This summer marked a changing of the guard at Craven Cottage. And not just because their recruitment of former Arsenal academy graduates added a touch of ‘Hale End on Thames’ to the west London club.
There were some notable departures. Willian, Tim Ream, Joao Palhinha, Tosin Adarabioyo and Bobby De Cordova-Reid all left for pastures new and these were not fringe players. These were influential figures in the club’s success over the past two seasons. “Big names and big characters in our dressing room too,” as Marco Silva pointed out.
But Fulham needed to begin the process of reducing the average age of their squad. Last season, no Premier League side had an older average XI. But when moving on important players, it is essential to respond. In the end, Fulham did. They spent big, breaking the club record signing for Emile Smith Rowe and going close to the previous record with the signings of Sander Berge and Joachim Andersen. This was a an ambitious response to the challenge.
Joao Palhinha and Tim Ream have both moved on (Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Crucially, the west London club managed to avoid the uncertainty that plagued last summer. Interest in Palhinha, Marco Silva and Aleksandar Mitrovic hung over the club and it made for a disruptive pre-season. This summer was a contrast. Not that there was no interest, but key situations were resolved early, like that of Palhinha, which allowed for pre-season to proceed with an air of calm. It led to a positive feel in camp in Portugal. “It was a really fresh pre-season, something really good in terms of the environment, not a lot of noise around us, and it was good for us to work in that way,” said Silva.
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Deadline day was not quite as calm, but it never is at Fulham. They entered the final day of the window with their key business done; a defensive midfielder and right centre-back were top of the list, alongside a No 10. On Friday they were hoping to add one more winger to their squad and they achieved that, by signing Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson on a season-long loan. They did, however, lose 21-year-old prospect Jay Stansfield.
Jay Stansfield played against Birmingham in midweek – by Friday night he was their player (Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)
Stansfield’s departure was unexpected in more ways that one. A popular figure at Craven Cottage since his academy move from Exeter in 2019, his progress has been closely followed by supporters and there was anticipation about Stansfield playing more of a role with the first team this season at Fulham. Coach Marco Silva had spoken positively about the involvement of a player who, to date, had only made 10 appearances for the club. However, it was also clear that Birmingham City, after a successful loan spell last season, would be determined to keep hold of him.
Very determined.
Fulham turned down an offer worth £10million ($13.1m) for Stansfield. But Birmingham would not be perturbed and agreed to a deal that obliterated the record for a League One player, previously held by Will Grigg after his £3.4million to Sunderland in 2019.
According to two separate sources close to the deal, Birmingham City will pay a guaranteed £15million with a further £5m due in potential add-ons. Those parties also suggest Fulham retain a 20 per cent sell-on clause as part of the agreement and will earn a further £100,000 if Birmingham are promoted this season. Birmingham, who did not provide alternative figures, contest that those numbers are incorrect.
There was understandable disappointment at Stansfield’s exit and it does leave Fulham with two, instead of a preferred three strikers. But the fee is undoubtedly incredible value for the England Under-21 international.
Fulham’s pursuit of a winger was not without intrigue, either. They attempted to buy Ernest Nuamah from Lyon, a target they adopted after their pursuit of team-mate Rayan Cherki came to a close. A fee in the region of an initial £15million, with add-ons, was expected but the deal collapsed late on Deadline Day. Fulham then swooped for Reiss Nelson, stealing him away from Ipswich the night before the two sides met in the Premier League on Saturday.
Fulham can now field both Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe (David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
The move for Nelson completed the squad — and saw him link up with former Arsenal academy players Emile Smith Rowe and Alex Iwobi — but while Silva said last week that he prefers to work with a small squad, it remains on the thin side, with just 22 senior players.
There is a sense, though, that Fulham have responded to the challenge of replacing their departures. There was an emotional connection to the return of Ryan Sessegnon, a player who had a difficult five-year spell at Tottenham amid injury issues but there is a belief at Fulham that they can get him back to his best. “I don’t want Ryan with that in his mind,” added Silva. “I want Ryan to enjoy his football again.” He was signed as a left back to provide competition for Antonee Robinson.
Smith Rowe was the marquee signing, a club-record fee for a player with England ambitions and the potential, with regular game time, to become a Craven Cottage favourite. Centre-back Jorge Cuenca looks a cost-effective pick-up from Villarreal, a ball-playing defender in the mould of the much-loved Ream. “I think he’s going to be a big, big surprise for everyone that doesn’t know him,” said Silva.
Andersen, who was preferred to Aston Villa’s Diego Carlos, was a surprise arrival from Crystal Palace. The Denmark international was attracted by a longer contract than he was offered at his former club, but also by the chance to return to Fulham after a successful loan in 2020-21. A ball-playing defender, he was a key part of the set-up at Palace and because of that, his arrival felt like a coup. “I’m delighted to have him with us,” said Silva. “I know he had a a very good impact in our club, on and off the pitch. I wasn’t here, but you hear how he was one of the key players on the pitch, performance wise, in a tough season, and had the capacity to put the armband on. That speaks about him as a leader.”
Berge signed from Burnley and becomes the new No 6, ostensibly a replacement for Palhinha but not described as such. He mirrors the physical profile of the now-Bayern player, offering a presence in the centre of midfield and a combativeness that Fulham will need to replace. He was preferred to Scott McTominay, who later joined Napoli, and Andre, who joined Wolves. Berge had Manchester United among the clubs interested in him, and had been on the Fulham watchlist for 18 months.
Sander Berge has been signed to fill the Joao Palhinha-shaped hole in midfield (Morgan Harlow/Getty Images)
Silva said last week that he would reserve judgment until the the end of the campaign on whether the squad was in a stronger position than last season. How the team perform, and adapt, will be the best judge but there is no denying the encouraging nature of this window from Fulham. In terms of financial outlay, they have recouped record sums again and spent without breaking the bank. Thanks to Birmingham’s insistence, they had a comparatively small net spend.
“It’s a new squad,” cautioned Silva. “But when I mention those we lost, we have to be calm and confident that our market has been good. We planned really well, with Alistair (Mackintosh) and Tony (Khan), to get the players as soon as we can. We are pleased, there’s a good mix. Our back line is in a fantastic shape, it will be a very good fight.”
Fulham’s signings: £94.3m (including add-ons)
Ryan Sessegnon, Free transfer — Tottenham
Emile Smith Rowe, £27m + £7m in add-ons — Arsenal
Jorge Cuenca, £5.3m (€6.3m) — Villarreal
Sander Berge, £20m +£5m in add-ons — Burnley
Joachim Andersen, £30m — Crystal Palace
Reiss Nelson, loan — Arsenal
Fulham’s outgoings: £67.4m (including add-ons)
Willian, free
Tosin Adarabioyo, free — Chelsea
Marek Rodak, free —Al-Ettifaq
Bobby De Cordova-Reid, free — Leicester City
Joao Palhinha, £43.1m (€51m) + £4.2m (€5m) in add-ons — Bayern Munich
Tim Ream, free — Charlotte FC
Jay Stansfield, £15m+ £5.1m in add-ons — Birmingham City
Kevin Mbabu, free — Midtjylland
(Top photos: Getty Images)
