Marc Bola is an English expert footballer acknowledged for his skillful protecting play, tactical awareness, and flexibility as a left-lower back. Over the past few years, he has won interest for his performances in the English Football League (EFL) and has come to be a dependable call for enthusiasts and analysts alike.
Who Is Marc Bola?
Marc Joel Bola is an expert footballer who performs as a left-lower back. Born on December 9, 1997, in Greenwich, London, Bola is remembered for his protecting balance and capacity to make contributions to offensive performances. Though broadly speaking a defender, he’s diagnosed for his agility and crossing skills.
Full Name: Marc Joel Bola
Date of Birth: December 9, 1997
Height: 5 feet 11 in (1.80 m)
Position: Left-lower back
Nationality: English (of Congolese descent)
He advanced through Arsenal’s adolescents academy earlier than making movements that hooked up his expert identification throughout the EFL.
Early Life and Background
Bola was born and raised in London, wherein he developed an ardour for football at a younger age. He joined Arsenal’s academy at simply thirteen and spent almost a decade there, educated in quite aggressive surroundings that fashioned his footballing fundamentals.
Youth Academy: Arsenal
Cultural Background: Bola has Congolese roots, and his historical past has encouraged his existence and football.
As a part of Arsenal’s famed Hale End academy, Bola became educated amongst a number of England’s most promising young talents.
Football Career Timeline
Arsenal (2015–2018)
Marc Bola started his senior profession at Arsenal however did not make a first-team appearance. However, he did feature in U21 matchs and pre-season friendlies.
Notts County (Loan, 2017)
Bola became loaned to Notts County in 2017, making thirteen league appearances. It became his first flavor of expert senior football.
Bristol Rovers (Loan, 2017–2018)
He then joined Bristol Rovers, wherein he performed 18 times. His improvement at some point of this era confirmed maturity, in particular defensively.
Blackpool (2018–2019)
Bola made an everlasting tour to Blackpool, turning into a standout performer with forty 3 appearances and 1 goal in the 2018–19 season. His performances earned him the Player of the Season award.
Middlesbrough (2019–2024)
Bola joined Middlesbrough in 2019 and considerably grew his recognition. Over 5 seasons, he revamped ninety appearances, contributing defensively and on occasion in attack.
Notable Goal: His strike in opposition to Reading in 2021 became praised for its precision and timing.
Loan to Samsunspor (2023–2024)
To get greater recreation time, Bola went on mortgage to Samsunspor in Turkey. He tailored speedy and delivered worldwide revel into his resume.
Playing Style and Strengths
Marc Bola is thought for his protecting reliability, off-the-ball intelligence, and attacking overlaps. His paintings fee and positioning make him an asset in each 4-4-2 and 3-5-2 formations.
Key Traits:
Positional Awareness: Bola excels at monitoring runners and reducing passing lanes.
Pace and Agility: He makes use of pace to get better speed and be part of counter-attacks.
Crossing Ability: Effective in turning in early crosses, contributing to attacking chances.
Work Rate: High stamina and steady urgency at some stage in the match.
Tactical Flexibility:
Bola can play as:
Traditional left-lower back
Left wing-lower back
Occasionally as a left center-lower back in a lower back 3
Stats and Notable Performances
As of 2025, Marc Bola has constructed a first rate profession throughout numerous clubs. Below are his key information and highlights provided in bullet points:
At Notts County (Loan, 2017):
Made thirteen league appearances at some point of his mortgage spell.
Gained precious first-team revel in in League Two.
Registered 1 help and maintained steady protecting performances.
At Bristol Rovers (Loan, 2017–2018):
Featured in 18 league matchs in League One.
Showed versatility and persistence over a bodily annoying season.
Delivered 2 assists and contributed to numerous easy sheets.
At Blackpool (2018–2019):
Played forty 3 matchs in all competitions at some point of his unmarried season.
Scored 1 goal – a well-located shot from out of doors the box.
Won Blackpool’s Player of the Season award for 2018–19.
Established himself as a normal and fan favourite at Bloomfield Road.
At Middlesbrough (2019–2024):
Made over ninety appearances in the Championship.
Scored 2 dreams, inclusive of a standout long-variety attempt in opposition to Reading in 2021.
Recorded 6 assists and performed under more than one manager, showcasing adaptability.
Became acknowledged for his overlapping runs and stable one-on-one defending.
At Samsunspor (Loan, 2023–2024):
Played 24 matches in Turkey’s top-flight league.
Scored 1 goal and supplied 4 assists in attacking transitions.
His performances attracted interest from different European clubs.
Overall Career Stats (as of 2025):
Nearly 190 expert appearances throughout all competitions.
A general of 4 goals and 16 assists.
Maintained a stable protecting document with minimum mistakes main to dreams.
Developed a recognition as a dependable full-lower back able to act at Championship and Super Lig levels.
Challenges and Controversies
Bola confronted a minor controversy in 2021 whilst the Football Association fined him for an irrelevant ancient social media post. He issued a public apology, acknowledging the error and emphasizing his non-public increase for the reason for the incident.
Additionally, he has struggled with accidents at numerous stages, in particular hamstring issues, which in brief halted his momentum at Middlesbrough.
Marc Bola in 2025: Recent Updates
Current Club and Form (2025)
As of June 2025:
Marc Bola is lower back in England after his mortgage spell in Turkey.
He is presently a unfastened agent or in negotiation with Championship clubs, in step with switch rumours.
Clubs in France’s Ligue 2 and Belgium’s Pro League have proven a hobby for him because of his worldwide revel in and versatility.
Transfer Market Value
According to Transfermarkt, Bola’s marketplace fee as of 2025 is approximately €1.2 million, a modest determination for a reliable full-lower back with worldwide exposure.
Marc Bola Net worth
As of 2025, public estimates imply Marc Bola’s net worth to be approximately £1.98 million, together with a weekly salary of £4,900 (~£254,800 annually) at some point of his time with Süper Lig’s Samsunspor.
Final Thoughts
Marc Bola’s adventure is a sturdy reminder that now no longer all football careers comply with glamorous paths—however that does not cause them to be any less precious or inspiring. From adolescent football at Arsenal to earning accolades at Blackpool and gaining worldwide experience in Turkey, Bola has constantly proved his mettle through dedication and flexibility.
FAQs
What function does Marc Bola play?
Marc Bola generally performs as a left-returned however is likewise powerful as a left wing-returned or left center-returned in a returned 3.
What is Marc Bola’s cutting-edge membership in 2025?
As of June 2025, Bola is a free agent, having returned from a mortgage spell in Turkey. He is reportedly in talks with numerous clubs.
Has Marc Bola ever performed for the England national team?
No, Bola has now no longer represented England on the senior stage however has expressed a hobby in representing DR Congo because of his heritage.
What are Marc Bola’s key strengths at the pitch?
His positional awareness, crossing ability, shielding reliability, and tempo make him a precious full-returned.
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