Smalling signs four-year deal with giants Manchester United

Thursday 28th January 2010

FORMER Maidstone United defender Chris Smalling, 20, has today completed a dream move to English giants Manchester United.

The central defender will move from Fulham to English giants Manchester United at the start of next season.

The central defender was playing Ryman Premier League football for the Stones until 2008 and only two of his league appearances for Fulham have been in the starting XI.

The Greenwich-born player has signed a four-year deal with the Old Trafford club, having also been subject to a bid by Arsenal.

Smalling's first-team debut for Fulham was on the final day of last season, and his first start was in the Europa League game away at CSKA Sofia in September last year.

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson was evidently impressed by his performance, saying he had "played with a maturity I'm not entitled to expect from a player so young".

Smalling's first Premier League start was on 28 December, at Chelsea, where he scored an own goal in a 2-1 defeat.

He also played against Spurs on the same day his transfer to United was made public, and was partly at fault for Peter Crouch's opening goal.

Article courtesy of BBC Sport - www.bbc.co.uk/football