CHERRIES have made their first signing since their return to the Premier League – but who is exactly is newcomer Ryan Fredericks?
Predominantly a right-back by trade, Fredericks has 63 Premier League appearances to his name – all for his most recent club, West Ham.
However, the 29-year-old has been in and around the topflight since he came through the ranks at Tottenham Hotspur.
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An England under-19 international whilst with Spurs, Fredericks is also eligible to represent Guyana and Scotland.
However, despite interest from both countries in regards to tempting Fredericks into playing for them, he remains uncapped by any country.
Fredericks was handed his debut for Spurs by former Cherries boss Harry Redknapp alongside current England star Harry Kane in a draw with Hearts in a Europa League qualifier, back in August 2011.
Deployed as a right-winger, Fredericks went on to play an hour of action on his senior debut, before being replaced by Niko Kranjcar as a youthful Spurs side failed to unlock a Hearts side reeling from the 5-0 defeat in the first leg.
Coincidentally, Fredericks’ first-team debut for Tottenham came six days before his new boss, Scott Parker, signed for the North London club on deadline day.
However, by the time Fredericks was handed his second game for Spurs in December 2013, Parker had departed for Fulham.
It was at Craven Cottage where the pair would cross paths again, only after Fredericks had spent time out on loan with Brentford, Millwall and Middlesbrough.
Fredericks’ arrival at Fulham shortly followed his departure from Tottenham in 2015, but it was not a straightforward swap of London clubs.
Instead, Fredericks originally signed with Bristol City, but just 26 days and five appearances later, he had departed Ashton Gate, citing personal reasons that required a move back to London.
Fulham paid the same fee Bristol City had parted with to sign him from Tottenham, and it was with the Cottagers Fredericks came into his own as a right-back.
By the time he departed for West Ham in 2018, Fredericks made 114 appearances for the Cottagers.
Named in the EFL’s Championship Team of the Year in 2018, Fredericks left Craven Cottage shortly before Parker returned as a coach, meaning the reunion of the duo will be mark the first time Fredericks has played under Parker.
Whilst his time with West Ham was hampered by injury, the signing of Vladimir Coufal and the emergence of talent Ben Johnson, Fredericks made 76 appearances for the Hammers, scoring three times and providing seven assists.
Last campaign he was limited to just 15 appearances, including five games in the Europa League, helping West Ham to the semi-final stage of the competition.
(All pictures from PA Images)
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