Fulham snapped up Costa Rican sensation Bryan Ruiz from FC Twente on a four year contract before last night’s transfer deadline. The deal is thought to be in the region of £10m and represents a significant coup for Martin Jol -the twenty-six year old is a class act and should bolster the Fulham first-team significantly.
Despite some last-minute interest from the likes of Newcastle, the player admitted Jol was a major factor in his decision to sign for the Cottagers:
“I’m really happy to be joining Fulham Football Club and playing under Martin Jol who is a manager I admire from his time managing in Holland for Ajax. I chose to come to Fulham because it feels more personal than other clubs I have visit
The Statistics
Ruiz’s career began as an eighteen year old in his native country, playing 83 times and scoring 24 goals for Alajuelense, before moving to Belgian club KAA Genk. Ruiz stayed there for three seasons, bagging 26 goals in 79 games and his performances caught the eye of Steve McLaren, the then-manager of FC Twente.
McLaren snapped up the player for a mere 5m Euros in 2009 and the player’s goals repaid his manager’s faith, as he fired Twente to their first ever Eredivisie title under the guidance of the former England boss. It’s in Holland that Ruiz –nicknamed “The Weasel”- developed into a real top-class talent; 61 games brought 39 goals and 20 assists, indicating a keen eye for goal in addition to a real creative edge to his play.
The Prospects
There’s little doubt Ruiz arrives at the Cottage as a key player for Martin Jol’s side. A left-footer, he will offer Fulham options both on the wing and as a forward in the new manager’s preferred 4-4-2. Jol is desperate for a goalscorer and it may well be he sees Ruiz as a forward, someone he can play alongside Bobby Zamora; Fulham have scored just one goal in their first three Premier League games under Jol and more firepower is essential.
Alternatively, it would also give Jol the option of keeping Clint Dempsey as a forward- the American has impressed in Europe when played up front and scored the club’s late consolation at Newcastle on Sunday afternoon.
Ruiz is highly regarded across Europe and has many strengths to his game. He possesses a fantastic technique as well as an ability to regularly find the net and, standing at 6 foot 2, is also great in the air.
The ideal scenario for Fantasy managers is for the player to be classified as a FPL midfielder (around 7.5 or 8.0 could be expected) with Jol then opting to field him as a forward. With this type of skill in his locker, he would be a great out-of-position proposition and has the class to spark Fulham’s league campaign into life.
