Fulham land Shea Charles from Southampton for record £30m
Developing story first seen 4 hours ago
Fulham have agreed a fee of up to £30m with Southampton for midfielder Shea Charles, subject to a medical, in a deal that will make the 22-year-old the most expensive Northern Irish footballer in history. He is set to sign a five-year contract at Craven Cottage, having chosen Fulham over interest from Leeds United, and will replace Sasa Lukic, who left for Ipswich Town last week.
Charles began his career at Manchester City before moving to Southampton, and becomes the third signing of new Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa's reign, following striker Gonzalo Garcia and midfielder Cesar Palacios, both formerly of Real Madrid, where Arbeloa had an interim spell in charge. Arbeloa replaced Marco Silva, who left to take over at Benfica. Fulham begin their season with a friendly against Stuttgart on 15 August before opening their Premier League campaign away at Chelsea on 24 August.
- Fulham agree up to £30m deal for Shea Charles from Southampton
- He'd become Northern Ireland's most expensive footballer ever
- Third Arbeloa signing; Fulham open season at Chelsea on 24 August
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Fulham are set to sign Northern Ireland midfielder Shea Charles from Southampton for a fee of up to £30m, a deal that would make him the most expensive Northern Irish player in football history. The 22-year-old started out at Manchester City before moving to Southampton, and at Fulham he will take over the role vacated by Sasa Lukic, who recently left for Ipswich Town.
The transfer is one of several changes at Craven Cottage this summer following the appointment of new head coach Alvaro Arbeloa, who replaced Marco Silva after Silva departed for Benfica. Arbeloa, who previously had a spell in interim charge at Real Madrid, has already brought in two players with Real Madrid connections, striker Gonzalo Garcia and midfielder Cesar Palacios, making Charles his third notable signing.
The move matters because it signals the scale of investment and squad rebuilding under Fulham's new management as they prepare for the season ahead, which starts with a friendly against Stuttgart before a Premier League opener away to Chelsea.
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Originally published by BBC Sport as “Fulham agree £30m fee for NI midfielder Charles”.