Watford sign ex-Middlesbrough left-back Bola from Samsunspor

The 27-year-old defender, who has also played at centre back and left midfield, moves to Vicarage Road on a three-year contract from Turkish club Samunspor.

Bola becomes the Hornets’ third new arrival of the summer following the signings of midfielder Hector Kyprianou and goalkeeper Nathan Baxter and has joined to bolster the club’s left-sided defensive options.

Marc Bola getting used to his new surroundings at London Colney (Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC) Although Caleb Wiley is expected to return to Vicarage Road on a season-long loan from Chelsea, another left-back option was needed following the end of Yasser Larouci’s loan spell.

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Born in Greenwich of Congolese descent, Bola joined Arsenal’s Academy at the age of 13 and progressed through their youth ranks, moving to Notts County on loan in January 2017 where he made 13 appearances in League Two.

Another loan move followed in the next campaign, this time to Bristol Rovers on a season-long deal where Bola made a total of 23 league and cup appearances.

The 6ft 1in left-back left the Emirates Stadium permanently in the summer of 2018, moving to League One Blackpool where he quickly established himself, featuring a total of 43 times in all competitions and scoring his first EFL goal against AFC Wimbledon.

He ended his only full season at Bloomfield Road by winning the club’s Player and Players’ Player of the Year Awards.

Bola moved to Middlesbrough in 2019, scoring on his debut in a League Cup tie against Crewe Alexandra. However, he made only seven Championship appearances and returned to Blackpool on loan for the second half of the campaign.

Having returned to the Riverside at the start of the 2020/21 season, Bola had to wait until October for his first start but was soon to become Boro’s first choice left-back.

He was to make a further 54 appearances in all competitions over the next two seasons before swapping the North East for Turkey in the summer of 2023.

Having played 20 times in Super Lig in his first season, Bola made a further 33 league appearances last term to help Samsunspor finish third in the table, 20 points behind runners-up Fenerbahce and 31 adrift of champions Galatasaray.