At London Colney, Marc Bola is adjusting to his new environment. (Photo credit: Watford FC/Alan Cozzi) After Yasser Larouci’s loan period ended, another left-back alternative was required, even though Caleb Wiley is anticipated to return to Vicarage Road on a season-long loan from Chelsea.

Bola, who is of Congolese heritage and was born in Greenwich, joined Arsenal’s Academy at the age of 13 and advanced through their development system before going on loan to Notts County in January 2017 and making 13 League Two appearances.

The following season, Bola made a total of 23 league and cup appearances before being loaned out again, this time to Bristol Rovers for the duration of the season.

The 6′ 1″ left-back moved to League One Blackpool in the summer of 2018 after leaving the Emirates Stadium permanently. There, he made a name for himself right away, making 43 appearances across all competitions and scoring his first EFL goal against AFC Wimbledon.

He won the club’s Player and Players’ Player of the Year Awards at the conclusion of his one and only season at Bloomfield Road.

In 2019, Bola moved to Middlesbrough and scored his first goal against Crewe Alexandra in a League Cup match. But he only played in seven Championship games before spending the second half of the season on loan at Blackpool.

Bola had to wait until October for his first start after rejoining the Riverside at the beginning of the 2020–21 campaign, but he quickly established himself as Boro’s preferred left-back.

Before moving from the North East to Turkey in the summer of 2023, he was expected to make a another 54 appearances across all competitions over the following two seasons.

Bola made 33 league games last season after playing 20 times in the Super Lig in his first season, helping Samsunspor finish third in the standings, 20 points behind runners-up Fenerbahce and 31 behind champion Galatasaray.

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