Mario Lemina

Mario Lemina played as a central midfielder for Fulham, on loan from Southampton in the 2020-21 season. He was signed following Fulham's third promotion to the Premier League in August 2020. Despite representing France in his youth up to U21 level, he now represents Gabon at full international level.

Before Fulham
Mario began his career in France with Lorient from the age of 11 until he was promoted to the first team during the 2012-13 season.

The following season, Marseille snapped him up for around €4 million, although he struggled to make many first team appearances in his debut year with them. His breakthrough season came the following year under Marcelo Bielsa, though in February 2015, he was sent off for punching Ola Toivonen in the groin in a 1-1 draw away to Rennes.

Italian giants Juventus came calling for Mario in the summer of 2015, and a deal was agreed to loan him for the season with an option to buy at the end of the season. After impressing under manager Massimiliano Allegri, he was duly signed permanently in April 2016 for a fee in the region of €10 million.

His move to England came in the summer of 2017, as Southampton signed him for a club-record fee of £15.4 million. After initially impressing for the Saints, Mario was later loaned to Turkish side Galatasaray for the duration of the 2019-20 season before his move to Fulham.

Fulham (2020-2021)
Mario's loan move to Fulham was announced on 30 August 2020. The deal would see him at Craven Cottage for the duration of the 2020-21 season, with an option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.

He made a total of 30 appearances in all competitions for the Whites, scoring one goal, during a 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on 7 March 2021. He failed to help keep Fulham up as they were relegated back to the Championship.