for promotion and make us better in the second half of the season, at a time when depth, experience and quality will be at a premium in the Championship. Come on Fulham!”
Hector began his career at Reading and, after taking in several loan spells, established himself in the Royals backline in 2014/15, with his performances attracting the attentions of Chelsea who brought him to Stamford Bridge that summer.
He then gained valuable experience across a variety of loan stints. After a year back at the Madejski Stadium, he sampled German football with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2016/17, featuring 27 times as they finished 11th in the Bundesliga and reached the German Cup Final.
Hector was back in the Championship for the subsequent two seasons, racking up a total of 77 appearances for Hull City and Sheffield Wednesday.
A full Jamaican international, Hector has represented his country at the Copa America and the Gold Cup, helping them to the Final of the latter in 2015.
Chelsea FC statement
Michael Hector will join Fulham on a permanent transfer which will be completed in the next transfer window.
Ahead of that January move, the 27-year-old will train with Fulham.
Hector spent last season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and made 39 appearances as the Owls finished 12th in the second tier. The defender’s performances earned praise and he will now return to the Championship with our near neighbours.
Hector signed for Chelsea from Reading in September 2015 after starting his youth career at Millwall. A boyhood Blues supporter, he immediately returned to the Madejski Stadium on loan and worked under our former defender Steve Clarke, establishing himself as a hugely important member of the Royals defence.
He spent a season in Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2016/17, where he featured regularly as the Bundesliga side finished in a respectable 11th position and reached the DFB-Pokal final. On his return to England, Hector joined Hull City of the Championship and played 38 times in all competitions, scoring once as the Tigers finished strongly to avoid a second consecutive relegation.
A Jamaican international who has featured in the Copa America and Gold Cup, Hector returned to Yorkshire last season with a year at Hillsborough. He quickly won his place in the side and was an integral part of Sheffield Wednesday enjoying a decent campaign.
We wish Michael well with the next step in his career.