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Dartford sign forward Pierre Fonkeu who had youth team spells at Club Brugge and Norwich City

20:00, 01 August 2022

updated: 20:35, 01 August 2022

Dartford have signed a well-travelled former Cameroon under-23 international forward.

Pierre Fonkeu impressed new boss Alan Dowson while playing as a trialist for the National League South outfit in pre-season.

Dartford manager Alan Dowson has signed Pierre Fonkeu. Picture: Keith Gillard
Dartford manager Alan Dowson has signed Pierre Fonkeu. Picture: Keith Gillard

Having come through the youth system at Club Brugge, the Belgium-born 25-year-old joined Norwich in 2017 after a pre-season trial.

Two years later and following his Norwich departure, it was announced Fonkeu had signed for RC Lens in France, where he made just one appearance off the bench for their B team, before joining Bulgarian club Beroe in 2020.

It was reported he was offered a short-term deal with Grimsby, however this was held up due to delays in obtaining international clearance, and fell through after the departure of manager Ian Holloway.

In December 2020, Holloway told Grimsby Live: "Hopefully we can have Pierre Fonkeu’s registration done by the ‘Bulgarian whoever-they-are.’ What are they doing? God knows, wake up. Get back to work, do something for Christ’s sake.

"It’s only his clearance we need from you. How long should that take?

"Hopefully our fans might get a chance to see him soon.

"He’s an attacker, very powerful, very strong and very quick."

But Holloway left later that month and the move never materialised as a result.

Last year, he started playing for Weymouth and also turned out for Hemel last season, featuring in a 4-0 home defeat to Maidstone this April.

Fonkeu has represented Cameroon at under-23 level and was part of their squad for the 2019 Africa U23 Cup of Nations, where he was an unused substitute in all three matches, as they were knocked out at the group stage on goal difference.

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