Fulham have bolstered their academy ranks with the signing of striker Jose Sani for the Under-21s squad. The club confirmed the deal this week after the Cardiff-born forward impressed during an extended trial.
Sani will immediately link up with the U21s, who face Braintree Town at Cressing Road on Tuesday with a 7:30pm kick-off. His arrival comes as the senior side seeks to improve its form, currently sitting 19th in the Premier League with zero points from three games and a goal difference of minus three. The first team's next challenge is a tough away fixture against 6th-placed Liverpool on September 12th.
Jose Sani's path to Fulham began with a trial in July, which included a trip to Portugal for the club's pre-season camp. He made an instant impact, scoring a brace in a 5-2 win over Gil Vicente U23s. He followed that with goals in other pre-season friendlies against Hampton & Richmond and Cardiff U21s.
The trial extended into the competitive season, where Sani played four official games as a trialist for the U21s. He announced himself with a goal in a 4-3 win over Burnley U21s. He then scored an early header in the Premier League International Cup opener against Borussia Dortmund. His performance against Newcastle U21s was particularly complete, involving close control and hold-up play to help create the second goal before providing an assist for Jayden Quashie and scoring a low strike himself. That brought his goal contributions tally to four in four competitive games.
Born in Cardiff, Sani began his senior career in non-league football. He joined Bracknell Town in 2020 before prolific spells at Sandhurst Town and Knaphill, where he netted 40 goals across two seasons. A move to Hayes & Yeading came towards the end of 2024.
He started the 2024 campaign with Hartley Wintney in the Isthmian League South Central Division, recording an impressive 17 goal contributions (10 goals, 7 assists) in just 12 games. A subsequent move to Berkhamsted saw him score seven goals and provide eight assists in 23 appearances, helping the club reach the Play-Offs, though they were beaten in the Semi-Finals by Farnham Town. Fans can track the progress of all Fulham players across the age groups on the official squad page.
Speaking after putting pen to paper, Jose Sani expressed his delight. "It feels great to sign for Fulham," he said. Sani added, "This is a moment I’ve been working towards for my whole career and I’m just happy to have it all signed and sealed."
His signing represents a commitment to developing young talent at Craven Cottage. The senior squad's current struggles, which include being nine points behind leaders Manchester City and dealing with the absence of the sidelined Tom Cairney, show the importance of building for the future. Supporters can monitor the team's league position on the live standings page.
As a striker, Sani adds direct goal threat to Fulham's U21s attacking options. His trial demonstrated an ability to score different types of goals and contribute to build-up play. His immediate focus will be on securing a regular starting spot and continuing his development within the professional environment.
The club's academy staff will now work to integrate him fully. His first official match as a contracted Fulham player is set for Tuesday evening against Braintree Town. The full schedule for the U21s and the first team can be found on the club's fixtures list.
