Fulham secure Shea Charles in £30m deal under Arbeloa
The 22-year-old joins Craven Cottage on a five-year contract, marking the third acquisition for new manager Alvaro Arbeloa as he rebuilds the squad following Marco Silva’s departure.
Fulham have agreed a transfer fee of up to £30m for Southampton midfielder Shea Charles, subject to the player passing a medical examination. The 22-year-old is set to sign a five-year contract at Craven Cottage, a move that establishes him as the most expensive Northern Irish footballer in history.
Charles, who began his career at Manchester City, had also attracted interest from Leeds United but chose to relocate to west London. His arrival is intended to fill the void left by Sasa Lukic, who departed for Ipswich Town last week.
The signing represents the third player acquisition under new manager Alvaro Arbeloa. Arbeloa, who previously led Real Madrid on an interim basis during the second half of the previous season, succeeded Marco Silva after the Portuguese manager left to take charge of Benfica.
Prior to securing Charles, Arbeloa’s recruitment drive included the signings of striker Gonzalo Garcia and midfielder Cesar Palacios, both of whom arrived from Real Madrid. The new manager’s early policy appears focused on integrating players with experience from the Spanish capital.
Fulham’s pre-season preparations are concluding with a fixture against German club Stuttgart on Saturday, 15 August. The club will then travel to Stamford Bridge to face rivals Chelsea on Monday, 24 August, in their Premier League opener.
