Thomas Cairney

Thomas Cairney is a central midfielder for Fulham, born in Nottingham on 20 January 1991 and representing Scotland internationally. He began at Nottingham Forest before joining Leeds United’s academy at seven, where he developed for nine years. Released by Leeds at 16, Cairney moved to Hull City in 2007 and scored on his senior debut against Southend United in 2009. He made his Premier League debut with Hull before joining Blackburn Rovers, initially on loan, in 2013; his performances there earned the club’s 2014 Player of the Year award. Fulham signed Cairney in 2015, and he became a central figure during the club’s promotion campaigns. As captain, he scored the decisive goal against Aston Villa in the 2018 Championship play-off final. At Fulham, Cairney has combined central midfield play with spells on the right and as an advanced playmaker.