{{Short description|English footballer (born 1997)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Marc Bola |image = Marc Bola 12072025 (2).jpg |image_size = 250px |caption = Bola in 2025. |fullname = Marc Joel Bola<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/image/201920/general-news/efl-squad-numbering-06.09.2019.pdf |title=Notification of shirt numbers: Middlesbrough |publisher=English Football League |page=42 |access-date=22 October 2019}}</ref> |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|12|9|df=y}}<ref name = "11v11">{{cite web|url=http://www.11v11.com/players/marc-bola-254347/|title=Profile|access-date=14 February 2017|publisher=11v11}}</ref> |birth_place = Greenwich, England |height = {{convert|1.85|m|order=flip}}<ref name = "11v11"/> |position = Left back |currentclub = Watford |clubnumber = 16 |youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = Arsenal |years1 = 2016–2018 |clubs1 = Arsenal |caps1 = 0 |goals1 = 0 |years2 = 2017 |clubs2 = → Notts County (loan) |caps2 = 13 |goals2 = 0 |years3 = 2017–2018 |clubs3 = → Bristol Rovers (loan) |caps3 = 18 |goals3 = 0 |years4 = 2018–2019 |clubs4 = Blackpool |caps4 = 35 |goals4 = 2 |years5 = 2019–2023 |clubs5 = Middlesbrough |caps5 = 96 |goals5 = 2 |years6 = 2020 |clubs6 = → Blackpool (loan) |caps6 = 6 |goals6 = 0 |years7 = 2023–2025 |clubs7 = Samsunspor |caps7 = 53 |goals7 = 1 |years8 = 2025– |clubs8 = Watford |caps8 = 37 |goals8 = 2 |club-update = 13:26, 2 May 2026 (UTC) }} '''Marc Joel Bola''' (born 9 December 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left back for {{English football updater|Watford}} club Watford.
==Early and personal life== Bola grew up supporting Arsenal, the team he started his professional career at.<ref name="Bola Arsenal 1">{{cite news|title=Marc Bola Features|url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/features/20160106/marc-bola|publisher=Arsenal F.C.|date=8 January 2016|access-date=30 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171030122303/https://www.arsenal.com/news/features/20160106/marc-bola|archive-date=30 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> He is of Congolese descent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=23806|title=Arsenal Super Kid Bola Clarifies : I Am Not Eligible To Play For Nigeria:: All Nigeria Soccer – The Complete Nigerian Football Portal|website=www.allnigeriasoccer.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adiac-congo.com/content/football-des-jeunes-la-rdc-u20-joue-en-amical-contre-langleterre-junior-39481|title=Football des jeunes : la RDC U20 joue en amical contre l'Angleterre junior – adiac-congo.com : toute l'actualité du Bassin du Congo|website=www.adiac-congo.com}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Marc Bola on his time at Arsenal, initiation songs, Bristol Rovers debut and adapting to League One|url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/marc-bola-talks-time-arsenal-368659|publisher=Bristol Post|date=24 August 2017|access-date=31 October 2017}}</ref> After progressing through the ranks, he was promoted to the reserve side.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arsenal.com/academy/players/marc-bola|title=Profile|access-date=5 February 2017|publisher=Arsenal F.C.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906001022/http://www.arsenal.com/academy/players/marc-bola|archive-date=6 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.arsenal.com/match/report/1516/post/under-21/u-21s-fulham-0-3-arsenal-match-report|title=U-21s: Fulham 0–3 Arsenal – Match report|publisher=Arsenal F.C.|date=9 March 2016|access-date=30 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171030125823/https://www.arsenal.com/match/report/1516/post/under-21/u-21s-fulham-0-3-arsenal-match-report|archive-date=30 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Who is new Bristol Rovers signing Marc Bola? What we know about the Arsenal defender|url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/who-new-bristol-rovers-signing-202510|publisher=Bristol Post|date=15 July 2017|access-date=30 October 2017}}</ref>
Bola turned professional with Arsenal in April 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://metro.co.uk/2016/04/07/marc-bola-signs-new-contract-with-arsenal-to-stay-at-the-emirates-5802543/|title=Marc Bola signs new contract with Arsenal to stay at the Emirates|date=7 April 2016|access-date=5 February 2017|author=Sean Kearns|publisher=Metro}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160407/marc-bola-signs-new-contract|title=Marc Bola signs new contract|publisher=Arsenal F.C.|date=7 April 2016|access-date=30 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171030124533/https://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160407/marc-bola-signs-new-contract|archive-date=30 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
Bola moved on loan to Notts County in January 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38820082|title=Notts County sign Jorge Grant, Marc Bola and Josh Clackstone on loan|date=31 January 2017|access-date=1 February 2017|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> 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.<ref name = "2016-17"/>
In July 2017, he signed a season-long loan deal with Bristol Rovers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40611276|title=Marc Bola: Arsenal youngster joins Bristol Rovers on season-long loan|date=14 July 2017|access-date=15 July 2017|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> Bola made his Bristol Rovers debut on 16 September 2017, in a 3–0 loss against Wigan Athletic.<ref name="Bola Bristol Post">{{cite news|title=How Arsenal loanee Marc Bola has grabbed his chance with Bristol Rovers|url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/how-arsenal-loanee-marc-bola-551361|publisher=Bristol Post|date=29 September 2017|access-date=31 October 2017}}</ref><ref name = "2017-18"/>
=== Blackpool === He was released by Arsenal at the end of the 2017–18 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/698753|title=Premier League clubs publish released lists|date=8 June 2018|access-date=9 June 2018|publisher=Premier League}}</ref> Following his release he signed for Blackpool on a one-year contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44859557|title=lackpool sign Oldham defender Ryan McLaughlin and ex-Arsenal left-back Marc Bola|date=17 July 2018|access-date=19 September 2018|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> He was sent off in September 2018, but the club appealed to the FA who overruled it and rescinded the three-match ban.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45575169|title=Blackpool: Marc Bola ban lifted but Donervon Daniels red card upheld|date=19 September 2018|access-date=19 September 2018|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>
=== Middlesbrough === Bola joined Middlesbrough on 28 July 2019 for an undisclosed fee.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49144345 Marc Bola: "Middlesbrough sign Blackpool defender"] – BBC Sport, 28 July</ref> He scored on his debut for Middlesbrough in an EFL Cup tie against Crewe Alexandra on 13 August 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49245426|title=Middlesbrough 2–2 Crewe |date=13 August 2019 |publisher=BBC|access-date=13 August 2019}}</ref> On 10 January 2020 he returned to Blackpool on loan until the end of the 2019–20 season.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51066785|title=Marc Bola: Blackpool re-sign left-back on loan from Middlesbrough|work=BBC Sport |date=10 January 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58435485|title=Marc Bola: Middlesbrough defender charged by FA over nine-year-old social media post|date=4 September 2021|access-date=4 September 2021|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/discipline-cases/2021/the-fa-v-marc-bola---3rd-november-2021.ashx|title=Football Association Regulatory Commission - The Football Association v Marc Bola|date=3 November 2021|access-date=3 November 2021|publisher=Football Association}}</ref>
=== Samsunspor === On 9 July 2023, Bola signed for Turkish Süper Lig side Samsunspor for an undisclosed fee.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Defender Bola leaves Boro for Samsunspor |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66150026 |access-date=9 July 2023}}</ref>
===Watford=== On 6 June 2025, Bola agreed to return to England, joining Championship side Watford on a three-year deal.<ref> {{cite web|url=https://www.watfordfc.com/news/2025/june/06/official-hornets-swoop-for-bola/|title=Official: Hornets Swoop For Bola|website=www.watfordfc.com|date=6 June 2025|accessdate=6 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c2e3yd4v3ezo|title=Marc Bola: Watford sign former Middlesbrough defender|date=6 June 2025|website=BBC Sport}}</ref> On 7 November 2025, he scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw at home against Bristol City.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Watford v Bristol City LIVE: Championship score, stats & updates|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cvgm83626ejt|access-date=2025-11-07|website=BBC Sport|language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|2 May 2026}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes FA Cup, Turkish Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes EFL Cup}} !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="3"|Arsenal |2016–17<ref name = "2016-17">{{soccerbase season |98404|2016|accessdate=5 February 2017}}</ref> |rowspan="2"|Premier League |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |2017–18<ref name = "2017-18">{{soccerbase season |98404|2017|accessdate=20 September 2017}}</ref> |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0 |- |Notts County (loan) |2016–17<ref name = "2016-17"/> |League Two |13||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||13||0 |- |Bristol Rovers (loan) |2017–18<ref name = "2017-18"/> |League One |18||0||0||0||2||0||3{{Efn|name=EFLT|Appearances in the EFL Trophy}}||0||23||0 |- |Blackpool |2018–19<ref>{{soccerbase season |98404|2018|accessdate=17 July 2018}}</ref> |League One |35||2||3||0||4||0||1{{Efn|name=EFLT}}||0||43||2 |- |rowspan=5|Middlesbrough |2019–20<ref name = "2019-20">{{soccerbase season |98404|2019|accessdate=28 September 2020}}</ref> |rowspan=4|Championship |7||0||0||0||1||1||0||0||8||1 |- |2020–21<ref>{{soccerbase season |98404|2020|accessdate=28 September 2020}}</ref> |41||1||1||0||1||0||0||0||43||1 |- |2021–22<ref>{{soccerbase season |98404|2021|accessdate=8 August 2021}}</ref> |23||1||2||0||0||0||0||0||25||1 |- |2022–23<ref>{{soccerbase season|98404|2022|accessdate=6 June 2025}}</ref> |25||0||1||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||27||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !96!!2!!4!!0!!3!!1!!0!!0!!103!!3 |- |Blackpool (loan) |2019–20<ref name = "2019-20"/> |League One |6||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||6||0 |- |rowspan="3"|Samsunspor |2023–24 |rowspan="2"|Süper Lig |20||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||23||0 |- |2024–25 |33||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||33||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !53!!1!!3!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!56!!1 |- |Watford |2025–26<ref>{{soccerbase season|98404|2025|accessdate=1 October 2025}}</ref> |Championship |37||2||1||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||39||2 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !258!!7!!11!!0!!9!!1!!4!!0!!283!!8 |} {{notelist}}
==Playing style== Bola plays primarily as a left back, but can also play as a centre back and a striker.<ref name="Bola Arsenal 1"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Blackpool F.C. Player of the Year}} {{Watford F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bola, Marc}} Category:1997 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from the Royal Borough of Greenwich Category:English men's footballers Category:English people of Democratic Republic of the Congo descent Category:Sportspeople of Democratic Republic of the Congo descent Category:Men's association football full-backs Category:Arsenal F.C. players Category:Notts County F.C. players Category:Bristol Rovers F.C. players Category:Blackpool F.C. players Category:Middlesbrough F.C. players Category:Samsunspor footballers Category:Watford F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:Süper Lig players Category:Black British sportsmen Category:English expatriate men's footballers Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Turkey Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey Category:21st-century English sportsmen