FULHAM SIGN MIDFIELDER EMILE SMITH ROWE FOR CLUB-RECORD £34 MILLION FROM ARSENAL
Fulham Football Club have completed a club-record signing of midfielder Emile Smith Rowe from last season’s Premier League runners up, Arsenal, the team announced on Friday.
Per European journalist Fabrizio Romano, the transfer is worth a total £34 million. Fulham will pay £27 million in fixed fees and the remaining £7 million in total add-ons, which are considered incredibly realistic. Arsenal also included an undisclosed sell-on clause in the deal, estimated to be more than 10%. The club will thus get a percentage of the transfer value if Fulham decide to move on from Smith Rowe in the future.
“I’m finally here, I’m really happy for me and my family – it’s a good moment,” said the 24-year-old. “I’m really excited, I just wanted to get here as quickly as possible so I could get going with my teammates. Listening to the project, speaking to the manager, and seeing what players we have here already, I think it’s an exciting project for me. Definitely the perfect step for my career going forward.”
The England international signed with Fulham on a five-year deal that will keep him at Craven Cottage until the summer of 2029. The West London club also has an option to extend the deal by a further 12 months.
Fulham’s Vice Chairman and Director of Football Tony Khan, who negotiated the transfer, said regarding the signing: “Thrilled to announce the arrival of Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham Football Club! We’re very excited to sign such a talented young player, and we look forward to Emile joining the squad in Portugal as we continue to prepare for the new season ahead. Come on, Fulham!”
Smith Rowe was present at Fulham’s game against Benfica on Friday August 2nd and watched as his new side earned a 1-0 victory to claim the Algarve trophy. The Cottagers are still currently in Algarve, Portugal and play Europa League champions Sevilla in their next preseason game before taking on German side Hoffenheim on August 10th.
An Arsenal academy graduate, Emile Smith Rowe was a versatile attacker for the Gunners after his breakout season under boss Mikel Arteta in the 2020/21 campaign, playing mostly off the left wing and in the number 10 position. Smith Rowe spent a total of 14 years at the North London club and made 80 Premier League appearances, scoring 12 times and providing nine assists.
Having been hampered by injury last season, the Croydon-born midfielder only managed 13 Premier League appearances for Arsenal, 10 of which were as a substitute.
Arteta described Smith Rowe’s departure from the club: “I’m sad that Emile is leaving us, but excited for him to take this new opportunity at this stage of his career. Emile is loved by everyone at Arsenal and leaves us with our gratitude, absolute respect and best wishes.”
With his future now set at Fulham, Smith Rowe will carry on his promising career at another London club as Fulham aim to avoid yet another relegation battle this year and retain their position as a Premier League team next season. The club has also signed former Tottenham Hotspur left back Ryan Sessesgnon who returned to the club as a free agent following the expiration of his contract with the Spurs.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
Photo: EL Loko. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.