- Latics sign midfielder Tyrese Francois
- Francois, 24, joins Wigan Athletic following 10 years with Fulham
- The central midfielder, who has spent time on loan in Croatia and Denmark, made 11 appearances for the Craven Cottage club
Wigan Athletic has signed midfielder Tyrese Francois on a two-year-deal, subject to EFL and FA approval.
Shaun Maloney has bolstered his first-team squad ahead of the 2024/25 Sky Bet League One campaign with Francois adding further quality to Latics’ midfield.
Born and raised in Australia, Francois swapped Sydney for London as a teenager when he joined the academy of Premier League side Fulham in 2013. In the years that followed, Francois worked his way into the first-team set-up at Craven Cottage, impressing due to his low centre of gravity and ability to operate in a number of positions across midfield.
Francois, who turned 24 on Wednesday, made his professional debut during the 2019/20 season in the Carabao Cup, before becoming the 53rd Australian to play in the Premier League followed by his first league appearance in May 2021. He went on to start the first game of the 2021/22 campaign after a strong pre-season, playing three more times as they won promotion back to the top-flight.
The summer of 2022 was one to remember for Francois, who captained Australia’s U23 team in the AFC Asian Cup. He led by example in Uzbekistan, helping his country reach the semi-finals of the competition. He remained with Fulham during the following pre-season, before heading out on his first senior loan in Croatia with NHK Gorica, scoring once in 10 appearances.
After making two appearances for Fulham in the first half of the 2023/24 campaign, the young midfielder gained more experience out on loan, this time in Denmark with Vejle Boldklub. He figured on 15 different occasions in the Danish top-flight, consistently showcasing his talent and contributing to Vejle’s survival.
Having departed Craven Cottage after 10 years in the summer, Francois has chosen the Brick Community Stadium as the best place to start the next chapter of his exciting career following detailed discussions with Maloney and sporting director Gregor Rioch.
The young midfielder, who completed his medical and finalised his paperwork on Friday, will enjoy a fast-paced start to his Latics career, with four friendlies planned in the upcoming weeks in the build-up to the 2024/25 campaign.
Francios said: “I am very happy to be here, and I can’t wait to get started. It was a massive decision, but it’s the next chapter. I need to play games and show what I can do, and this is the perfect step for me.
“I’m not the biggest in size so I pride myself on being technically good. I like the ball at my feet but to run and put my heart on my sleeve. I will do as much as I can for the team. Hopefully, I can excite the fans and bring positive results.”
Maloney said: “We are delighted to welcome Tyrese to our football club. He is an extremely gifted footballer, who has spent the last 10 years with Fulham, having moved to London from Australia.
“He is both combative and tenacious and will add a lot to our midfield. He is a player that I am looking forward to working with, and hopefully, he can have a really successful time with us.”
Rioch added: “I am really pleased we have been able to add Tyrese to our squad on a two-year deal. He is a talented and competitive midfielder who we have been tracking for a while.”