Mike Fondop-Talom has set his sights on fighting for promotion with Wrexham after being unveiled as Sam Ricketts’ second signing of the summer.
The 24-year-old striker signed a two-year deal on Monday after leaving National League rivals FC Halifax Town.
Fondop-Talom is Wrexham’s second summer recruit as he follows former Torquay United midfielder Luke Young in joining the club.
Ricketts stated on Monday he was still looking to bring in more players, but felt the capture of Fondop-Talom represented a major coup for the club.
And Fondop-Talom revealed he had turned down a number of Football League clubs to join the Dragons, and was focusing on helping the Racecourse side fight towards the top of the table.
“(I am) delighted to be here,” said Fondop-Talom.
“There was interest from (a few) Football League clubs, and some others in this division as well. I said to my agent what I wanted to do, I wanted to play in the League, but after really talking to Sam Ricketts, him letting me know about the ambitions of the club and them going for promotion, I thought to myself this is a good opportunity because next season I am hoping to play for Wrexham in the Football League.”
Fondop-Talom is a relative newcomer to professional football despite being 24.
The Cameroon-born striker left the capital Yaounde five years ago to study Actuarial Science at the University of Essex in Colchester, where he gained a first class degree.
After gaining his qualification Fondop-Talom turned his attention to making a career as a footballer, having enjoyed stints at Whitehawk, Stanway Rovers, Billericay and Oxford City before joining National League side Guiseley at the start of last season.
Fondop-Talom made 22 appearances for Guiseley, scoring three times - in games against Macclesfield, Woking and Dagenham & Redbridge, while he also featured against the Dragons as a substitute at Nethermoor Park in February.
Later that month Fondop-Talom joined FC Halifax Town on loan and scored four times including memorable winners against promotion chasing Boreham Wood and Sutton United which helped the Shaymen avoid the drop.
And Fondop-Talom, who will take the number nine shirt at the Racecourse, is hoping to hit the ground running for the Dragons, adding: “I played 11 games (for Halifax) and scored four goals and they were important goals as well.
“I scored against Boreham Wood and Sutton, it was good to be fair, it helped them to finish the season on a high and to climb away from relegation.
“This year is new, a different ambition, because I want for once to be in a team that is going for promotion. I know I have got a big responsibility with the number I am carrying, but you have to have a thick skin to play football.
“But I am looking forward to it.”
