David Datro Fofana
Lots of confusion tonight surrounding Chelsea striker David Datro Fofana, but it does look as if the loan move to Charlton has fallen through as the EFL never received the transfer ‘deal sheet’ in time.
This move really fell under the radar, and Charlton nor the club’s most-in-the-know journo, Rich Cawley have even commented on the 22-year old’s potential late move.
Fofano’s move came about when a couple of media outlets in Scotland reported this afternoon that the player had turned down a move to champions Celtic in favour of Charlton. Preston were also said to be in with a shout.
News of Fofano’s imminent loan announcement to Charlton was publicized by both the BBC and Sky Sports, but it was silence from SE7 with club and Rich Cawley announcing that James Bree was the total of the club’s transfer window day business.
I was watching Sky Sports’ coverage today and it was amazing the amount of deals that collapsed late in the day, perhaps the 7pm deadline having an impact, although paperwork could still be approved after. I have said this so often, but it perplexes me why clubs leave it so late, although to be fair Charlton this summer did their work refreshingly early.
Fofano has been training in Chelsea’s so-called ‘bomb squad’ and the Blues were keen to move him out alongside a whole host of other young talent.
The striker was born in the Ivory Coast and moved to Norway with Molde when he was 19, and his first season was very successful leading to move to Chelsea, who as we know love nothing better than stockpiling young players.
Fofano spent the second half of the 2023/24 season at Premier League Burnley and although he started well scoring 4 goals in 8 games, he then faded. Last season he was on loan at Turkish side Göztepe, and scored twice in nine games, but suffered a knee injury in December and missed the rest of the season.
Fofano may well have been a great wild card, but it looks like we’ll never know.
Yep we lost getting him….carrier-pigeon would have been quicker with paperwork !!! 😃
First player with any quality to walk through the door this season and somebody failed to do their job properly and we miss out. The lad chooses us over celtic and preston and we let him down. We were probably to busy trying to get a 4 month loan deal for the southampton defender over the line .embarrassing?.
Someone should be accepting responsibility for this cock-up. Are we a professional football club, or are some of the back room staff not singing from the same hymn book.. Fofana would have been another asset for us, in what is going to be a very long hard season. I hope there is an explanation to us fans.
Greg, They will not and do not care a toss about us supporters
Why the blame game when we don’t know what really happened? He seemed to me to have turned Celtic down very late on and how do we know it was CAFC and not CFC that didn’t submit the necessary paperwork in time?
Very true David. I suspect no one’s fault. The
melt down is ridiculous.
Have to totally agree CA…storm.in a very small tea cup…
After studying his form…we did miss a bullet…injuries and loaned out to so many clubs…swipe left !!!! 😃
Who knows but embarrassing all round gRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Was the attempt to recruit Fofana an admission by NJ that Kelman and Oloafe have not looked up to Championship standard. As I have said previously they are strikers but not strong technically.
Maybe. I suspect just another option that would improve Jones’ choices.
And who knows what Fofana would be like. A Chelsea mate of mine said we missed a bullet.
I think your right, as so far Kelman has looked really lightweight as last year on loan to Orient was really his first season in a Division lower playing reguarly. Maybe a step up to the Chamionship is a bit too far at this stage, especially considering that he was top scorer in Div 1 last season and QPR weren’t that worried about selling him on, does seem a concern.
Anyway lets hope with some extra encouragement from the Charlton trainers, he can start performing and scoring a few goals which would boost his confidence, as we definately need someone to step up to the plate with our lack of finishing!
As for Olafe, can’t really comment yet as he hasn’t really been given a chance by NJ, with just mostly coming on in the last few minutes, which is not much good for any player trying to make thier mark.
Over 5 million stuck on the bench and Jones stating we have signed good quality players and most of them who cost have simply not delivered as yet!!!
It seems pretty poor that the admin at Charlton couldn’t get the paperwork in on time when you consider the money involved in these arrangements and the potential impact on Charlton’s season.
Let’s all move on.. these things happen at all clubs and has happened with us before and will happen again.
He is an unknown quality and a back up striker. If he proved a success he would likely to be gone in January.. as that is how Chelsea do business. As others have said .. we may have dodged a bullet with this one. That seems to be a similar message from a few Chelsea fans.
Well many have stated we missed a bullet and injury-prone but would have been a good fit and pin intended grrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Quite a few said the same thing about Connor Galahgar as he was an unknown and look out he turned out was one of our best players at the time and is now a firm premiership player with many clubs after him! I would welcome Fofana even until the next transfer opening, if he could score goals for us and keep us well above the relegation places, which is vital in this division as one goal a game if that, won’t keep you up, as we experienced previously when a certain Mr Taylor withdrew his services!
“Missing out” on an unwanted player who has barely played in 18 months should hardly cause any upset. The fact that the first rumours only emerged so late on, with nothing from the most reliable sources, further dissipates any strength in those rumours.
Last minute snatching of unproven players is hardly NJ’s style is it? The meltdown from keyboard worriers is juvenile nonsense – pantomime clickbait in an echo chamber of the willingly hysterical. The only thing we learned at the end of deadline day was how many gullible noisy twits spend their spare time on t’interweb
Nothing wrong with keeping up with the rumours that are out there, it’s all part of being a proper supporter, and wanting the best for your club. The rumours often spark ideas and narrative from people whom may have never contributed to a blog before.
I agree totally with Greg, plus SCN you need to get your facts correct rather than spouting off we are more or less hyped up, juvenile, hysterical idiots, as first the original rumours were true as its been clearly stated that Charlton wanted to sign him on loan but failed to get the papers off to the EFL in time! Second, Ahadme our most expensive purchase last season, was a last minute snatching of an unproven player, which has cost us dearly, as we haven’t been able to sell him on and only just managed to loan him out, so it may not be NJ’s style according to you, but he got the player in and also wanted to sign Fofana!
As Greg has stated, as part of being a proper supporter you want the best for your club but you will also give your opinion’s when you believe it’s not, thats why we have this sort of site where CA kindly informs us the latest news and offer his views, then others can then agree &/or offer their own views on the subject which may differ etc. Which is what most of us do on here, without having goes at everyone else in a derogatory manner, if they disagree!
Let’s be honest some loans have been brilliant others been very poor. As mentioned before the season long loan system is worthless as clubs recall any successful player and move them to another club. An example was Gallagher who started well, then moved on in January. Chelsea have a track record of doing this with their loans.
We have played a handful of games as well…so let’s assess our situation in terms of progress in a few months time.
We are a different club to the one in our last season in this league. I remain hopeful that we will finish outside the bottom 3, but I do agree that scoring goals is key as is keeping clean sheets. I don’t see us being a free scoring team, and wins will be around 1 or 2 goals scored. Defensively we need to remain tight and we have shown that in games.