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Alex Borto, a 6’1” American shot stopper is one of the most recent acquisitions, as Fulham fans like to dub their side, “Fulhammerica”. The New Jersey prospect recently signed a professional contract and becomes another player to add to an incredible list of American talent that has landed in Craven Cottage. These include Clint Dempsey, Brian Mcbride and Carlos Bocanegra to name a few.
Alex has made a good start to his time at Fulham. His calm nature between the posts and commandment in his box has established himself as a top prospect in England. Partnered with his excellent footwork and distribution just shows why Fulham are happy with their recent American acquisition.
The young goalkeeper has kept a successful track record while he was in his home country taking his High school team Gill St Bernards to the conference title. He was also a part of New York Red Bulls Academy growing up.
Borto went on multiple trials with clubs across England prior to his permanent move to the English capital, beginning at just 13 years old. The list of clubs who monitored Borto prior to his signing with Fulham includes Manchester United, where he met Marcus Rashford, and Leicester City which Borto had to unfortunately decline because of a broken pinky finger.
This volume of European interest came due to Alex’s heritage, as the young keeper is a dual national prospect. With parents born and raised in Poland, giving him a European passport and allowing him to sign in England prior to turning 18 years old.
Alex signed a two-year scholarship deal with Fulham in August 2020 and joined the Under-18’s squad. After multiple quality performances during the season, he signed his first professional contract with the club on 23rd April, 2021. After a successful 21/22 season his contract was extended till 2027.
He’s with the USA Under-20’s team - participating in the 2021 Revelations Cup tournament in Mexico. In June of this year he was also called up to participate in the 2022 Under-20s CONCACAF Tournament in Honduras.
A prospect creating a buzz around west London, Borto has everything it takes to continue on this journey as a professional football player.
Being from America, football isn't your nation's first sport. How did you start to get involved and start playing football?
I first got involved in soccer by going to the park with my grandparents and just passing the ball around. I really started to like it and when I was 8, my parents signed me up for my local travel team. I played as a field player to start and as time went on I realized I was better as a goalkeeper. I made the switch to goalkeeper around the age of 10 but sometimes even then, I would play the first half in goal, and second half as a striker.
How did you find the move over to England, On and off the pitch?
At first I definitely struggled because the football was different and I knew no one. After a few months, I had made some new friends and started to find my groove on the pitch. Eventually I got my first start with Fulham U18’s against West Brom early in the season, and after that it just all went uphill.
You have signed a long term contract with Fulham, how was that feeling?
That feeling is something that no one can take away from me. It’s amazing. Not only for me, but for my friends and family who sacrificed so much for me, and I’m sure they feel that same incredible feeling that I feel.
How was your 21/22 season as a whole in your words?
It was definitely a roller coaster because I got injured a lot, but on the other hand I was with the first team for a brief period of time, made my u20 USA debut and attended a few u20 USA camps and had plenty of good games for Fulham.
What have you been doing in the off-season to get ready for the next year?
I’ve been training almost every day and hitting the gym back home. Right now I’m in Honduras with the u20’s training and preparing for the U20 concacaf tournament.