PROMISING PREMIER LEAGUE STRIKER JOINS STONES ON LOAN
We are delighted to announce the signing of promising young forward Callum McFarlane on loan.
McFarlane has had a slightly more unorthodox start to his career than most. The youngster was unsigned until 18 years-old, before joining Fulham from Bradfield College and joining up with the U-21s. McFarlane signed his first professional contract at the club prior to the 2022/23 season.
The 20-year-old has played the majority of his football so far in Premier League 2 with Fulham, and boasts an impressive record in youth football.
In January 2023, the Fulham striker had the highest goal contributions per minute in Premier League 2, joint with Manchester City's Carlos Borges (now of Ajax) at just 64 minutes per contribution, 21 minutes lower than Brighton's Evan Ferguson in second place.
Despite playing most of his football so far at youth level, the striker has featured for the first team in friendly matches. After impressing the Fulham coach at the time Marco Silva, the Portuguese manager opted to take McFarlane on Fulham's tour of Portugal during the 2022 World Cup break.
McFarlane played the full second half of a 3-2 win against Portimonense and scored a brace, whilst playing alongside the likes of Willian, Andreas Pereira and former Stones keeper George Wickens.
The striker then found himself a place on the bench in Fulham's FA Cup tie away at Hull City on 7th January 2023.
McFarlane takes the no.29 shirt and is available to face Solihull Moors on Saturday at 3pm.
"It feels great to have joined the Stones," Said McFarlane. "I'm delighted to get the deal over the line and I'm glad to be here."
"What I can bring is goals. Goals, assists, scoring and contributing to the team. I feel I can lead well from the line."
"I'm dynamic. I like to give a lot of movement up-front. I'm tricky to defend, powerful as well. I feel I'm well-rounded."
"He (Matt Taylor) want goals from me. I feel both of our aims align. I need to get shots off, score goals and contribute as much as I can."
"It will suit me well (physicality of the National League). Something that I've wanted to do is test myself in senior football and obviously it's a very physical League. I feel that getting used to it (the physicality) will help to develop my game."
"I was unsigned until 18 and then got scouted by Fulham. I trialled there and played well so I signed my professional contract there, I've been there three years now."