Marc Bola
FullnameMarc Joel Bola[1]
Birth date9 December 1997 (age 28)[2]
Birth placeGreenwich, England
Height6.1 ft (1.85 metres)[2]
PositionLeft back
CurrentclubWatford
Clubnumber16
Youthclubs 1Arsenal
Years 12016–2018
Clubs 1Arsenal
Caps 10
Goals 10
Years 22017
Clubs 2→ Notts County (loan)
Caps 213
Goals 20
Years 32017–2018
Clubs 3→ Bristol Rovers (loan)
Caps 318
Goals 30
Years 42018–2019
Clubs 4Blackpool
Caps 435
Goals 42
Years 52019–2023
Clubs 5Middlesbrough
Caps 596
Goals 52
Years 62020
Clubs 6→ Blackpool (loan)
Caps 66
Goals 60
Years 72023–2025
Clubs 7Samsunspor
Caps 753
Goals 71
Years 82025–
Clubs 8Watford
Caps 837
Goals 82
Club-update13:26, 2 May 2026 (UTC)

Marc Joel Bola (born 9 December 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left back for club Watford.

Early and personal life

Bola grew up supporting Arsenal, the team he started his professional career at.[3] He is of Congolese descent.[4][5]

Career

Arsenal

Born in London Borough of Greenwich, Bola joined Arsenal Academy when he was 13 after being spotted playing Sunday league football and at 16, he earned a scholarship.[6] After progressing through the ranks, he was promoted to the reserve side.[7] At the reserve side, Bola became a regular there and scored his first goal for the reserve side on 9 March 2016, in a 3–3 draw against Fulham U23.[8][9]

Bola turned professional with Arsenal in April 2016.[10][11]

Bola moved on loan to Notts County in January 2017.[12] He made his Notts County debut on 4 February 2017, where he played 53 minutes, in a 2–0 loss against Accrington Stanley, and went on to make 13 appearances for the side before returning to his parent club at the end of the season.[13]

In July 2017, he signed a season-long loan deal with Bristol Rovers.[14] Bola made his Bristol Rovers debut on 16 September 2017, in a 3–0 loss against Wigan Athletic.[15][16]

Blackpool

He was released by Arsenal at the end of the 2017–18 season.[17] Following his release he signed for Blackpool on a one-year contract.[18] He was sent off in September 2018, but the club appealed to the FA who overruled it and rescinded the three-match ban.[19]

Middlesbrough

Bola joined Middlesbrough on 28 July 2019 for an undisclosed fee.[20] He scored on his debut for Middlesbrough in an EFL Cup tie against Crewe Alexandra on 13 August 2019.[21] On 10 January 2020 he returned to Blackpool on loan until the end of the 2019–20 season.[22] In September 2021, a complaint was made about a Tweet Bola had posted 9 years earlier, when he was 14 years old, and he was charged with "aggravated misconduct" by the FA.[23] An FA hearing was concluded on 3 November 2021 which found he had shown "genuine remorse". He was not suspended and, instead, ordered to attend a face-to-face education programme.[24]

Samsunspor

On 9 July 2023, Bola signed for Turkish Süper Lig side Samsunspor for an undisclosed fee.[25]

Watford

On 6 June 2025, Bola agreed to return to England, joining Championship side Watford on a three-year deal.[26][27] On 7 November 2025, he scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw at home against Bristol City.[28]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup[a]League cup[b]OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Arsenal2016–17[13]Premier League0000000000
2017–18[16]0000000000
Total0000000000
Notts County (loan)2016–17[13]League Two130000000130
Bristol Rovers (loan)2017–18[16]League One18000203[c]0230
Blackpool2018–19[29]League One35230401[c]0432
Middlesbrough2019–20[30]Championship7000110081
2020–21[31]411101000431
2021–22[32]231200000251
2022–23[33]2501010—270
Total9624031001033
Blackpool (loan)2019–20[30]League One6000000060
Samsunspor2023–24Süper Lig20030——230
2024–2533100——331
Total531300000561
Watford2025–26[34]Championship3721010—392
Career total258711091402838
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup, Turkish Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in the EFL Trophy

Playing style

Bola plays primarily as a left back, but can also play as a centre back and a striker.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Middlesbrough". English Football League. p. 42. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  2. ^ "Profile". 11v11. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  3. ^ "Marc Bola Features". Arsenal F.C. 8 January 2016. Archived 30 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  4. ^ "Arsenal Super Kid Bola Clarifies : I Am Not Eligible To Play For Nigeria:: All Nigeria Soccer – The Complete Nigerian Football Portal". www.allnigeriasoccer.com
  5. ^ "Football des jeunes : la RDC U20 joue en amical contre l'Angleterre junior – adiac-congo.com : toute l'actualité du Bassin du Congo". www.adiac-congo.com
  6. ^ "Marc Bola on his time at Arsenal, initiation songs, Bristol Rovers debut and adapting to League One". Bristol Post. 24 August 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  7. ^ "Profile". Arsenal F.C. Archived 6 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  8. ^ "U-21s: Fulham 0–3 Arsenal – Match report". Arsenal F.C. 9 March 2016. Archived 30 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  9. ^ "Who is new Bristol Rovers signing Marc Bola? What we know about the Arsenal defender". Bristol Post. 15 July 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  10. ^ Sean Kearns (7 April 2016). "Marc Bola signs new contract with Arsenal to stay at the Emirates". Metro. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  11. ^ "Marc Bola signs new contract". Arsenal F.C. 7 April 2016. Archived 30 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  12. ^ "Notts County sign Jorge Grant, Marc Bola and Josh Clackstone on loan". BBC Sport. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  13. ^
  14. ^ "Marc Bola: Arsenal youngster joins Bristol Rovers on season-long loan". BBC Sport. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  15. ^ "How Arsenal loanee Marc Bola has grabbed his chance with Bristol Rovers". Bristol Post. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  16. ^
  17. ^ "Premier League clubs publish released lists". Premier League. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  18. ^ "lackpool sign Oldham defender Ryan McLaughlin and ex-Arsenal left-back Marc Bola". BBC Sport. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  19. ^ "Blackpool: Marc Bola ban lifted but Donervon Daniels red card upheld". BBC Sport. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  20. ^ Marc Bola: "Middlesbrough sign Blackpool defender" – BBC Sport, 28 July
  21. ^ "Middlesbrough 2–2 Crewe". BBC. 13 August 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  22. ^ "Marc Bola: Blackpool re-sign left-back on loan from Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. 10 January 2020.
  23. ^ "Marc Bola: Middlesbrough defender charged by FA over nine-year-old social media post". BBC Sport. 4 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  24. ^ "Football Association Regulatory Commission - The Football Association v Marc Bola". Football Association. 3 November 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  25. ^ "Defender Bola leaves Boro for Samsunspor". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  26. ^ "Official: Hornets Swoop For Bola". www.watfordfc.com. 6 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  27. ^ "Marc Bola: Watford sign former Middlesbrough defender". BBC Sport. 6 June 2025.
  28. ^ "Watford v Bristol City LIVE: Championship score, stats & updates". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
  29. ^
  30. ^
  31. ^
  32. ^
  33. ^
  34. ^