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23 January 2019
Chris Mepham, the dazzling rise of the Bournemouth new boy
Bournemouth have announced on Monday the arrival of Chris Mepham from Brentford. The opportunity for us to take a look at the Wales international’s path. The young defender has enjoyed a dazzling rise since his participation at the Maurice Revello Tournament 2017.
When he took part in the Maurice Revello Tournament 2017, Chris Mepham wasn’t the most famous player to compete in the tournament. And for good reason : under contract with Brentford, he hasn’t made yet an appearance in the Championship at that moment and was still playing with the reserve team.
More than a year and a half later, on this 22nd January 2019, the 21-year-old Welsh defender has been signed by the Premier League side Bournemouth on a €14M-deal.
After having their offer rejected on January 2018 and another one during the last summer, the Cherries have eventually succeed to lure Mepham.
"Chris is a talented, young defender who has been on our radar for some time, so I am delighted he is finally our player. He has shown a huge amount of potential in his time at Brentford and while playing for Wales, and we believe this is the perfect environment to continue his development”, told his new coach Eddie Howe.
Between his participation at the Maurice Revello Tournament and this move to a Premier League club, Mepham has enjoyed some memorable moments. Firstly, a bunch of games played in Champhionsip (43 exactly !) with the Bees and a breakthrough into the Wales national team. Since his first international cap earned on March against China (6-0), the Welsh defender has seduced the head coach Ryan Giggs and established himself as a regular starter. He has now four caps to his name.
Chris Mepham made his Wales bow ?
— Tournoi Maurice Revello (@TournoiMRevello) 24 mars 2018
▶️https://t.co/IJQCQyFv3u #ChinaCup pic.twitter.com/dO99k8tNTr
His path is quite similar to the rise experienced by his fellow countryman David Brooks. Like Mepham, the 21-year-old attacking midfielder took part in the Maurice Revello Tournament 2017 (named best player of the competition) before making a name for himself in the Championship and being called up to the Wales national team. A rise marked as well by a transfer move to Bournemouth last summer. A choice that has proved successful as Brooks seduced the Premier League observers thanks to this displays.
Can Mepham follow in his footsteps ?
Amayes Brahmi
Crédits photo : AFC Bournemouth
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