Former Arsenal academy defender Marc Bola has joined Super Lig club Samsunspor, leaving Middlesbrough after a four-year association with the club.

On Sunday, Samsunspor confirmed the signing of Marc Bola for an undisclosed fee, with the defender signing a two-year contract with an option to extend for a further season.

Arsenal fans may remember Bola from his time with the Gunners, having joined the club as a 13-year-old.

A boyhood fan of the club, Bola earned his first professional deal with Arsenal in 2016, going on a couple of loan spells to Notts County and Bristol Rovers.

The left-back then left Arsenal permanently for Blackpool in 2018.

After a year with Blackpool, Bola joined Middlesbrough, spending time back on loan with Blackpool later that season.

But for the last two campaigns, the 25-year-old has been a Middlesbrough regular, playing alongside fellow Arsenal academy graduate Chuba Akpom for the Championship side.

That progress seemingly caught the eye overseas, and Samsunspor have swooped to add the English defender to their ranks.

Samsunspor have experienced quite a revival in recent seasons.

Relegated to the Turkish third tier in 2017/18 for the first time in their history, Samsunspor managed to get back into the second tier after winning the league in 2019/20.

Three seasons later, they won the Turkish second tier in 2022/23, returning to the top flight after an 11-season absence.

Bola will hope to help his new club maintain that place in the Super Lig, making it the first time since 2004/05 that Samsunspor have completed a season in the top flight without being relegated.