Why Ryan & Steven Sessegnon Made the Right Decision in Signing New Fulham Contracts
Since Ryan Sessegnon initially burst onto the professional footballing scene last season for Fulham, his name has been put up in lights, and a number of the Premier League's biggest clubs have been tailing the fledgling full-back.
Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool were the most notable suitors eager to snap-up Ryan this summer in particular, but the teenager opted to snub the Champions League clubs to pen a new three-year deal at Craven Cottage this Wednesday, putting any supposed rumours of a move away from west London well and truly to bed.
Ryan's twin brother Steven - who is also very highly regarded - also pledged his future to the club by signing his first professional contract at Fulham this week; showing loyalty to the club in an era when money talks more than ever.
So, the future looks bright for the plucky Londoners on the recruitment front. Fulham, despite currently playing in the Championship, can offer the Sessegnons invaluable experience as Slavisa Jokanovic looks to get his side promoted while maintaining a philosophy of promoting attractive football.
The twins have both been capped at England youth level, their exposure on a national level keeping clubs interested in both - with Ryan being the most likely of the duo to pack his bags for pastures new.
But with - presumably - viable first-team opportunities available at Fulham next season, it's unlikely that they will be dropped from the Young Lions' - while a move to a Premier League outfit could have hampered such privileges if they were to ultimately lack vital game time.
Loyalty is seldom seen in the game today, but Ryan - who scored seven goals for Fulham in the 2016-17 campaign - has shown a great degree of maturity in understanding that he can develop his game just as competently at 'London's Originals' than at the likes of Spurs or the Reds.
A wise decision considering that he has already accumulated a huge fan base down by the river due to his tenacious performances, support which will only inspire him to achieve loftier career heights next term.
CARDIFF, WALES - JANUARY 08: Fulham winger Ryan Sessegnon in action during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Cardiff City and Fulham at Cardiff City Stadium on January 8, 2017 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Stu Forster/GettyImages
The ability to adapt is a quality which is highly sought-after in the modern game, and the twins have that in spades. Ryan, a left-back by trade, is more than comfortable higher up the field in the wing-back position, a role which enabled him to reach an impressive goal tally last season and showcase his all-round game.
Steven is also predominantly a left-sided defender but, unlike his brother, his secondary positions lie in the more defensive realms of centre-half and holding midfield. For many, Steven is very much the lesser known of the two, although it's only a matter of time before the fans get the chance to witness his undoubted capacity to dictate the run of play whilst in possession of the ball.
The Roehampton-born duo are very much local lads and there is no greater honour, apart from wearing your national colours, than representing your local club.
A very intelligent, shrewd piece of business from Fulham in buttoning down these two 17-year-old prodigies, the Sessegnons can effortlessly become the undisputed future of English football, exclusively, it seems, down at the Cottage until 2020.
