Karl Mike Fondop Talom (born 27 November 1993) is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a forward for club Oldham Athletic.
Early and personal life Fondop moved from Cameroon to England in 2013, to study for a degree in actuarial sciences at the University of Essex, graduating with a first-class degree in 2017.
Career Fondop began his career with Eastern Counties League side Stanway Rovers, having played on trial at Whitehawk in July 2014. The following season, he went on trial with the under-21 team at Billericay Town before being given a chance in the first team, where he scored eight goals in his first six games. Fondop left Billericay in May 2016 having agreed on a deal to join Margate, for which he was criticised by manager Craig Edwards as he left the club the day before a cup final. The move fell through after Margate declined to pay compensation to Billericay. Fondop joined Oxford City for the 2016–17 season. After a trial with Cheltenham Town the following summer, he joined Guiseley for the 2017–18 season. He joined FC Halifax Town on loan in February 2018, and scored four goals in twelve games to help the Shaymen avoid relegation. In July 2018, he joined Wrexham on a two-year deal. Fondop was labelled a "cult hero" after five goals in his first nine games, but he did not add to that tally in the league and was allowed to join Maidenhead United on loan in February 2019. In August, he left the Welsh club by mutual consent and signed for Chesterfield. Fondop finished the curtailed 2019–20 season as the Spireites' top scorer with eleven goals in all competitions, but left the club at the end of the season to "keep his options open" according to manager John Pemberton, before joining Aldershot Town in November 2020 on a short-term deal.
After this deal expired, he signed for Burton Albion in February 2021 on a contract until the end of the season. He made his English Football League debut on 20 February as a substitute in a 0–3 defeat at home to Sunderland. In his second Burton appearance and his first start, he scored his first goal for them in a 2-1 win at Charlton Athletic on 23 February 2021. On 12 May 2021 it was announced that he would be one of 12 players leaving Burton at the end of the season.
Fondop signed for Hartlepool United on 16 September 2021. He left at the end of his contract on 17 January 2022, and signed for Oldham Athletic on 31 January.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsStanway Rovers2014–15 Select season via dropdown menu.ECFL Premier Division291000–323212Billericay Town2015–16Isthmian League Premier Division241000–002410Oxford City2016–17National League South23722–2One appearance in FA Trophy, one appearances in Oxfordshire Senior Cup0279Guiseley2017–18National League19342–1Appearances in the FA Trophy0245FC Halifax Town (loan)2017–18National League12400–00124Wrexham2018–19National League21540–11266Maidenhead United (loan)2018–19National League11100–00111Chesterfield2019–20National League291011–103111Aldershot Town2020–21National League4000–1151Burton Albion2020–21League One172000000172Hartlepool United2021–22League Two80200030130Oldham Athletic2021–22League Two22000000222022–23National League351132–2040132023–24National League31910–1133102024–25National League451732–3151202025–26League Two4182010204682026–27League Two81001010101Total1624894209218254Career total35910022920216404115
Honours Oldham Athletic National League play-offs: 2025
Individual Oldham Athletic Supporters' Player of the Year: 2024–25 Oldham Athletic Players' Player of the Year: 2024–25
References