Luc de Fougerolles (19, 1.83m), an English/Canadian international defender, has joined Belgian Pro League side F.C.V. Dender on loan from Fulham for the 2025/2026 season.
This move is designed to accelerate his first-team development and make him more Premier League-ready in the future.
The 19-year-old arrives in Belgium with a reputation as one of Canada’s most promising young centre-backs, having progressed through Fulham’s academy from the age of eight and earning a senior debut in the EFL Cup during the 2023/2024 campaign.
Similar to Marcos Senesi, De Fougerolles blends composure on the ball with strong defensive instincts, a profile that suits both modern possession-based systems and more compact, reactive setups.
Fulham remain invested in his long-term potential, viewing this loan as a key stepping stone towards consistent senior minutes in a competitive European environment.
Already capped at the senior level for Canada, including appearances at the 2024 Copa América and the 2025 Gold Cup, De Fougerolles has demonstrated maturity on the international stage.
His experience against elite attackers in the game, gained through training at Fulham, coupled with his grounding in a Premier League academy, positions him well to handle the tactical and physical demands of Belgian football.
At Dender, he is expected to play a central role in their defensive structure, gaining valuable match experience in a league known for its balance between technical play and direct attacking transitions.
If he adapts quickly and maintains his trajectory, this spell could serve as an important launchpad toward higher levels of European competition and a more prominent role with Canada’s national team.
This player analysis will examine De Fougerolles’ technical and tactical attributes, areas for further development, and how his skill set fits into Dender’s system.
Luc De Fougerolles Stats
In his first real senior international tournament, the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, he looked remarkably comfortable stepping into the Canadian backline for three matches after briefly featuring at the Copa.
Operating as a right-sided centre-back in all games alongside Joel Waterman and Derek Cornelius, he displayed composure beyond his years, excelling in defensive duels with an outstanding 94.6% success rate (35/37) across the competition.
His timing in challenges was a key strength, highlighted by a dominant duel win record (68%) against Honduras.
He demonstrated reliability and calm distribution on the ball, maintaining a passing accuracy of ~96% over the tournament, including several accurate long passes that broke pressure.
Defensively, his reading of the game was evident.
He averaged four interceptions per match and provided a steady aerial presence, winning the majority of his headers.
For his first real competition, his blend of defensive assurance and ball security suggested he can handle the demands of high-intensity international football.
Luc De Fougerolles Style Of Play
Luc de Fougerolles combines tactical versatility with a strong defensive skill set for his young age.
He developed as a right-back but adapts seamlessly to central defensive roles through his positional discipline and awareness.
His athletic build and long legs give him exceptional reach, helping him cover ground quickly, intercept passes, and win duels in both tight and wide areas.
Tenacious in his approach, he commits fully to challenges and consistently disrupts opposition play with well-timed tackles.
Reliable in one-on-one situations, he uses his length and composure to guide attackers away from dangerous zones while still maintaining the teams shape.
Even when operating outside his primary role, his spatial awareness and anticipation allow him to track runners, close gaps, and contribute to a compact, well-organised backline.
Luc De Fougerolles Marking
De Fougerolles marks with focus and discipline, always keeping track of his man and adjusting his position to stay close.
His long stride and reach help him stick tight without diving in, making it hard for opponents to turn or create space.
He’s skilled at steering attackers into less hazardous areas and uses his body effectively to maintain control.
While there’s still room to sharpen his awareness when dealing with off-the-ball movement, he’s generally reliable in staying touch-tight and disrupting his opponent’s rhythm.

Luc De Fougerolles Tackling
Luc de Fougerolles brings a no-nonsense edge to his tackling, the kind you’d expect from an old-school centre-back.
He relishes physical battles and doesn’t shy away from getting stuck in, but there’s thought behind his aggression.
He




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