United move caps Smalling rise
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Article summary
Manchester United FC have agreed terms with Fulham FC to sign England Under-21 defender Chris Smalling, with the 20-year-old set to link up with Sir Alex Ferguson's squad during the summer.
Article top media content
![Chris Smalling has featured four times in the UEFA Europa League this season Chris Smalling has featured four times in the UEFA Europa League this season](https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/01e1-0e73b8101e70-d3240ecd82aa-1000/format/wide1/christopher_smalling_fulham_fc_.jpeg?imwidth=158)
Article body
Manchester United FC have agreed terms with Fulham FC to sign England Under-21 central defender Chris Smalling, with the 20-year-old set to join Sir Alex Ferguson's squad during the summer.
Rapid rise
"Chris has agreed personal terms with the club and will join for the beginning of the 2010/2011 campaign," United said in a statement. "He will remain at Fulham until the end of the current season." The switch continues a heady rise for the London-born defender, who was playing at non-league Maidstone United FC just over 18 months ago. Smalling only made his Fulham debut in the last game of 2008/09, and has been restricted to eight appearances this term, four coming in the march to the UEFA Europa League round of 32, where they meet FC Shakhtar Donetsk.