Marc Bola Explained

Marc Bola
Fullname:Marc Joel Bola[1]
Birth Date:9 December 1997[2]
Birth Place:Greenwich, England
Height:1.85m (06.07feet)
Position:Left back
Currentclub:Samsunspor
Clubnumber:16
Youthclubs1:Arsenal
Years1:2016–2018
Clubs1:Arsenal
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2017
Clubs2:Notts County (loan)
Caps2:13
Goals2:0
Years3:2017–2018
Clubs3:Bristol Rovers (loan)
Caps3:18
Goals3:0
Years4:2018–2019
Clubs4:Blackpool
Caps4:35
Goals4:2
Years5:2019–2023
Clubs5:Middlesbrough
Caps5:96
Goals5:2
Years6:2020
Clubs6:Blackpool (loan)
Caps6:6
Goals6:0
Years7:2023–
Clubs7:Samsunspor
Caps7:20
Goals7:0
Club-Update:26 June 2024

Marc Joel Bola (born 9 December 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left back for Süper Lig club Samsunspor.

Early and personal life

Bola grew up supporting Arsenal, the team he started his professional career at.[3] He is of Congolese descent.[4] [5]

Career

Arsenal

Born in London Borough of Greenwich, Bola joined Arsenal Academy when he was 13 after being spotted playing Sunday league football and at 16, he earned a scholarship.[6] After progressing through the ranks, he was promoted to the reserve side.[7] At the reserve side, Bola became a regular there and scored his first goal for the reserve side on 9 March 2016, in a 3–3 draw against Fulham U23.[8] [9]

Bola turned professional with Arsenal in April 2016.[10] [11]

Bola moved on loan to Notts County in January 2017.[12] He made his Notts County debut on 4 February 2017, where he played 53 minutes, in a 2–0 loss against Accrington Stanley, and went on to make 13 appearances for the side before returning to his parent club at the end of the season.

In July 2017, he signed a season-long loan deal with Bristol Rovers.[13] Bola made his Bristol Rovers debut on 16 September 2017, in a 3–0 loss against Wigan Athletic.[14]

Blackpool

He was released by Arsenal at the end of the 2017–18 season.[15] Following his release he signed for Blackpool on a one-year contract.[16] He was sent off in September 2018, but the club appealed to the FA who overruled it and rescinded the three-match ban.[17]

Middlesbrough

Bola joined Middlesbrough on 28 July 2019 for an undisclosed fee.[18] He scored on his debut for Middlesbrough in an EFL Cup tie against Crewe Alexandra on 13 August 2019.[19] On 10 January 2020 he returned to Blackpool on loan until the end of the 2019–20 season.[20]

Samsunspor

On 9 July 2023, Bola signed for Turkish Süper Lig side Samsunspor for an undisclosed fee.[21]

Controversy

In September 2021, Bola was officially charged with "aggravated misconduct" by the FA for posting a tweet that "made a reference to sexual orientation" nine years ago, at the age of 14. [22]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Arsenal2016–17Premier League0000000000
2017–180000000000
Total0000000000
Notts County (loan)2016–17League Two130000000130
Bristol Rovers (loan)2017–18League One180002030230
Blackpool2018–19League One352304010432
Middlesbrough2019–20Championship7000110081
2020–21411101000431
2021–22231100000241
Total712202100753
Blackpool (loan)2019–20League One6000000060
Career total14345081401605

Playing style

Bola plays primarily as a left back, but can also play as a centre back and a striker.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Notification of shirt numbers: Middlesbrough . English Football League . 42 . 22 October 2019.
  2. Web site: Profile. 14 February 2017. 11v11.
  3. News: Marc Bola Features. Arsenal F.C.. 8 January 2016. 30 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171030122303/https://www.arsenal.com/news/features/20160106/marc-bola. 30 October 2017. live.
  4. Web site: Arsenal Super Kid Bola Clarifies : I Am Not Eligible To Play For Nigeria:: All Nigeria Soccer – The Complete Nigerian Football Portal. www.allnigeriasoccer.com.
  5. Web site: Football des jeunes : la RDC U20 joue en amical contre l'Angleterre junior – adiac-congo.com : toute l'actualité du Bassin du Congo. www.adiac-congo.com.
  6. News: Marc Bola on his time at Arsenal, initiation songs, Bristol Rovers debut and adapting to League One. Bristol Post. 24 August 2017. 31 October 2017.
  7. Web site: Profile. 5 February 2017. Arsenal F.C.. https://web.archive.org/web/20150906001022/http://www.arsenal.com/academy/players/marc-bola. 6 September 2015. live.
  8. Web site: U-21s: Fulham 0–3 Arsenal – Match report. Arsenal F.C.. 9 March 2016. 30 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171030125823/https://www.arsenal.com/match/report/1516/post/under-21/u-21s-fulham-0-3-arsenal-match-report. 30 October 2017. live.
  9. News: Who is new Bristol Rovers signing Marc Bola? What we know about the Arsenal defender. Bristol Post. 15 July 2017. 30 October 2017.
  10. Web site: Marc Bola signs new contract with Arsenal to stay at the Emirates. 7 April 2016. 5 February 2017. Sean Kearns. Metro.
  11. Web site: Marc Bola signs new contract. Arsenal F.C.. 7 April 2016. 30 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171030124533/https://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160407/marc-bola-signs-new-contract. 30 October 2017. live.
  12. Web site: Notts County sign Jorge Grant, Marc Bola and Josh Clackstone on loan. 31 January 2017. 1 February 2017. BBC Sport.
  13. Web site: Marc Bola: Arsenal youngster joins Bristol Rovers on season-long loan. 14 July 2017. 15 July 2017. BBC Sport.
  14. News: How Arsenal loanee Marc Bola has grabbed his chance with Bristol Rovers. Bristol Post. 29 September 2017. 31 October 2017.
  15. Web site: Premier League clubs publish released lists. 8 June 2018. 9 June 2018. Premier League.
  16. Web site: lackpool sign Oldham defender Ryan McLaughlin and ex-Arsenal left-back Marc Bola. 17 July 2018. 19 September 2018. BBC Sport.
  17. Web site: Blackpool: Marc Bola ban lifted but Donervon Daniels red card upheld. 19 September 2018. 19 September 2018. BBC Sport.
  18. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49144345 Marc Bola: "Middlesbrough sign Blackpool defender"
  19. Web site: Middlesbrough 2–2 Crewe . 13 August 2019 . BBC. 13 August 2019.
  20. News: Marc Bola: Blackpool re-sign left-back on loan from Middlesbrough. BBC Sport . 10 January 2020.
  21. News: Defender Bola leaves Boro for Samsunspor . en-GB . BBC Sport . 9 July 2023.
  22. Web site: Marc Bola: Middlesbrough defender charged by FA over nine-year-old social media post. 4 September 2021. 4 September 2021. BBC Sport.