Friends of Fulham

AEW vs WWE is coming to the Premier League: how wrestling has found its way into English football, thanks to Bournemouth and Fulham
The two biggest wrestling companies in the world will go head-to-head.... via the Premier League

For a long time, the only thing the world of American professional football and Premier League football had in common was a monopoly of the Sky Sports channel schedule.

Oh and there was that weird rumour flying around that WWE owner Vince McMahon was going to buy Newcastle United.

But generally, the planet's biggest sport and the biggest sports-entertainment company were worlds apart.

Now that is no longer the case. In recent times - in part thanks to the rise in popularity of the Premier League on the other side of the Atlantic - the two have regularly crossed paths.

Wayne Rooney went to a WWE televised event, sat at ringside and slapped a superstar. For context, this was around a full six years before the former Manchester United forward retired from playing.

Then in 2020, Arsenal started regularly playing WWE entrance themes as part of the Emirates Stadium matchday setlist.

Just earlier this year when Ivan Toney returned from his eight-month FA ban, Brentford heralded his return with the Undertaker's iconic gong and theme song at the Gtech Stadium.

And now the crossover looks set to go to the next level, with two rival wrestling promotions facing off – not in the squared circle – but via the Premier League pitch.

Forget, Undertaker vs Triple H, The Rock vs Stone Cold Steve Austin or Roman Reigns vs John Cena, it's time for the biggest main event of all-time, er... Fulham vs Bournemouth.

Why are Fulham and Bournemouth both connected to the wrestling world?
Fulham's connection to professional wrestling is longstanding and comes via owner Shahid Khan.

Khan's son Tony has ran the Cottagers as vice-chairman for much of the previous decade, but is also the founder and co-owner of All Elite Wrestling (AEW), which launched at the start of 2019 and is the primary mainstream competitor to the industry-leading WWE.

A lifelong pro wrestling fan, Khan even appears on screen as part of the drama from time to time and the AEW has held major live events at Wembley Stadium.

Earlier this month Fulham announced that AEW would be the new shirt sponsor for the women's teams' shirts during the 2024/25 season.

AEW and WWE have a huge rivalry in the wrestling world, with mentions of their direct competitor during their own programming, about as rare as Sky Sports referencing TNT.

Until recently WWE didn't have a horse to back in the Premier League field but that has changed thanks to a new partnership.

AFC Bournemouth have announced what they call "an exciting new partnership with the globally renowned WWE 2K video game series."

This will see content related to the Cherries released through the video game "in the coming weeks."

So until wrestling fans get a genuine crossover showdown event between WWE and AEW, they'll just have to settle for tuning into Fulham taking on Bournemouth at Craven Cottage on December 29.

There will be plenty of midfield flair, not so much Ric Flair.



https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/aew-vs-wwe-is-coming-to-the-premier-league-how-wrestling-has-found-its-way-into-english-football-thanks-to-bournemouth-and-fulham

Fulham knocking on door to sign 'destabilising player' – Can disrupt the opposition
Fulham have become the latest club to be credited with an interest in Girona star Viktor Tsygankov.

The winger impressed for the La Liga side last season and managed eight goals and seven assists from 30 league matches. His displays haven't gone unnoticed in England.

Friday's edition of AS says Fulham are one of the clubs in the picture to sign the 26-year-old.

The Ukraine international was forced to miss the first game of this season against Real Betis. He's now in contention to face Atlético Madrid later this weekend. The newspaper says Tsygankov, Pau López and Bojan Miovski are ready to face Diego Simeone's side.

It's claimed the Ukrainian was a 'destabilising player' for the opposition last season. Therefore, his return is excellent news for Girona and their manager, Míchel.

The report then states 'it's true' that Premier League sides including Fulham are knocking on Tsygankov's door.

Marco Silva's side are the only club to be mentioned in the report. As it stands, the attacker doesn't seem to be interested in joining Fulham and remains focused on the upcoming clash against Atlético.

The same outlet reported in July that Tsygankov has a €30m release clause. If Fulham can convince him, they can secure his services by triggering the clause.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-knocking-on-door-to-sign-destabilising-player-fan-disrupt-the-opposition/

'He made the fans and team click': Mikel Arteta expresses Emile Smith Rowe regret after Arsenal exit
The academy graduate was a key player during Mikel Arteta's early days as manager

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed his regret at not getting the best out of Emile Smith Rowe.

The midfielder, who came through Arsenal's academy, left the club this summer to join Fulham as part of a deal that could eventually be worth £34million.

Smith Rowe burst onto the scene during the 2020-21 season, but he slipped down the pecking order at Emirates Stadium and played fewer than 400 minutes in the Premier League last season.

The 24-year-old is one of several academy players who could leave Arsenal this summer, including Eddie Nketiah, and Arteta admitted it is sad to see them go.

"When I had the talk with Emile, I really felt it," he said. "First of all, because I have huge gratitude because he came into the team at a tough moment.

"I think he was the player that made our supporters and the team click, in a way. I don't know how to explain it but that was my feeling. Something changed when he came in the team. He created a different energy straight away.

"And I have a feeling like 'argh', that I have not got the best out of him. Obviously a lot of things happened in that time.

"From my side it was really sad, because I know how those boys feel when they are in that building, how hard everyone works to get them close to the first team, so I feel a huge responsibility to give them the chance. And now, can they sustain this level and make us better? That is the idea."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arteta-smith-rowe-arsenal-fc-regret-b1178109.html

Paul Merson gives Fulham v Leicester City score prediction with 'embarrassing' claim
Paul Merson predicts a tough test for Leicester City when they face Fulham this weekend.

Steve Cooper will be looking to pick up his first three points as Leicester City manager on Saturday.

The Foxes were expected to be in a relegation fight following their promotion to the Premier League this season.

While that could still prove to be the case, the Midlands outfit got their 2024/25 campaign off to an excellent start.

Leicester drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur on Monday evening at the King Power Stadium, with Jamie Vardy's effort canceling out Pedro Porro's opener.

New signing Facundo Buonanotte earned praise from Leicester fans for his display and he will be expected to continue that form into the weekend.

The Foxes travel to Craven Cottage for a 3pm BST kick-off against Marco Silva's Fulham on August 24th.

Paul Merson predicts humbling Leicester City defeat to Fulham
Despite securing a point earlier this week, many continue to right off the Foxes and their chances of staying in the Premier League.

Paul Merson is no different and the former Middlesbrough and Arsenal midfielder has had some choice words for Cooper and his men.

Merson previewed every fixture for the upcoming Premier League gameweek with Sportskeeda and was quick to label Leicester's first-half display against Spurs as 'embarrassing'.

He went on to state that he is backing to pick up a 2-0 win when the two sides meet on Saturday.

Merson wrote: "I thought Fulham were quite decent the other day against Manchester United and I'm backing them to beat Leicester.

"I'm not entirely buying into Leicester despite that draw against Tottenham because their first half display was embarrassing.

"Credit to Jamie Vardy though. If I'm being honest, I saw the first half and I was like, 'you need to retire mate'. But he proved me wrong with the goal and could have scored another one in that match. It's amazing what he does at this age.

"Despite all of that, I don't see Leicester troubling Fulham too much in this clash. I'm backing Marco Silva's men to secure a comfortable win on home turf.

"Prediction: Fulham 2-0 Leicester City"

Fulham may now underestimate Leicester City
While Fulham are being tipped to pick up a win this weekend, Silva's side actually had a worse start to the season than Leicester.

The Londoners faced off with Manchester United on the opening day and fell to a 1-0 defeat.

On paper, Spurs are expected to finish above the Red Devils this season so Leicester earning a point against them should give Cooper and co. a confidence boost.

Fulham ended 2023/24 sat 13th in the Premier League and while they have made a few decent signings, they are not expected to prove anywhere close to the threat Tottenham did on Monday.



https://www.leicestercity.news/news/paul-merson-gives-fulham-v-leicester-city-score-prediction-with-embarrassing-claim/

Fulham and Crystal Palace boost as £12m misfit told he must leave by manager
Whether Fulham manage to secure the services of one of European football's most promising but most mercurial of talents remains to be seen.

HITC reported in midweek that Marco Silva's side had entered discussions, while making a verbal offer of £12 million.

But while Fulham are obviously keen on Rayan Cherki, how keen Rayan Cherki is on Fulham remains a little less certain? Reports emerging from France in the aftermath of those Cottagers talks seem to suggest that Cherki has his reservations.

As such, a transfer saga which has rumbled on throughout the summer might still be subject to a few twists and turns.

Cherki was expected to swap Lyon for Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the window, only for that deal to break down. Borussia Dortmund then moved in but negotiations ended in similar circumstances.

With his contract expiring in 2025 and with Cherki clearly not a key part of head coach Pierre Sage's plans, expect Lyon to turbo-charge their attempts to get the France Under 21 international out the door in the final few days of August.

Fulham and Crystal Palace eye Lyon's Rayan Cherki
Speaking to BeIN Sports ahead of Monaco's visit to the Groupama Stadium on Saturday, Sage indicated that Cherki may be forced to train with the Lyon reserves if he stays put, in what may be viewed as a less-than-subtle attempt to push the academy graduate out of the back door.

"Concerning Rayan Cherki, there has always been a departure in the background, with all the communication that there was around him," says Sage, who remarkably took Lyon into Europe last season after arriving at a club fearing relegation.

"We were waiting for him (to go to) Paris. Then, we talked about it with Dortmund. Then, many other clubs.

"So it's true that, for us, we are preparing more for him to leave. Given that there is no short-term projection for him in the squad, there may be no point in him training with us."

HITC understands that Crystal Palace are also in the mix alongside their London neighbours and the Joachim Andersen-bound Fulham.

The Eagles have not gone quite as far as Marco Silva's side have in pursuit of the gifted but erratic 21-year-old. Though, with American businessman John Textor a co-owner of both clubs, discussions with Palace could prove to be rather more straightforward than with Fulham.

"We will see what happens on August 31," Sage adds. "Because, if at that time he is still an Olympique Lyonnais player, the problem will be a little different. But I am not sure that this (will be) the case."

Lyon want to sell thd former PSG target
Cherki, Ligue 1 expert Jonathan Johnson tells Caught Offside, is perhaps Lyon's most gifted academy graduate since the legendary Karim Benzema. The French football fanatic also sees similarities with a young, Lille-era Eden Hazard.

But, while Cherki's ability has never been in doubt, the concern for many is that he maybe lacks the mentality to follow in Benzema's footsteps.

Rather more unflattering comparisons with Hatem Ben Arfa – a classic case of wasted potential if there ever was on – sum up the feelings towards Cherki across the Channel.

"Regarding Rayan, we spoke with him at the beginning of the summer. We are still in discussions to find a solution," Lyon director David Friio recently told Le Progres, via Made in Foot.

"He will certainly leave, yes."



https://www.hitc.com/fulham-and-crystal-palace-boost-as-12m-misfit-told-he-must-leave-by-manager/

Man City were considering 'surprise' move to sign £25m player who has just joined Fulham
Manchester City are no strangers when it comes to signing players from fellow English clubs.

For instance, City have landed deals to sign the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes and Jack Grealish among others from a wide range of top-flight clubs in recent years.

While that hasn't been the case so far in this current summer transfer window, some details have come to light about a top-flight player the Citizens apparently considered making a move for prior to his recent transfer to another Premier League club.

Journalist says Man City considered Sander Berge move prior to Fulham transfer switch
After Sander Berge completed a £25m move from Burnley to Fulham earlier this week (via BBC Sport), journalist Duncan Castles had this to say about the other possible moves he could have made in a recent episode of The Transfers Podcast.

He said: "We broke on this podcast that Sander Berge was an alternative in that position.

"I've been told that [Erik] Ten Hag was quite happy for him to come. But Berge has now gone to Fulham for an initial fee of £20m plus £5m of bonuses that completed last night.

"Interestingly, Berge was also, I'm told, a consideration as a backup to Rodri at Manchester City, which might surprise some people, but the feeling was his style of play would fit a team like Manchester City.

"He had some very significant advocates, shall we say, in Erling Haaland, his Norway teammate, and Vincent Kompany, his previous coach, who were both recommending him to Pep Guardiola.

"City, of course, have now taken Ilkay Gundogan on back from Barcelona without a fee, which is quite a transaction on their part."

Berge could have been a useful squad player for City
After spending three-and-a-half years at Sheffield United, Berge joined Burnley back in the previous summer transfer window.

Last season saw the midfielder start 34 of the 37 Premier League games he appeared in for the Clarets.

Having played more minutes than any other Burnley player last season, the 26-year-old ended the campaign with more progressive passes (164) and the highest combined total of tackles and interceptions in the squad.

With that in mind and the top-flight experience he has, Berge could have been a useful squad player and a possibly suitable backup option for Rodri, which is an area Danny Murphy recently said City need to strengthen.



https://www.manchestercity.news/man-city-were-considering-surprise-move-to-sign-25m-player-who-has-just-joined-fulham/

Fulham vs Leicester City: Preview and Prediction
Fulham and Leicester City will be eager to get their first win of the 2024/25 Premier League season when they clash at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

The 2024/25 Premier League season moves into its second weekend, with Gameweek 2 kicking off with the game between Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United at the Amex Stadium. The action then continues with five simultaneous fixtures, including Fulham vs Leicester City.

Fulham would have hoped for a better start to the 2024/25 season after an impressive pre-season campaign. While the Cottagers gave a good account of themselves, they did not have the quality to get past Andre Onana and condemn Manchester United to a second successive defeat at Old Trafford. Marco Silva will now be eager to get off the mark this weekend.

As for Leicester City, they should have ideally finished on the wrong end of the result earlier this week against Tottenham Hotspur. However, a dogged defensive display and a wasteful showing by the North London club provided the Foxes the opportunity to take something from the game. And Jamie Vardy rose to the occasion to earn them a point on their return to the Premier League.

Fulham and Leicester City produced a riveting affair the last time they clashed in a Premier League game at Craven Cottage, with the West London club clinching a 5-3 win. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics
Fulham
Marco Silva does not have any new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side's latest fixture. Against Leicester City on Saturday, the Fulham manager will have a full-strength squad.

Meanwhile, the hosts have a new squad member heading into this weekend's match, with Sander Berge arriving from Burnley. Joachim Andersen will soon follow his fellow Scandinavian footballer through the door when he completes his impending move from Crystal Palace.

Bernd Leno is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Fulham lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Leicester City. The backline should feature Kenny Tete, Issa Diop, Calvin Bassey, and Antonee Robinson, with Diop and Bassey playing for their spots ahead of Andersen's return from Crystal Palace.

As for the midfield unit, Berge should make his Fulham bow, pairing up with Andreas Pereira in the middle of the park. Emile Smith Rowe will reprise the no. 10 role, with Alex Iwobi and Adama Traore being the two wide attackers. Finally, Rodrigo Muniz will spearhead the Fulham attack on Saturday.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Pereira, Berge; Traore, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Muniz


Leicester City
Unlike his counterpart in the Fulham dugout, Steve Cooper has a few issues to deal with ahead of the trip to Craven Cottage. The Leicester City manager will be without four first-team players on Saturday.

Jakub Stolarczyk (foot), Conor Coady (thigh), and Patson Daka (ankle) remain on the sidelines, with the trio unlikely to return before the international break. Luke Thomas is close to returning to action but might not be fit enough to take the field on Saturday.

Mads Hermansen should take his spot between the sticks, with Leicester City lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Fulham on Saturday. The backline should feature James Justin, Wout Faes, Jannik Vestergaard, and Victor Kristiansen.

As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Harry Winks and Wilfred Ndidi in the double pivot in the middle of the park. Facundo Buonanotte should reprise the no. 10 role, with Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and former Fulham attacker Bobby Decordova-Reid being the two wide attackers. Finally, Jamie Vardy will likely lead the line for the away side against Fulham.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Hermansen; Justin, Faes, Vestergaard, Kristiansen; Winks, Ndidi; Abdul Fatawu, Buonanotte, Decordova-Reid; Vardy


Key Stats

    Fulham won both Premier League meetings with Leicester City, the last time the sides met in 2022/23, most recently winning three consecutive league games against the Foxes between 1966 and 1967.
    Fulham have not won their first home match in their last five Premier League campaigns (D1 L4) since a 5-0 victory over Norwich City in 2012/13.
    No side in the top four tiers of English football won more away league games than Leicester City last season (14). The Foxes emerged victorious in their first seven away EFL Championship games last term, winning the same amount in their final 16 on the road (D3 L6). However, they have won just two of their most recent 15 Premier League away games against London clubs (D3 L10), conceding at least twice in every defeat.
    Steve Cooper has lost six of his seven meetings with Fulham in all competitions, although his one victory came at Craven Cottage (1-0 in April 2022). He has faced defeat in all three Premier League games against the Cottagers by an aggregate score of 10-2.
    Andreas Pereira created more chances than any other Premier League player on Gameweek 1 (6). That is the 19th time a Fulham player has created six or more chances in a Premier League match, with the Brazilian responsible for seven of those.

Player to Watch
Jamie Vardy

The term ageing like fine wine is oft used in football, as very few players stamp their authority when they are closer to their 40th birthday than the 30th. However, Jamie Vardy falls into that category, even though his fitness issues have hampered him in the last 24 months. But he proved his credentials again with a point-saving goal against Tottenham Hotspur earlier this week.

The Englishman became Leicester City's oldest Premier League goalscorer when he netted against Tottenham on Gameweek 1. The last player aged 37+ to score in consecutive Premier League appearances was Cristiano Ronaldo (4 in April/May 2022). He will aim to equal Ronaldo's record this weekend.

Prediction
Fulham 2-2 Leicester City

Fulham might have come away with nothing after the game against Manchester United last week, but they showed some promising signs. While the Cottagers can improve defensively, they have a burst of creativity, especially after Emile Smith Rowe's arrival, which has taken some of the creative burden off Andreas Pereira.

As for Leicester City, they were dogged in the defensive phases but left a lot of holes for Tottenham to exploit on Monday. Fulham should take advantage should those issues crop up again. However, with the West London outfit also showing vulnerabilities at the back, Leicester City should be in contention. In the end, there might not be much to separate the two sides, with The Hard Tackle predicting a 2-2 draw.



https://thehardtackle.com/round-up/2024/08/23/fulham-vs-leicester-city-preview-and-prediction/

Fulham vs Leicester: Premier League Preview, Gameweek 2, 2024
Craven Cottage will host the Foxes' first away day of the season and their first time on the road in the Premier League in over 450 days, as they face Fulham on Saturday.

After Monday night's draw against Tottenham, Leicester manager Steve Cooper will be looking to build on a very positive second-half display; which saw his side come from a goal down to earn a very respectable point against a Spurs side with hopes of a top-four finish.

Unlike Leicester, Fulham were on the wrong end of the result against Man United in their season opener, despite performing well and creating multiple chances throughout the game.

Even though they did lose their opening fixture, the Cottagers have many things to look forward to in the season ahead, after having a very successful transfer window bringing in many useful players and will be eagerly looking to get off the mark this weekend.

The two sides have had many interesting encounters in the past, the most recent being when they faced each other at Craven Cottage in May 2023. Leicester came out on the wrong side of a 5-3 thumping, which deflated their confidence towards the end of the season and was part of the downfall which eventually ended with Leicester's relegation from the Premier League.

Although the Foxes have a completely different squad now than they did when the sides last met, they will still be seeking revenge for the embarrassment that Fulham caused on that day and will hope for a positive result for Steve Cooper to build on.

    Team News

Considering Leicester's poor run of form towards the latter stages of pre-season and clear lack of attacking threat, the Foxes faithful would have been delighted to see Jamie Vardy back in the starting eleven linking up exquisitely with winger Abdul Fatawu.

Steve Cooper will be desperately hoping Vardy can maintain his fitness as other options up front are scarce with Patson Daka recently obtaining a serious ankle injury.

Fulham Manager Marco Silva has been working hard to fill the big hole in his squad after midfield powerhouse Joao Palhinha departed for Bayern Munich in July. In the past few days, it has been announced that Fulham have been able to complete the signing of defensive midfielder Sander Berge from Burnley, who will try and fill the void left by Palhinha.

Fulham have also signed Ryan Sessegnon on a free transfer, Joachim Andersen from Crystal Palace, and tricky attacking midfielder Emile Smith-Rowe from Arsenal.

    Likely Lineups

Fulham

Leno; Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Pereira, Berge; Traore, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Muniz
Leicester

Hermansen, Justin, Faes, Vestergaard, Kristiansen; Winks, Skipp; Fatawu, Buonanotte, Mavididi; Vardy

    Key players

Fulham - Emile Smith Rowe
After recently joining Fulham for a club-record fee of £34 million from Arsenal, Smith Rowe will be desperate to get off to a positive start playing for the Cottagers.

When he made his Premier League debut in 2019 at the age of 19, he was destined to become the next big thing at Arsenal. Despite making an immense start to his career, scoring 10 goals in the 2021/22 campaign, since then he has struggled with injuries and breaking back into the starting eleven.

So, he will be hoping that he can maintain his role in the Fulham starting eleven to be able to showcase his talent and prove he can be one of the best players in the league.

Leicester City - Facundo Buonanotte
Despite only playing his first game for the club this week, Facundo Buonanotte is well on his way to becoming a fan favourite at the King Power Stadium. 

His trickery, decision-making, technical ability and hard work off the ball, were just a few of the reasons why the Argentine stood out in Leicester's match against Tottenham on Monday night.

Unfortunately for the Foxes, the 19-year-old is only on a one-year loan deal with Leicester from Brighton; however, if he can continue his good form throughout the season, he could have a big say in Leicester's survival hopes. 

    Match details

Where is the game being played?

The match is being played at Craven Cottage - home of Fulham since 1896.

What time is kick-off?

The match kicks off at 15:00 BST on Saturday 24th August 2024.

How can I watch?

The match is not on live TV within the UK, however, Match of the Day will show highlights at 22:20 BST, on the BBC.



https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2024/08/22/premier-league/1193537-fulham-vs-leicester-premier-league-preview-gameweek-2-2024.html

Before The Whistle: Fulham v Leicester City

Back to the Cottage!

It's the Foxes up first at home for 2024/25, and the Whites will be buoyed by the signing of midfielder Sander Berge this week. The arrival of the Norwegian puts paid to any chase for Manchester United's Scott McTominay, but not necessarily for the enigmatic Brazilian Andre (does he even exist or are we all imagining him?)

You'd expect Berge to be in the squad tomorrow, having appeared for Burnley during preseason. One man who won't be in the squad is Joachim Andersen. Despite both Marco Silva and Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner admitting the deal is all but done, any contract had to be signed before midday on Friday for the Danish centre-back to appear tomorrow. We continue to wait on that front and it'll be Issa Diop and Calvin Bassey tasked with muzzling the evergreen Jamie Vardy.

Much was made about the complexion of our midfield against Manchester United last week. Emile Smith Rowe, while capable, pulled up no trees, while Andreas Pereira's stats continued to look good from a deeper position, despite that not necessarily translating to the eye test (probably due to his game-defining mistake). Despite all this, expect it to remain the same on Saturday.

Kenny Tete's shift at Old Trafford surely means he retains the right-back spot, and ahead of him Adama Traore must remain on the wing. That side looks the most likely to cause problems against Leciester's left flank pairing of Victor Kristiansen and our old friend, Bobby De Cordova-Reid.

Saturday represents a huge opportunity to get our first points of the season on the board. I've no reason to believe we won't. Let's 'ave it! You Whites.

ℹ️ MATCH DETAILS

Kick-Off: Saturday, 3.00PM
Stadium: Craven Cottage
Competition: Premier League
TV Channel (UK): None

⚖️ MATCH PROBABILITY

Fulham: 51.5%
Draw: 24.4%
Leicester: 24.1%

🥊 MOST RECENT MATCHES

May 23: Fulham 5-3 Leicester
Jan 23: Leicester 0-1 Fulham
Feb 21: Fulham 0-2 Leicester
Mar 23: Leicester 1-2 Fulham



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2024-08-23-before-the-whistle-fulham-v-leicester-city-2/

Silva: Fulham will definitely sign forward
Marco Silva insists Fulham will definitely sign a forward before the transfer window closes.

Whites boss Silva is particularly keen to bring in attacking reinforcements following departures of Willian and Bobby De Cordova-Reid.

"We are going to sign a forward player, for sure," Silva said.

"You all know that we have lost two wingers and we haven't signed any players for that position. We are going to sign a forward player."

Silva was speaking as Fulham were finalising the signing of defender Joachim Andersen from Crystal Palace.

The Danish centre-back, 28, spent the 2020-21 campaign on loan at Fulham from Lyon.

He was a standout performer during his time at the club but relegation from the Premier League scuppered any chance of signing him on a permanent deal.

He joined Palace that summer and has made 111 appearances for the Eagles.

Fulham recently signed centre-back Jorge Cuenca from Villarreal but have been looking to further strengthen in that position following the departures of Tosin Adarabioyo and Tim Ream.

"I think he's a great signing and a player who is loved by this club," said Silva.

"I am 100% sure he is going to bring something important for us. He is going to be a good tool for us this season and in the seasons ahead."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/silva-fulham-will-definitely-sign-forward

Fulham sign Joachim Andersen from Crystal Palace
Danish defender returns to Craven Cottage after loan spell earlier in career

Fulham have announced the signing of Joachim Andersen from Crystal Palace.

The Danish centre-back returns to Craven Cottage where he spent the 2020-21 season on loan, with a hefty pay rise awarded as part of his move across the capital.

Andersen's signing comes after Fulham lost defenders Tosin Adarabioyo and Tim Ream on free transfers earlier in the window. He is the second central defender to join the west Londoners following the signing of Jorge Cuenca from Villarreal, with an announcement expected later on Friday.

Speaking ahead of Fulham's Premier League clash with Leicester, Silva said: "It's very close, I must say. It's difficult for me to talk about it as it's not official yet but it's very close and things have happened.

"It's a great signing for us and a player who has been loved by this club for a long time. He wasn't with me but I know he'll bring something important for us - maturity and leadership.

"He's an important one and hopefully everything will be official this afternoon as all of us will be delighted with the signing."

Palace chairman Steve Parish said: "Joachim has been immense for the club over his three years at Palace, playing a part in some of our most memorable recent results. He leaves with the utmost respect of everyone here, and we wish him well for the future."

The Cottagers replaced Joao Palhinha with Norwegian midfielder Sander Berge and Silva talked up the former Burnley player and what he will bring to his side.

"Sander is one of our players who can play as a six like Harrison Reed and Sasa Lukic," he added. "Sander has his quality and value, he's going to be a very good player for Fulham, I have no doubt about that.

"We were looking for a certain profile and we found it. He's going to give us something important in certain aspects of the game. On the ball, off the ball, set-pieces, we have a good size of players in the squad (height). He's a package."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-transfer-news-andersen-crystal-palace-b1178172.html

Leicester City predicted line-up v Fulham with Oliver Skipp conundrum among three big decisions
A closer look at the team that Steve Cooper could pick for Leicester City's first away game of the new Premier League season, with calls needed in midfield, at full-back, and on the wing

New signing Oliver Skipp is at the heart of one of the three big decisions Steve Cooper has to make when he picks his Leicester City team to face Fulham.

The £20m midfielder is available to make his debut when City travel to Craven Cottage on Saturday (3pm kick-off) for the club's first away game of the campaign. If he's going to be included in the starting line-up, it looks like there are two potential spots for him.

Wilfred Ndidi is perhaps most at risk of losing his place, with Skipp potentially partnered with former Tottenham team-mate Harry Winks at the base of the midfield. Skipp is perhaps better at retaining possession than Ndidi, but while he is able to run hard and put himself about, he perhaps can't match the Nigerian for physical, off-the-ball work. It makes for an intriguing call for Cooper.

There is the possibility that Skipp could also come in for Facundo Buonanotte, with Cooper perhaps creating a flat midfield three for the first away game. However, the manager has also spoken of ensuring City play with bravery and intent, and dropping the attacking midfielder would not align with that motto. Plus, the Argentinian made an impressive debut on Monday and perhaps deserves to start again.

The other big calls are at full-back and on the wing. Ricardo Pereira and Stephy Mavididi were the most high-profile names on City's bench on Monday and so are the players pushing hardest for a start.

Mavididi came on up front when Jamie Vardy was substituted late on, and it may be that the winger is kept in reserve in order to be the number nine's back-up again. But he did well when he was introduced, and will vie with Bobby De Cordova-Reid for a spot on the left wing.

The Jamaican debutant had a difficult first half against Spurs, but did improve in the second period. Plus, he's more of a natural at drifting inside, which is part of the job for one of Cooper's wingers.

If Ricardo is selected, he would play at right-back, but that does not mean that James Justin would definitely be dropped, with the England international able to play on the left too, where Victor Kristiansen made his first City appearance for more than a year. Ricardo is the most technical of the trio, but for now, Cooper may prefer the better physical attributes the other two have.

Jannik Vestergaard and Wout Faes did a good job at centre-back and so are likely to keep their spots, delaying Caleb Okoli's debut, while Vardy is fit to play again up front. Barring a late injury, Mads Hermansen, Winks, and Abdul Fatawu will keep their places in the team.

Predicted City line-up (4-2-3-1): Hermansen; Justin, Vestergaard, Faes, Kristiansen; Ndidi, Winks; Fatawu, Buonanotte, De Cordova-Reid; Vardy. Subs from: Ward, Iversen, Ricardo, Thomas, Okoli, Nelson, Choudhury, Soumare, Skipp, McAteer, Mavididi, Marcal, Alves, Golding, Cannon.



https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-city-predicted-line-up-9506583

Pre-Leicester Press Conference
Marco Silva wants to see Fulham replicate last season's strong home form in the 2024/25 campaign.

We play at Craven Cottage for the first time this season on Saturday, with newly-promoted Leicester City visiting SW6. We're also looking to pick up our first points of the Premier League campaign, as we fell to a late 1-0 loss against Manchester United at Old Trafford last Friday.

Despite the defeat, Silva believes there are lots of positives his side can take from the performance that we can build on in this weekend's meeting with the Foxes.

"The feeling after [the Man United match] was a bit strange because we deserved to take more from the game," he said in his pre-match press conference.

"It was a very open game in the second half and it could have gone one way or the other. For our first game, having lost so many players from last season, it was very, very good.

"I expected [a good performance] as our pre-season was top and our spirit is very good - the dressing room is getting into the shape that we want. Our first 25 minutes at Old Trafford was top level, but of course we have to be more consistent throughout the game. To take a result is the most important thing, but we still took lots of positives from the game and we want to build on the positives and get a good result."

Our strong home form was a major factor behind our success last season, taking 29 points from our 19 Premier League games at Craven Cottage, the 10th best home record in the division - and it's the type of form that Silva is hoping we can continue into the new campaign.

"The first home game, we are looking forward to it because it's a special feeling for all of us to play at Craven Cottage. We have been really successful there for the last three seasons and we want to make it a tough place for teams to come to again.

"Our fans are always behind us and hopefully they can enjoy our football.

"We want to start well at home, but Leicester come off the back of a good result [1-1 draw] against Tottenham. Like always, it's going to be a tough Premier League game and we want to start on the front foot, do our best to win the game and get the points."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/august/23/pre-leicester-press-conference/

Andersen's Fulham Return


The Club is delighted to announce the signing of Joachim Andersen from Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee.

A fan favourite from his loan spell at Fulham in 2020/21, Andersen is now back on a permanent deal, agreeing a contract until the summer of 2029, with a Club option to extend by a further year.

Speaking to FFCtv, Andersen said: "It's really nice to be here. Feels a little bit like coming home, so it's a good feeling.


"Of course, I know the Club, I know how Fulham are playing, I know many players, I know some staff, so I didn't need anyone to convince me because I knew a lot of things already.

"I had some good talks with the Manager. I know the playing style he likes to play, so it was just a decision I needed to make myself, with my wife and family, and see what's the best for me, and I think this is a good step for my career."

Andersen will wear the 5 shirt for the Whites, the same number he adopted during his previous spell at the Club.


Tony Khan added: "I'm thrilled to welcome Joachim Andersen back to Fulham, but this time as a permanent move! Joachim is a formidable and experienced defender, he proved to be a steady leader for us during his previous loan, and I know that he's excited to join us again!

"Come on Fulham!"


He made his Eredivisie debut for Twente as an 18-year-old substitute in March 2015, and marked his first start with a goal two weeks later in a 2-2 draw away at Groningen.

Andersen was a regular for the Enschede side over the subsequent two seasons, and had amassed 49 appearances – and four goals – by the time he joined Sampdoria in the summer of 2017.

After helping his new club to a top half Serie A finish in his maiden campaign in Italy, Andersen established himself as one of the best young defenders in the division the following year, playing 32 times as the club finished ninth.


That form prompted Lyon to make him their record signing, agreeing a deal worth up to €30m to bring him to France.

His first season was an eventful one, with Lyon reaching the Semi-Finals of both the Champions League and the French Cup, with Andersen featuring 29 times across all competitions, often in the same backline as Kenny Tete.

A loan spell at Craven Cottage followed, and while it was a frustrating campaign for the Club, Andersen excelled at the heart of the defence.


Despite playing the majority of the campaign in empty stadia due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Andersen was taken to the hearts of the Fulham faithful with his committed displays and quality on the ball.

His leadership abilities were clearly evident, too, with the defender captaining the side in 17 Premier League matches – something of a rarity for a loanee – while he also came a narrow second in the Club's Player of the Season vote.

Despite Fulham's relegation, Andersen had proven his top flight credentials, and duly made a permanent switch from Lyon to Palace.


The Eagles continually improved with Andersen in their backline, finishing 12th, 11th, and then 10th in his three seasons in South-East London, during which time he registered nine goal involvements (3G, 6A) in 113 outings.

Having represented Denmark at every age group, Andersen was handed his senior debut in October 2019 and has now won 36 caps, appearing at Euro 2020 – where he helped his nation reach the Semi-Finals – World Cup 2022 and Euro 2024.




https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/august/23/andersens-fulham-return/

Premier League Soccer: Livestream Fulham vs. Leicester City From Anywhere
Both sides go in search of their first win of the new EPL campaign at Craven Cottage.

Newly promoted Leicester head to Fulham on Saturday in the English Premier League, as they look to build on their battling draw with Spurs earlier in the week.

Leicester managed to snatch a point at home against top-four hopefuls Tottenham on Monday, with 37-year-old forward Jamie Vardy rolling back the years to earn the Foxes a vital early point with a second-half equalizer.

The hosts, meanwhile, played well at Manchester United last Friday, but came away from Old Trafford empty-handed after going down to a late strike from Joshua Zirkzee. Marco Silva's team were left to rue a number of missed chances earlier in the game.

Fulham host Leicester City at Craven Cottage in west London on Saturday, Aug. 24. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. BST local time, making it a 10 a.m. ET or 7 a.m. PT start in the US and Canada and a 12 a.m. AEST kickoff in the early hours of Sunday in Australia.

Below, we'll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch game as it happens wherever you are in the world.

How to watch Fulham vs. Leicester City in the US without cable
Saturday's Fulham vs. Leicester City match is streaming on Peacock. You'll need a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus account to catch the game live.

How to watch the Premier League 2024/25 season from anywhere with a VPN
If you find yourself unable to view EPL matches locally, you may need a different way to watch the games -- that's where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it's also a great idea if you're traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.

With a VPN, you're able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors' Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.

Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you're streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.

Can I livestream Fulham vs. Leicester City in the UK?
No broadcaster has the rights to show this game live in the UK, due to the traditional Saturday 3 p.m. kickoff blackout, which prohibits matches being shown in the region at that time in order to protect attendances throughout the English football pyramid.

That also means that if you're in the UK traveling for pleasure or for work, you're unlikely to be able to watch the game like you normally would at home, thanks to geo-blocking.

There's one option to get around this, however. By using a VPN, as explained above, you can set your location to a country where the match is being broadcast and go from there.

Livestream Fulham vs. Leicester City in Canada
If you want to stream this EPL game live in Canada, you'll need to subscribe to Fubo Canada. The service has exclusive rights to every Premier League fixture once again this season.

Livestream Fulham vs. Leicester City in Australia
Football fans Down Under can watch EPL matches live on streaming service Optus Sport, which is showing every single Premier League fixture of the 2024/25 season live in Australia.

Quick tips for streaming the Premier League using a VPN
    With four variables at play -- your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN -- your experience and success when streaming EPL matches may vary.
    If you don't see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the "search for city or country" option.
    If you're having trouble getting the game after you've turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs -- like Roku -- don't have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you'll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you're using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
    All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network's sports app, you'll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
    And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you're using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.



https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/check-if-your-social-security-number-is-part-of-the-national-public-data-breach/

Leicester Matchday Preview
🆚 Leicester City
🏟 Craven Cottage
🏆 Premier League
🗓 Saturday 24th August
⏰ 3pm (BST)
#️⃣ FULLEI

The opposition

It's been a summer of transition at the King Power Stadium, with the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Kelechi Iheanacho, Dennis Praet and Marc Albrighton all moving onto pastures new. They have added plenty of Premier League experience, though, in Oliver Skipp, Facundo Buonanotte and Bobby De Cordova-Reid, who will receive a fantastic ovation from the home fans.

Leicester fans could have been forgiven for fearing the worst at half-time of their season opener against Tottenham Hotspur on Monday. But after having struggled to get going against a dominant Spurs side, they were much improved after the break, equalising through Jamie Vardy who then almost won it for the Foxes.

Team news

🤍 Marco Silva has no fresh injury concerns, but has confirmed that new signing Sander Berge will not start against Leicester.

🦊 Conor Coady and Patson Daka will miss the trip to London. Skipp will be pushing for a debut following his move from Spurs on Monday.

Tickets

Tickets are still available to purchase on general sale, priced from just £35 for adults and £24 for juniors.

Kits

Both teams will be wearing their home outfield strips for this game, but Fulham's goalkeeper will be in the away kit to avoid a clash.


Coverage

Worldwide FFCtv subscribers can listen to commentary from Gentleman Jim and Jamie Reid. Stateside fans can watch on Peacock.

Weather

🌧 There is a chance of rain throughout the day in SW6, though it will remain fairly mild, around 19 degrees at kick-off.

Digital Tickets & Arrive Early

Fans are reminded to have their digital tickets downloaded in advance of arriving at the ground and to arrive early, where £1 beer will be available until 2pm!

Bag policy

Fans are reminded that this season there will be a £5 charge (which goes to Fulham FC Foundation) for any bags deposited at our left luggage facility on Greswell Street.

Matchday programme

Timothy Castagne spoke exclusively to the matchday programme about his first season at the Club, the current feelgood factor, targeting a top 10 finish and facing his former club.

In the bumper 100-page edition, Head Coach Marco Silva sets out his plans to build on the excellent progress of the last three years and Chairman Shahid Khan shares his thoughts on the occasion of another season of Premier League football at Craven Cottage.

In the first of a regular series, we catch up with Fulham legend Barry Hayles, and round-up the best social media messages from fans of London's Original Football Club.

Priced at £4, you can pick up a copy of the programme on the day or online.




https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/august/23/leicester-matchday-preview/

Fulham confirm signing of Andersen from Palace
Fulham have completed the signing of Joachim Andersen from Crystal Palace.

The Whites initially offered £20m for the Denmark centre-back, who spent the 2020-21 campaign on loan at Fulham from Lyon.

That bid was rejected but negotiations continued and a deal was eventually agreed for him to return to Craven Cottage for closer to £30m.

He has signed a five-year contract with the option of an additional year.

Andersen, 28, was a standout performer during his time at the club but relegation from the Premier League scuppered any chance of signing him on a permanent deal.

He joined Palace that summer and has made 111 appearances for the Eagles.

Fulham recently signed centre-back Jorge Cuenca from Villarreal but have been looking to further strengthen in that position following the departures of Tosin Adarabioyo and Tim Ream.

Speaking on Friday afternoon as the signing was about to be formally completed, Fulham boss Marco Silva said: "I think he's a great signing and a player who is loved by this club.

"I am 100% sure he is going to bring something important for us. He is going to be a good tool for us this season and in the seasons ahead."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-andersen-signing-complete

Fulham sign Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen
Fulham have completed the signing of centre-back Joachim Andersen from Crystal Palace for a fee in the region of £30 million.

 The 28-year-old made 113 appearances for the Eagles in three campaigns with the club.

Last season, Andersen was pivotal as Crystal Palace recorded their joint-highest Premier League finish, starting all 38 matches.

Andersen, who joined Palace for £18m from Lyon in 2021, has signed a five-year deal in West London with an option for a further year.   

 Craven Cottage is familiar territory for the Denmark international, who spent the 2020/21 season on loan with Fulham.

Crystal Palace chairman and co-owner Steve Parish said: "Joachim has been immense for the club over his three years at Palace, playing a part in some of our most memorable recent results.

"He leaves with the utmost respect of everyone here, and we wish him well for the future."

The Inside Scoop
 Andersen's exit is one of mixed emotions. Crystal Palace have lost their anchor in defence to a mid-table rival. It is certainly one that will disappoint and maybe even frustrate supporters.

However, it is the right move for business. Andersen's value will only depreciate - he is 28, and departed with just two years left on his deal.

For Palace, to bank the profit and reinvest in a younger asset, once again, proves the success of acquiring value-appreciating talent.

Despite losing such a prominent part of the spine, Andersen's exit allows Oliver Glasner to add a centre-half better suited to his system, with the Dane capable of being erratic.

As seen against Brentford on Sunday, Palace lack pace in defence. If the club can secure a faster centre-half, namely Maxence Lacroix, then the backline will be in a stronger position.

Glasner gave the green light to Andersen's departure, so long as he is replaced with a quicker defender.



https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/sport/24539298.fulham-sign-crystal-palace-defender-joachim-andersen/

Joachim Andersen transfer: Fulham complete £30m move for Crystal Palace defender
Fulham complete £30m deal to sign Joachim Andersen from Crystal Palace; the 28-year-old spent the 2020/21 season on loan at Craven Cottage; Fulham saw two bids rejected for the centre-back previously; Fulham will pay an initial £25m plus £5m in performance-related add-ons

Fulham have completed a £30m deal to sign defender Joachim Andersen from Crystal Palace.

Marco Silva's side had previously seen two bids rejected by Palace, who were seeking a fee in the region of £40m.

Fulham will pay an initial £25m plus £5m in performance-related add-ons for Andersen with the centre-back penning a five-year deal with a one-year option.

The 28-year-old played the full game against Brentford in Palace's first fixture of the season, which ended in a 2-1 loss to Thomas Frank's side, and previously spent the 2020/21 season on loan at Craven Cottage from Lyon.

Oliver Glasner and his recruitment staff have been actively searching for a replacement, as the Selhurst Park club also prepare for the possible departure of Marc Guehi to Newcastle.

An exit for Andersen will not impact Newcastle's move for Guehi, as the possibility of Palace losing both centre-backs at the start of the 2024/25 season gathers pace.

Fulham complete £25m Berge deal
Fulham have also completed a deal to sign midfielder Sander Berge from Burnley for £25m.

Manchester United had also been linked with a move for the Norway international and had been keeping contact with Burnley regarding a deal.

Fulham saw an approach for United's Scott McTominay fall through and then advanced in their efforts to sign Berge as an alternative.

The Cottagers will pay £20m up front for the player and £5m in add-ons, which is a similar offer to the one United received for McTominay.

Berge has put pen to paper on a five-year deal and has the option to extend his stay in west London for an additional 12 months. He will wear the No 16 shirt.




https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/13201092/joachim-andersen-transfer-fulham-complete-30m-move-for-crystal-palace-defender

Crystal Palace defender completes Fulham switch
Fulham have confirmed the signing of Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen.

The west Londoners have confirmed that the 28-year-old has been handed an initial five-year deal at Craven Cottage, with a club option to take it to six years.

Andersen joined Palace in the summer of 2021 and made 113 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring three goals and registering six assists.

He enjoyed a successful loan spell with Fulham in the 2020-21 season.

Chairman Steve Parish said: "Joachim has been immense for the club over his three years at Palace, playing a part in some of our most memorable recent results.

"He leaves with the utmost respect of everyone here, and we wish him well for the future."

Speaking to FFCtv, Andersen said: "It's really nice to be here. Feels a little bit like coming home, so it's a good feeling.

"Of course, I know the club, I know how Fulham are playing, I know many players, I know some staff, so I didn't need anyone to convince me because I knew a lot of things already.

"I had some good talks with the manager. I know the playing style he likes to play, so it was just a decision I needed to make myself, with my wife and family, and see what's the best for me, and I think this is a good step for my career."



https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/crystal-palace-defender-completes-fulham-switch/

'Didn't need to' - Joachim Andersen issues honest verdict on Crystal Palace exit as £30m Fulham move confirmed
Crystal Palace have lost a starting defender to London rivals Fulham.

Crystal Palace star Joachim Andersen has officially joined Fulham after weeks of speculation surrounding his future. Andersen, who spent time on loan at Craven Cottage during his Lyon days, returns to the Cottagers on a deal believed to be worth around £30million.

Palace will were said to be looking for as much as £40million, but they will still double the £15million they spent to sign the Dane from Lyon three years ago. Since then, the 28-year-old has become a key part of the back-line at Selhurst Park, and the Eagles will be doubly disappointed to lose him to a London rival.

As for Andersen, he is pleased to return 'home' after putting pen-to-paper with Fulham, who have shown real ambition in this summer transfer window. Speaking to FFCtv, Andersen said: "It's really nice to be here. Feels a little bit like coming home, so it's a good feeling.

"Of course, I know the Club, I know how Fulham are playing, I know many players, I know some staff, so I didn't need anyone to convince me because I knew a lot of things already. I had some good talks with the Manager. I know the playing style he likes to play, so it was just a decision I needed to make myself, with my wife and family, and see what's the best for me, and I think this is a good step for my career."

Fulham owner Tony Khan added: "I'm thrilled to welcome Joachim Andersen back to Fulham, but this time as a permanent move! Joachim is a formidable and experienced defender, he proved to be a steady leader for us during his previous loan, and I know that he's excited to join us again! Come on Fulham!"

Palace are turning to Wolfsburg's Maxence Lacroix to replace Andersen, with a fee of around £14million being mentioned, although early efforts have been rejected. The Eagles may also have to replace another centre-back in Marc Guehi this summer, but they have managed to keep Newcastle United at bay so far.



https://www.londonworld.com/sport/football/crystal-palace/didnt-need-to-joachim-andersen-issues-honest-verdict-on-crystal-palace-exit-as-ps30m-fulham-move-confirmed-4755113

Fulham sign Palace defender Andersen
Fulham have signed centre-back Joachim Andersen from Crystal Palace for about £30m.

The Cottagers pursued the 28-year-old throughout the summer and had an initial bid rejected as Palace sought a fee closer to £40m.

The Denmark international has joined Fulham - who he played for on loan in 2020-21 - on a five-year deal, with an option to extend for a further year.

"It's really nice to be here. Feels a little bit like coming home, so it's a good feeling," Andersen said.

"Of course, I know the club, I know how Fulham are playing, I know many players, I know some staff, so I didn't need anyone to convince me because I knew a lot of things already."

During his loan spell with the Cottagers, Andersen made 31 Premier League appearances, scoring one goal.

Andersen featured 112 times for Palace after joining from Lyon in the summer of 2021.

He played every minute of Denmark's Euro 2024 campaign, which ended in a last-16 defeat by hosts Germany.

Andersen's Palace centre-back partner Marc Guehi has attracted interest from Newcastle, but Eagles chairman Steve Parish said it was "unlikely" both players would leave this summer.

"Marc [Guehi] will lead the team as captain [against West Ham on Saturday]," Palace boss Oliver Glasner said.

"I expect everyone to be a Crystal Palace player until someone tells me different."



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cj4xyz4ly1eo

Silva: 'We'll be on the front foot'
Marco Silva is targeting a strong start at home as Fulham prepare to take on Leicester City at Craven Cottage tomorrow.

The Portuguese head coach felt there were plenty of positives from last Friday's narrow defeat at Manchester United – despite the frustration of failing to take a number of good opportunities at Old Trafford. Silva told his pre-match press conference:

The feeling after [the game against Manchester United] was a bit strange because we deserved to take more from the game. It was a very open game in the second half and it could have gone one way or the other. For our first game, having lost so many players from last season, it was very, very good.

I expected [a good performance] as our pre-season was top and our spirit is very good – the dressing room is getting into the shape that we want. Our first 25 minutes at Old Trafford was top level, but of course we have to be more consistent throughout the game. To take a result is the most important thing, but we still took lots of positives from the game and we want to build on the positives and get a good result."

Silva wants his side to replicate last season's home form – where the Whites took 29 points from nineteen games – but knows that the Whites will be in for a tough test against the newly-promoted Foxes.

The first home game, we are looking forward to it because it's a special feeling for all of us to play at Craven Cottage. We have been really successful there for the last three seasons and we want to make it a tough place for teams to come to again. Our fans are always behind us and hopefully they can enjoy our football. We want to start well at home, but Leicester come off the back of a good result against Tottenham. Like always, it's going to be a tough Premier League game and we want to start on the front foot, do our best to win the game and get the points."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/08/silva-well-be-on-the-front-foot/

Andersen rejoins Fulham
Joachim Andersen has returned to Craven Cottage this afternoon – signing for Fulham for the second time in a £30m deal from Crystal Palace.

The Danish defender, who will once again wear the number five shirt, has put pen to paper on a five-year contract with Fulham holding an option to extend that deal by a further year. The 28 year-old, who made 31 appearances on loan as Fulham were relegated from the Premier League in 2020/21, spent the last three years at Selhurst Park – playing 113 games for Palace, scoring three goals.

Andersen told FFCTV:

"It's really nice to be here. Feels a little bit like coming home, so it's a good feeling. Of course, I know the club, I know how Fulham are playing, I know many players, I know some staff, so I didn't need anyone to convince me because I knew a lot of things already.

I had some good talks with the manager. I know the playing style he likes to play, so it was just a decision I needed to make myself, with my wife and family, and see what's the best for me, and I think this is a good step for my career."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/08/andersen-rejoins-fulham/

Fulham will sign another forward, says Silva
Marco Silva says that Fulham will sign another forward before the end of the transfer window.

The Portuguese head coach told his pre-match press conference this afternoon that he wants to replace the goal threat provided by Willian and Bobby De Cordova-Reid, who left the club earlier this summer.

Silva said:

"We are going to sign a forward player, for sure. You all know that we have lost two wingers and we haven't signed any players for that position. We are going to sign a forward player."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/08/fulham-will-sign-another-forward-says-silva/

Crystal Palace sells Joachim Andersen to Fulham and Jordan Ayew to Leicester
LONDON (AP) - Denmark defender Joachim Andersen joined Fulham for a second spell after leaving Premier League rival Crystal Palace on Friday.

The center back was on loan at Fulham in the 2020-21 season and established himself as a fans' favorite.

Andersen has now moved to Craven Cottage on a permanent basis, on a five-year deal for a reported fee of 30 million pounds ($40 million).

"It´s really nice to be here," Andersen said. "Feels a little bit like coming home, so it´s a good feeling."

Andersen´s signing comes after Fulham lost defenders Tosin Adarabioyo and Tim Ream on free transfers earlier in this transfer window. He is the second central defender to join the club, after Jorge Cuenca from Villarreal.

It is a blow to Palace, which is also battling to keep England center half Marc Guehi at the club amid interest from Newcastle.

Palace also sold Ghana forward Jordan Ayew to promoted Leicester on a two-year deal.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-13773839/Joachim-Andersen-leaves-Crystal-Palace-second-spell-Premier-League-rival-Fulham.html

"A good step for my career" - Joachim Andersen explains £30m Crystal Palace exit
Fulham have completed the signing of defender Joachim Andersen from fellow Premier League club Crystal Palace.

The Denmark international has put pen to paper on a five-year deal until 2029 and joins the Cottagers for an undisclosed fee, believed to be worth around £30m.

Andersen returns to Craven Cottage having previously spent the 2020-21 campaign on loan at the club from Lyon.

The 28-year-old moved to Crystal Palace on a permanent deal the following summer and made 113 appearances for the Eagles across all competitions, scoring three goals and providing six assists.

Palace supporters were hoping to see Andersen, who helped the club secure a 10th-placed finish in the Premier League last season, feature regularly under Oliver Glasner in his first full season in charge of the club.

Andersen leaves Palace "with the utmost respect"
However, Andersen has opted to move across London to re-join Fulham and become Marco Silva's fifth summer signing after Emile Smith Rowe, Sander Berge, Ryan Sessegnon and Jorge Cuenca.

Reacting to the Dane's departure from Crystal Palace, chairman Steve Parish said: "Joachim has been immense for the club over his three years at Palace, playing a part in some of our most memorable recent results.

"He leaves with the utmost respect of everyone here, and we wish him well for the future."

Commenting on his return to Fulham, Andersen told the club's official website: "It's really nice to be here. Feels a little bit like coming home, so it's a good feeling.

"Of course, I know the club, I know how Fulham are playing, I know many players, I know some staff, so I didn't need anyone to convince me because I knew a lot of things already.

"I had some good talks with the manager. I know the playing style he likes to play, so it was just a decision I needed to make myself, with my wife and family, and see what's the best for me, and I think this is a good step for my career."

Khan: 'Andersen is a formidable and experienced defender'
Fulham vice-chairman Tony Khan added: "I'm thrilled to welcome Joachim Andersen back to Fulham, but this time as a permanent move! Joachim is a formidable and experienced defender, he proved to be a steady leader for us during his previous loan, and I know that he's excited to join us again!"

Andersen, who will wear the No.5 shirt at Fulham, is set to compete with fellow centre-backs Cuenca, Issa Diop and Calvin Bassey for regular starts in Silva's side.

It remains to be seen whether Andersen will be available to make his second debut for the Cottagers in Saturday's Premier League clash at home against Leicester City.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/crystal-palace/transfer-talk/news/crystal-palace-confirm-gbp30m-exit-of-immense-player-to-premier-league-rival_551094.html?newsnow

Andersen: 'Fulham's a perfect fit'
Joachim Andersen has revealed that his return to Fulham came as something of a 'surprise' but believes he will be able to help the Whites progress under Marco Silva.

The popular Danish defender completed a £30m move from Crystal Palace this afternoon and is looking forward to pulling on the Fulham shirt again – having enjoyed a season in SW6 on loan in 2020/21.

Andersen told FFCTV that Fulham felt like 'the perfect fit' for him at this time in his career:

"It came as a surprise to me as well. I heard a couple of weeks ago that Fulham was quite keen on bringing me back and it was a difficult decision. I had many, many talks with Palace and with Fulham about what to do [and] with my feeling. In the end, I had a really good feeling. I had three really, really good years at Palace, I have lot of respect for them, a lot of respect for Steve [Parrish] and Dougie [Freedman] but, in the end, I needed to think about myself, what was best for me and I feel like this is the best move.

"I had some good talks with the manager and, of course, I knew the club. I knew how Fulham were playing, I know many of the players and I know some staff. It's not because I needed to talk with the coach or anyone at the club to convince me – I knew a lot of things already. I know the playing style he likes to play. It was really just a decision I had to make, with my wife and with my family and I feel like it is a really good step for my career.

I had a fantastic year here. I loved to be here, I really love the club and I think it also means something in my decision making, that I know how much this club did for me. I enjoyed my time here and hopefully I can now get a lot more years to enjoy. It was a tough season, I thought we had a decent team, we had some really good players and played some good football but, of course, the relegation was hard. As captain of that side, I always felt a little more responsible. It was a strange season – there was no fans at all. I felt that I had quite a good relationship with them. I felt a lot of love from them, through socials and walking on the street. I can't wait to play in front of them.

"I think [Fulham's progression] has been a really good process. I think they are doing really well with the new manager. He's playing some good football, which is something that I appreciate a lot. It's something that fits my style and something that I think I can help the team with. For me, that's the most important thing when I look at a club – I need to see how they play and how I can fit and how I can help the team. I think it's a perfect fit.

I think the style suits me really, really well. I'm just happy that the manager thinks I can fit in the team and also I see myself having a good impact on the team, hopefully. I'm just looking forward to getting out there and playing. It's nice to see the boys again, it's always good to see some familiar faces and they are really good guys.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/08/andersen-fulhams-a-perfect-fit/

Jay Stansfield in: 2 last gasp transfers Watford must consider before August 30th

    Watford's strong start this season highlights need for additional firepower up front, potentially signing Jay Stansfield.
    Jodi Jones' impressive assist record at Notts County makes him an ideal fit for Cleverley's wing-back system at Watford.
    Despite strong performances, Stansfield and Jones could be valuable additions for Watford's ambitious play-off chase in the Championship.

Watford have not threatened the Championship play-off positions since their relegation from the Premier League in 2022, but the Hornets have started the new season in threatening fashion.

 Tom Cleverley's men showed their character during the first game of the campaign, as they led 2-0 at Millwall only to be pegged back to 2-2 in the 88th minute courtesy of Duncan Watmore's brace, but the Herfordshire side still travelled home with all three points thanks to a 90th minute winner from Mileta Rajovic.

The Hornets have subsequently shown their class in the final third, as well as in defence, with a 5-0 victory over League Two MK Dons in the EFL Cup, followed by a 3-0 triumph over Stoke City in the Championship.

While Cleverley and co have started the season in successful fashion, Football League World looks at two players the Hornets should look to sign before the transfer window slams shut on August 30th.

Jay Stansfield
 Watford may have scored 11 goals in their opening three games of the season across all competitions, but the argument could still be made that the Vicarage Road side are still in need of some extra firepower.

Vakoun Bayo led the line for the Hornets during both of their first two Championship matches this season, but he is not the most prolific in front of goal, and scored just six goals in 39 second tier outings last campaign.

Meanwhile, fellow striker Rajovic scored 10 goals in 41 league appearances last term, which was a strong effort for his debut campaign in English football, but Cleverley may want a more dangerous striker with a potential play-off chase in mind.

Fulham's Jay Stansfield could be that man, as he scored 12 goals in the Championship for a Birmingham City side who were relegated to League One.

 Despite plying his trade for a struggling side, Stansfield was able to show his class, and he could become more of a regular on the scoresheet if he played for a stronger side such as the Hornets.

Furthermore, with Rodrigo Muniz and Raul Jimenez still among their ranks, Fulham should still be open to sending the 21-year-old out on loan to the Championship once more.

Jodi Jones
 Cleverley tends to opt for a wing-back system with his Hornets side, which could make Jodi Jones an ideal signing for the Hertfordshire outfit.

Jones is a wing-back for his current club, Notts County, and has caught the eye due to his prolific assist making exploits in the fourth tier.

Last season, the 26-year-old created 24 League Two assists, and in doing so broke the record which was jointly held by Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry for the most assists in a single league season in English football.

Jones' impressive performances last term saw him recently scoop the PFA League Two Player of the Year award, an accolade which epitomises his class.

Alongside his 24 assists, the Malta international also scored six goals last season, and while it may be difficult to bridge the gap between the fourth tier and the Championship, the Hornets should be keen to snap up a player who made 30 goal contributions last campaign, and also fits their system.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/jay-stansfield-jodi-jones-watford-fc-last-gasp-transfers/

'Keeping him fresh is important' – Steve Cooper needs Jamie Vardy (37) always fit for Leicester City's survival
Leicester boss Steve Cooper insists it is integral to the success of the Foxes' season to keep star striker Jamie Vardy fit as they prepare to travel to Fulham on Saturday.

Vardy marked his return to the Premier League with a second-half equaliser in Monday night's 1-1 draw with Tottenham at the King Power Stadium to take his tally to 137 top-flight goals.

The 37-year-old suffered an injury in pre-season and was a doubt to face Tottenham, but the 2015-16 Premier League winner recovered in time to play 79 minutes of the contest and help secure a point.

Cooper admitted keeping Vardy available this season is crucial to his team.

He said: "Jamie doesn't need any special words from me about his capabilities and impact he has and the talent he has inside the box, that's something that will never leave him.

"In terms of keeping him available and keeping him fresh is important – it's important we work with him collaboratively to make sure we do what's right by him, to get him ready.

"What's good about him is he enjoys games, what it takes to get ready for games and we have to respect that – he's a game player and a match-day guy and we need to do our very best to keep him as ready as he can be for those games."

Leicester now switch their focus to their first away game of the season as they travel to Fulham on Saturday.

Fulham looked like they would take a point away from Old Trafford until new signing Joshua Zirkzee came off the bench to clinch a 1-0 win for Manchester United in the Premier League curtain raiser last Friday.

Cooper knows the dangers Fulham can pose but also believes his newly promoted team is good enough to cause problems themselves.

He added: "We need to be ready, they are a well-coached team full of players that can make a difference.

"If you don't look after yourselves and don't implement our style and our intentions whoever we play against then the game won't go as you want it to anyway.

That's where our focus is, becoming good at what we want to be and how we go about it. We respect our opponent, tough game on the weekend of course, Premier League football but if we don't go there with the ambition of 'this is how we play' then I think you give yourself a good chance of coming up short."



https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/keeping-him-fresh-is-important-steve-cooper-needs-jamie-vardy-37-always-fit-for-leicester-citys-survival/a83625443.html

Marco Silva says "Craven Cottage is our fortress" ahead of Leicester clash
Fulham host Leicester on Saturday for the Cottagers first home game of the new season. Head coach Marco Silva says he wants Craven Cottage to be a tough place to come for away sides.

Fulham took nine of their 13 Premier League wins at home last season, including impressive victories over the likes of Tottenham and Arsenal.

Head coach Marco Silva has spoken about the importance of that home form ahead of their clash with Leicester on Saturday afternoon.

The two teams last met in 2023, with Fulham winning 5-3.

Home form is a necessity
Fulham took nine of their 13 Premier League wins at home last season, including impressive victories over the likes of Tottenham and Arsenal.

Head coach Marco Silva has spoken about the importance of that home form ahead of their clash with Leicester on Saturday afternoon.

The two teams last met in 2023, with Fulham winning 5-3.
Home form is a necessity

Silva knows his side must continue to make Craven Cottage a tough place to come.

He said: "We are all looking forward to the first home game, we have been really successful in the past three seasons at Craven Cottage — it has been our fortress and we want it to be hard for opponents."

On the signing of Sander Berge
Fulham announced the signing of Sander Berge on Thursday, a well-received transfer following the departure of fan-favourite João Palhinha.

Silva insisted he is a good player in himself and not just a straight replacement.

He said: "The same position (as Palhinha), number six, but we don't sign players just to replace others — Sander has his own qualities and he will be good for us."

The Norwegian is unavailable for this weekend's game but will return next week.

Silva said: "He's not ready to start but next week he is available for both games."

Another incoming signing
Centre-back Joachim Andersen is all but confirmed for a return to Craven Cottage.

The Dane spent the 2020/21 season on loan at Fulham, impressing in an eventually relegated team.

Although the transfer is not quite official just yet, Silva is happy with the signing.

"It's not official, but it's very close," said Silva. "He's a great, great signing and a player that's been loved by this football club for a long time.

"I'm 100% sure he's going to bring something important for us. Let's hope it's official this afternoon."

Ryan Sessegnon back in a Fulham shirt at Craven Cottage?
Ryan Sessegon returned to his boyhood club this summer following the expiration of his contract at Tottenham Hotspur.

The 24-year-old made his debut with Fulham at the age of 16 and fans are eager to see him back in the shirt at Craven Cottage. Silva is keeping them waiting though.

He said: "You will have to wait until tomorrow to see if he is in the squad or not.

"I already have a decision in my head but you will have to wait.

"He had incredible success in a Fulham shirt years ago and was sold for a big amount of money.

"However being injury-prone he did not get to the level that he should have at Tottenham. He is working hard."



https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2024/08/23/fulham/1193605-marco-silva-says-craven-cottage-is-our-fortress-ahead-of-leicester-clash.html

Partick Thistle loan Ablade
Fulham forward Terry Ablade has joined Scottish Championship club Partick Thistle on a season-long loan, the club have confirmed this afternoon.

The Finnish forward, who has previously had EFL loan experience at AFC Wimbledon and Carlisle United, has already impressed Jags manager Kris Doolan, who told Thistle's website:

"We've been looking at adding another striker to the squad for a while now and I've always maintained that the player we bring in has to provide something different to what we already have and Terry fits that bill. He's got pace and a willingness to make testing runs that can really stretch the opposition and open up space for the rest of the team. Having only arrived last night, he was in training with us for the first time today and we were impressed with what we saw. His effort was first class and I think he'll be a real asset for us this season."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/08/partick-thistle-loan-ablade/

Joachim Andersen makes Fulham return in £30million move from Crystal Palace - as Jordan Ayew departs Eagles for Leicester

    Andersen had previously been on loan at Fulham during the 2020/21 season
    The Danish central defender as signed a five-year contract at Craven Cottage

Fulham have signed Joachim Andersen from Crystal Palace on a five-year deal with the option of a further year.

The centre back has completed the move across London in a deal worth around £30million.

Andersen had previously been on loan at Fulham during the 2020/21, where he had become a fan favourite.

Speaking to FFCtv, Andersen said: 'It's really nice to be here. Feels a little bit like coming home, so it's a good feeling.

'Of course, I know the club, I know how Fulham are playing, I know many players, I know some staff, so I didn't need anyone to convince me because I knew a lot of things already.

'I had some good talks with the manager. I know the playing style he likes to play, so it was just a decision I needed to make myself, with my wife and family, and see what's the best for me, and I think this is a good step for my career.'

The Danish international had made 113 appearances across all competitions for the Crystal Palace.

Crystal Palace have also announced the departure of Jordan Ayew, with the 32-year-old joining Leicester for an initial £5million.

'I'm very happy to be here and I'm proud. I want to thank the club as they fought hard to bring me here – it happened quickly and I'm so happy to be here,' Ayew told Leicester's club website.

'As a player, when you hear that the manager wants you, it just makes you want to come and work under him and to try to improve. Even though I'm 32, as a player you always want to learn and improve.

'I'm here to work hard and help the team achieve their targets.'

Ayew made 212 appearances for the Eagles across six seasons, winning the club's Player of the Season and Player's Player of the Season in the 2019/20 campaign.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13774643/Joachim-Andersen-Fulham-Crystal-Palace-Jordan-Ayew-Leicester.html

Fulham vs Leicester: Preview, predictions and lineups

    Fulham face newly-promoted Leicester on Saturday afternoon at Craven Cottage
    West London outfit lost their opening game of the season to Man Utd
    Foxes secured hard-fought point at home to Tottenham last Monday

Fulham play host to newly-promoted Leicester City on Saturday afternoon as both sides search for a first victory of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.

The Cottagers kicked off the new English top flight season with a trip to Manchester United but left devastated after Joshua Zirkzee's 87th-minute effort handed them a 1-0 defeat. There were encouraging signs from Marco Silva's side, who are set to be busy in the closing weeks of the transfer window.

eicester earned themselves a hard-fought point at home to Tottenham Hotspur in their first match back in the Premier League. Despite a chastening first half at the King Power Stadium, Jamie Vardy's second-half header secured the Foxes a surprise draw in Steve Cooper's first match in charge of the club.

Here is 90min's guide to Fulham's clash with Leicester this weekend.

What time does Fulham vs Leicester kick-off?
    Location: London, England
    Stadium: Craven Cottage
    Date: Saturday 24 August
    Kick-off Time: 15:00 BST / 10:00 ET / 07:00 PT
    Referee: Darren Bond
    VAR: Jarred Gillett

Fulham vs Leicester H2H Record (Last Five Games)
    Fulham: 3 wins
    Leicester: 2 wins
    Draws: 0

    Last meeting: Fulham 5-3 Leicester (8 May 2023) - Premier League

Current form (all competitions)

Fulham	Leicester
Man Utd 1-0 Fulham - 16/08/24	Leicester 1-1 Tottenham - 19/08/24
Hoffenheim 0-2 Fulham - 10/08/24	Lens 3-0 Leicester - 10/08/24
Fulham 1-2 Sevilla - 05/08/24	Augsburg 1-0 Leicester - 03/08/24
Benfica 0-1 Fulham - 02/08/24	Leicester 0-1 Palermo - 26/07/24
Fulham 6-1 Watford - 27/07/24	Shrewsbury 1-2 Leicester - 23/07/24

How to watch Fulham vs Leicester on TV and live stream

Country	Country      TV channel/live stream
United Kingdom	N/A
United States	Peacock
Canada	fuboTV Canada

Fulham team news
Fulham have no fitness concerns ahead of Saturday's clash and are likely to field a similar lineup to the one that narrowly lost at Old Trafford. That means another start for Emile Smith Rowe, who signed from Arsenal over the summer.

Sander Berge is another new recruit but he may not feature against Leicester having only just signed from Burnley. Fulham are also chasing deals for Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen and Lyon attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki.

Fulham predicted lineup vs Leicester
Fulham predicted lineup vs Leicester (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Pereira, Lukic; Traore, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Muniz.

Leicester team news
Leicester's centre-forward injury crisis forced a half-fit Vardy to lead the line against Spurs, with the 37-year-old scoring on his return to the top flight. He is likely to spearhead the attack again with Patson Daka sidelined for several months and Tom Cannon potentially on his way out of the club.

Veteran defender Conor Coady is also missing for the next few weeks and back-up goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk is facing six months in the treatment room after undergoing an operation on his ankle.

Bobby Decordova-Reid is in line to face his former club after signing for Leicester on a free transfer this summer and Oliver Skipp could feature for his debut following a recent move from Tottenham.

Leicester predicted lineup vs Fulham
Leicester predicted lineup vs Fulham (4-2-3-1): Hermansen; Pereira, Faes, Vestergaard, Kristiansen; Winks, Ndidi; Decordova-Reid, Buonanotte, Fatawu; Vardy.

Fulham vs Leicester score prediction
Leicester showed impressive resilience against Tottenham but could have comfortably found themselves three or four goals down at half-time. It was perhaps luck more than judgement that helped them secure an important point on Cooper's debut.

Fulham could take advantage of Leicester's shaky backline this weekend, with the likes of Smith Rowe, Adama Troare and Rodrigo Muniz primed to sparkle in the Cottagers' opening home game of the Premier League season.

Prediction: Fulham 2-1 Leicester



https://www.90min.com/fulham-vs-leicester-preview-predictions-lineups-24-8-24

Hazzetta dello Sport 2024 - Issue 2: Fulham v Leicester City
'Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in', barks Al Pacino as Michael Corleone in The Godfather Part III.

That sprung immediately to mind after Monday's night's second half performance. It ignited that dangerous emotion of hope. There is now a belief that maybe Leicester City can compete with these players and this manager in the top flight.

In a Premier League opening weekend without a redeeming game or moment, step forward Leicester City and its very own spirit animal Jamie Vardy.

Not content with scoring the equaliser, Vardy felt the need to remind the Spurs away end of their recent trophyless history and then tell Cristian Romero to excuse himself. That made sure the game was the main topic of conversation in my office on Tuesday morning. There were the shoots of what makes supporting us so good; the unruly underdog who wants to put a few noses out of joint.

In the general context of the season, Steve Cooper will do well to pause on moments such as Monday evening. The whole campaign might be in vain. Even if we have a good half of a season, the likely point deductions will act as a hammer blow. Performances full of effort and grit will win the hearts of the fans and create a pride amongst us. Plenty more of that please.

It's important to anchor that second half with the opening forty-five minutes. On another day, it's 4-0 at half time. The cold, harsh reality of that period was that we looked way off it and simply not of the required quality to keep up with Spurs. There's every chance that could also repeat itself from a so-called lesser team and the home crowd might not be so forgiving.

However, as anyone that's done anything competitive will inform you, the biggest challenge is when your performance is poor and you have to see that period off. We did that 'hanging in there' in ample amounts as the statistics of more blocks and tackles than any other team on matchday one proves. This was another exhibit of my long held belief that Leicester City FC thrives as the underdog and our role was perfectly executed on Monday evening.

There is now an excitement heading towards the game at Craven Cottage. A day out in London during the bank holiday weekend and an away end which no doubt have been drinking its way along the Thames. Quite literally in the case of the Union FS boat trip. It's with great regret that to simmer down this feel good mood, I recall the last trip to the Cottage; a grim 5-3 defeat. By half-time, we were as good as relegated. A shambles of a performance where effort seemed a bonus rather than, as Carmy says in the TV series The Bear, 'a non-negotiable'.

Our record generally is not that great at Fulham. When subtracting a behind closed doors victory where James Justin was part of a superb team goal, you must go back to 1983 for our last win there. One of the products of the good result against Spurs is that there will be some expectation, however faint. There's no denying this will be a difficult game; Fulham still boast six or seven players who would feature in a top four team.

However, the recent outgoings from the Cottagers have created a void in quality through the spine of the pitch. This was highlighted in their loss at Old Trafford where Joshua Zirkzee's tendency to come deep and spin off in his self-proclaimed '9 and a half' role caused them a real issue. The centre back pairing of Issa Diop and Calvin Bassey has its issues when it comes to tracking 'second man' runners hence the signing of Joachim Andersen from Crystal Palace (and Jorge Cuenca from Villarreal).

Similarly, the big departure of Joao Palhinha in midfield has left Fulham short of middle three physicality. Their answer has been to sign Sander Berge as a tall, stronger option to support the more workmanlike efforts of Sasa Lukic. It remains to be seen if Marco Silva feels an immediate need to draft in this pair of new signings to solve these issues.

Alongside that, there will be an almighty battle on the wings that may cause Leicester to have a personnel change. Adama Traore, often fruitless in his forays up the right wing, does give Fulham the chance to recover and move forward on the transition. James Justin has competed well against him before and remains Leicester's speediest option at left-back despite the clear restrictions playing on his unfavoured side.

While Fulham's fullbacks are good, quick and can be dangerous. Antonee Robinson and Kenny Tete are excellent at getting up and down. Well, step forward Abdul Fatawu. The 'overloads' will be interesting to see who gets outnumbered.

Additionally, the arrival of Oliver Skipp for City gives a selection choice in midfield; to replace Wilf Ndidi who provides important height and physicality at set pieces or move Facundo Buonanotte who was simply excellent on Monday towards the wing. We've signed Jordan Ayew; the signing that gives Joe Kinnear Wimbledon vibes. Another to the collection of Premier League experience players who are 'good guys' at their former clubs. And he's 32 heading onto 33.

Either way, it promises to be a good day which will leave a mark on our memories. Whether positive or negative, there's a feeling that Leicester City are in transition on so many levels. This is another test of which that direction will go. Never boring.



https://www.thefosseway.net/viewpoint/leicester-city-hazzetta-dello-sport-cfgy4

Up next: Leicester City (h)
Fulham's first home game of the season arrives with a feelgood factor fizzing around the fanbase following two crucial signings completed in the wake of last Friday's agonising defeat by Manchester United. Sander Berge, linked heavily a move to Old Trafford this summer, arrives from Burnley as a midfielder of real repute, whilst the surprise return of Joachim Andersen – which gathered pace only over the last weeks – serves as a significant boost to Marco Silva following the loss of a couple of centre backs over the course of pre-season. The Fulham head coach suggested during yesterday's press conference that a forward should arrive before the end of the transfer window and there is a real sense that the Whites' transfer business has stepped up since Shahid Khan returned to the UK.

Silva also spoke of his disappointment at the failure to gain even a point from Fulham's opening fixture at Old Trafford. In what was an open game, his side were hit by a late sucker punch having created a number of good opportunities on the counter attack. The pain of the failure of Andreas Pereira and company to make the right decision in the real third still remains but, a week on, there is at least the realisation that Silva's side once again went toe-to-toe with the champions – and, perhaps with more minutes in the legs of Emile Smith Rowe among others, the precise passing and probing at pace will alter any predictability about the Whites in attack this term.

Fulham's success on their return to the top flight over the past two seasons has largely been built on picking up points at home. Silva's style might well evolve in the absence of Joao Palhinha and Willian – both were missed in Manchester for different reasons – but you could at least see the signs of a new method during ninety largely encouraging minutes. Fulham fans might be more used to watching Pereira in the number ten role, but the Brazilian has played most of his football in the more orthodox central midfield position he filled alongside Sasa Lukic last Friday. The playmaker's link up with Smith Rowe and then Alex Iwobi and the lightning fast Adama Traore on the flanks gives Fulham's approach play a different look from last season – whilst Pereira's deeper position should help the Whites progress the ball up the pitch more easily as they try to play out from the back.

Silva revealed that Berge, a £20m signing from Burnley, is not fit enough to start against the Foxes this afternoon and, at the time of writing, it remains unclear whether Andersen's move was completed in time for him to feature. Both will undoubtedly make Fulham stronger – even if the biggest worry we have about this side is the regularity of goals that they can deliver. Much depends on the effectiveness of Rodrigo Muniz, who toiled manfully in Manchester for little reward, and perhaps that explains why Silva is seeking further forwards in the final days of the window.

Leicester, coached by the underrated Steve Cooper, will present a tough proposition at the Cottage. The Foxes fought to claim a creditable draw against Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night and the reuniting of Oliver Skipp and Harry Winks, two Tottenham academy graduates, in the engine room should give the newly-promoted side an injection of guile alongside the classy Wilfred Ndidi, who shone in their Championship success last season. Cooper will have do without the injured trio Patson Daka, Conor Coady and Jakub Stolarczyk, but Craven Cottage should give a rapturous reception to the returning Bobby De Cordova-Reid, whose role in the club's recent rise cannot be understated.

MY FULHAM XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, A. Robinson, Diop, Bassey; Lukic, Pereira; Traore, Iwobi, Smith Rowe; Muniz. Subs: Benda, Castagne, Sessegnon, Cuenca, Reed, Cairney, Sessegnon, Stansfield, Jimenez.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/08/up-next-leicester-city-h-2/

'We're Very Much A Collective' – Cooper's Call For Continued Unity
Steve Cooper outlined how the group will be sticking together as Leicester City's Premier League campaign moves towards its next juncture this weekend.

A trip to Craven Cottage to face Fulham is on the agenda on Saturday afternoon (3pm BST kick-off), as the Foxes aim to build on the point picked up at home to Tottenham Hotspur – Cooper's first competitive game in charge.

A busy press conference room awaited the former England youth coach on Thursday, as he told the media what he has taken from that opening game, as well as what to expect from his side this coming outing...

'Really excited to play again'
Central midfielder Oliver Skipp has been added to the Foxes' ranks ahead of the clash with the Cottagers, while the squad remain in a buoyant but focused mood, Cooper revealed, heading into a first away fixture of the season.

"The Premier League demands everything of you and even sometimes all in one game," he commented from LCFC Training Ground. "It's always important to have the right strength in depth for what's needed from game to game.

"We have a nice balance in midfield now and it allows us to pick the right players for the right gameplan, which is what we want. I want to be in that place with every position on the pitch, but the guys are in a great place. There's a really good vibe and they're in really good spirits.

"There has been all pre-season, but especially since getting that first game out of the way with a fairly positive result. We want to be winning, of course, especially at home, but against a team talking about being at the top end of the league, there's a lot of good to be taken out of it. We're really excited about playing again."

'Silva has built a good team'
Asked what he made to Fulham's opening weekend fixture, a narrow 1-0 reverse at Manchester United, City's Manager was impressed with what he saw from the Cottagers, who could have taken the points themselves on another day, falling to defeat courtesy of a late Joshua Zirkzee goal.

"They played well," the 44-year-old mused on the west Londoners. "Marco [Silva] has obviously been there for a good few years now and has built a really good way and a good team. They are the same as us, have added players recently, and we need to be ready for that. It's a really well coached team and full of players who can make a difference.

"What we learned from the other night, more than anything else, is that if we don't do what we can do, then it ends up being irrelevant because this is the Premier League. Every game we play, we could talk about the opponent and where the strengths are and how good they are."

'A lot of confidence'
Taking on an established Premier League side, Cooper anticipates another tough encounter in the capital following on from facing Tottenham, which tested many aspects of City's credentials, but also provided a performance with much promise, particularly in the second 45.

He explained: "It was a great reminder against Spurs that if we don't look after ourselves, you're not able to look after anything else. That's really where our focus is. There always are a lot of learnings from a game but you've always got to bear in mind the context as well. With it being the first back in the Premier League, and some debuts, all of that can add to it.

"Maybe a little bit of that showed in the first half, as well as playing against a really good team and allowing them too much of the ball and too much respect. We just needed to be a lot braver in the second half. That's on all of us – we're very much going to be a collective this year. We played with some good intent and ambition in the second half.

"You've got to back yourself and believe in yourself and do what you can do in terms of strengths and that will always be the main influence on our game. A lot of confidence will be taken from that second half, but we've also got to be not narrow-minded enough to learn from the first half as well. There's been more talk about that in the game review.

"That's the process on how we get better and improve, because we really want to become a team who compete successfully week in, week out. There's been a lot to reflect on, a lot to learn from and a lot to be encouraged by."



https://www.lcfc.com/news/4092306/were-very-much-a-collective--coopers-call-for-continued-unity/featured?lang=en

French club move for ex-Man Utd defender previously tipped for Aston Villa, Fulham, Crystal Palace moves
French side RC Lens are lining up a loan move for Luton Town defender Teden Mengi, according to reports.

Mengi left Manchester United to join Luton Town upon their promotion to the Premier League last summer and played 35 games across all competitions in 2023/24, but was unable to stop the Hatters from suffering an immediate relegation back to the Championship.

However, Mengi was one of Luton's top individual performers, ranking first among his teammates in Premier League play for interceptions (57) and clearances (136).

According to a report from Foot Mercato (via Football League World) earlier this summer, Mengi's form had attracted the attention of Fulham, Crystal Palace and Nice, although no move ever materialised.

Former Aston Villa striker Stan Collymore also told CaughtOffside back in April he rates Mengi so highly that he'd 'drive him to Villa Park tomorrow' to complete a transfer.

"I can't be the only one who's noticed that he has all of the background, the ambition to leave United at 21 to go it alone," he said in an exclusive interview.

"I've been really impressed by his performances and I'm sure he'll be on several "big clubs" radars.

"He's played for England at every age level so will have had an A+ club and international grounding. Personally, I'd drive him to Villa Park tomorrow if Unai Emery fancies it."

Lens target ex-Man Utd defender Teden Mengi
A more recent report from Foot Mercato (via Get Football News France) has revealed Lens as the latest potential suitor for Mengi.

It's claimed the Ligue 1 side are looking to secure the 22-year-old on a loan deal with the option to make the move permanent next summer.

Lens are in the market for a centre-back with Austria international Kevin Danso a reported target of Italian giants Roma.

Mengi has already appeared twice for Luton this season, playing the full 90 minutes as the Hatters lost 4-1 to Burnley and drew 0-0 against Portsmouth to open the new Championship season.



https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/08/24/former-man-utd-defender-teden-mengi-luton-lens-ligue-1/

Key Hammersmith and Fulham developments in pipeline from £1.3bn 'cultural landmark' to town hall revamp
The Olympia Exhibition Centre scheme is just one of a number of major works currently ongoing in Hammersmith and Fulham

Perhaps defying its status as one of London's smallest boroughs, Hammersmith and Fulham is nonetheless a seemingly endless hive of activity. Home to sporting institutions such as Chelsea and Fulham football clubs plus world-class facilities including Imperial College's White City campus, the West London locality is rarely short on both new and developing initiatives.

Looking ahead, the borough continues to have a run of projects likely to have a profound impact on the area. From a revamped town hall to a £1 billion-plus transformation of an historic exhibition space, below are some of the schemes changing the face of Hammersmith and Fulham.

Olympia Exhibition Centre
The Olympia, which is right on the border with Kensington and Chelsea, has been a prime London venue for 130 years, hosting artists from Jimmy Hendrix to Pink Floyd as well as events such as Crufts and the Ideal Home Show.

It was bought by real estate investment firms Yoo Capital and Deutsche Finance International in 2017, and is in the midst of major revamp to turn it into West London's latest 'cultural landmark'.

The plans include a range of new bars and restaurants, plus hotels, a theatre, and a 4,000-person music arena as part of the redevelopment. The council has approved a slew of licensing applications already this year, ahead of the site's planned opening in 2025.

Shepherd's Bush Market
The 110-year-old Shepherd's Bush Market is earmarked to undergo redevelopment after Hammersmith and Fulham Council approved plans last December. Applicant Yoo Capital, which owns the site and is also behind the Olympia scheme, is looking to introduce new stalls, a nine-storey commercial building, and aesthetic works such as new entrance signs. The council is also to get 40 social homes on the adjoining Old Laundry Yard as part of the scheme.

Concerns were raised by local groups including Protect Shepherd's Bush Market, in particular relating to the extent of the support promised to existing traders, and the leases they will be offered under the plans.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan was petitioned to halt the proposals ahead of them going before him earlier this year. City Hall however announced last month that it would not be calling in the plans, with Andrew Thorpe, Managing Director at Yoo Capital, saying the company is looking forward 'to continuing to work with the traders on the next part of the process towards construction'.

Civic Campus
One of the council's own major schemes currently progressing is its Civic Campus project on King Street. Approved by Hammersmith and Fulham in 2019, it will see the Grade-II listed art deco town hall 'revitalised' as part of a wider series of works, including public squares, restaurants and a cinema.

The new campus will also deliver 204 new homes, 52 per cent of which are to be 'affordable'. Work was set back in 2022 when scaffolding fell on-site, injuring two men.

In a comment on the project's website, Council Leader Stephen Cowan said: "The award-winning architects RSHP have taken our ethos and vision for the Civic Campus and given us stunning new public amenities which breathes new life into our borough.

"We have benefited throughout from the commitment and wisdom of local volunteer commissioners. I am forever grateful to them and to all the people who attended the exhibitions offering their insights and advice. It is a beautiful, environmentally positive and accessible new quarter where people can live, work, play and relax."

No date is given for its completion, though a council spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) earlier this year that it is 'coming along nicely'.

EdCity
Another council initiative, this time in collaboration with education charity Ark, EdCity is a scheme designed to provide facilities including homes, an office building, and community services to White City.

The project's website details how, once completed, a new 'education hub' will deliver benefits to the area through a new school, Ark White City Primary Academy, Harmony Nursery, and the Adult Community Education Centre, plus a new OnSide youth zone.

A total of 132 affordable homes are also planned for the site, all of which will be managed by the council. Of these, 33 will be at London Affordable Rent.

A timeline indicates the entire EdCity is hoped to be completed in 2025, though some facilities, such as Ark White City Primary and OnSide, are already open.

Hammersmith flyunder?
This is unlikely to happen anytime soon, with some doubting it will ever see the light of day, though the prospect of the Hammersmith flyover being replaced with an underground tunnel has been given fresh impetus.

In a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) published earlier this year, the council detailed its vision for Hammersmith Town Centre. This included building nearly 3,000 new homes, adding 10,000 jobs, and creating a Hammersmith high-line, similar to that introduced in New York. Perhaps the most eye-catching proposal, however, was that of knocking down the 1960s flyover and building a tunnel in its place.

According to the SPD, this would remove an 'eyesore and physical barrier', 'significantly' enhance the townscape, lessen the impact of through traffic, and release land for development.

Replacing the flyover with a flyunder has been considered on a number of occasions previously, though never got off (or under) the ground. Richard Farthing, Chair at the Hammersmith Society, previously told the LDRS: "The flyunder was always financially and logistically challenging and depended on large long-term cash injections plus commitment from TfL. It's hard to see how the numbers stack up now with all the construction inflation, some saying as much as 25 per cent, it's more on the wish list now. A plan B that doesn't rely on it is needed."



https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/key-hammersmith-fulham-developments-pipeline-29792832

Fulham join race to sign Viktor Tsygankov
Fulham will reportedly look to seal a late move for 26-year-old Girona winger Viktor Tsygankov, with the Catalan outfit demanding around €30 million to part ways with him.

According to a report by AS, as relayed by Sport Witness, Viktor Tsygankov is the subject of interest from Fulham. The Cottagers are keen on signing a wide attacker before the summer transfer window shuts down. Meanwhile, Girona will demand around €30 million to part ways with the 26-year-old winger.

The rise of Viktor Tsygankov
Viktor Tsygankov has been among the best wingers in La Liga since joining Girona from Dynamo Kyiv in January 2023. He went under the radar during his formative years and the early part of his career. However, he has taken to the Spanish top flight like a fish to water.

The 26-year-old was instrumental in Girona clinching a top-four finish in La Liga, contributing to 15 goals in 30 league outings by finding the back of the net eight times and providing seven assists. Meanwhile, Tsygankov's progress at Estadi Montilivi has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe.

Widespread reports have linked the Ukrainian international with European bigwigs like Arsenal, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona. However, those clubs have cooled their interest in securing Viktor Tsygankov's services, with Fulham emerging as the newest club in the race to land his signature.

London calling?
Fulham's interest in Viktor Tsygankov is understandable. The Cottagers have parted ways with Willian this summer, while Alex Iwobi is the only reliable wide attacker at the West London outfit. So, it behoves Fulham to invest in a top-quality winger, with the Girona forward emerging as a viable target for the club.

The report does not mention an impending bid, but Fulham must move quickly to secure Viktor Tsygankov's signature, considering the summer transfer window closes in less than a week. Meanwhile, the 26-year-old will not come cheap, with Girona demanding around €30 million to part ways with him in the coming days.

It is unclear if Fulham will be open to coughing up €30 million to secure Viktor Tsygankov's services in the summer transfer window. For now, the Ukrainian international has emerged as a viable target after his exploits in La Liga for Girona.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2024/08/24/fulham-join-race-to-sign-viktor-tsygankov/

"Fulham have given up" – President says Marco Silva's side ended interest in player, refused to increase bid
Fluminense star André Trindade won't be joining Fulham this summer.

That's according to Fluminense president Mário Bittencourt, who revealed that Fulham have ended their interest in the midfielder. He provided this information to the Brazilian media and his comments are relayed by Rádio Itatiaia.

Last month, Bittencourt confirmed that his side had made a counter-offer after Fulham came in with a bid for the 23-year-old. He was also aware of André's agent travelling to London, to hold talks with Marco Silva's side.

Earlier claims have stated the English club offered €25m for the Brazil international.

The Premier League side haven't returned with an improved bid. Fluminense got in touch with Fulham to find out their plans and have been told that they ended their interest in the player.

"What we have at the moment is that Fulham have given up, they are no longer interested in the player. And we don't have an official offer from any other club, but we've had surveys, conversations, enquiries that have been made directly to the player's representative," he said.

"There are still almost 10 days [less than a week in England] to go until the European window closes and there are still other markets. So, we'll wait until the end of next week.

"We haven't had any counterproposals between €25m and €35m. We asked Fulham officially if they had any intention of taking the player and they said they no longer have any interest."

Earlier this week, Fulham completed the signing of Sander Berge from Burnley. This would have convinced the London club to officially end their interest in André.

On Friday, TNT Sports in Brazil stated Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers have contacted André's agent. The Premier League duo could try to sign him, after Fulham walked away.

Reading between the lines, Fluminense appear to have pushed their luck too far.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-have-given-up-president-says-marco-silvas-side-ended-interest-in-player-refused-to-increase-bid/

Revealed: Why Fulham now offer pints for just £1 before home games at Craven Cottage... and why it has to be before 2pm

    Fulham are incentivizing fans to arrive early for clash with Leicester on Saturday
    Craven Cottage is set to open as much as three hours before the 3pm kick-off

Fulham are offering huge reductions on their price of drinks before their first Premier League game of the season at Craven Cottage.

Marco Silva's side enter Saturday's clash against Leicester looking to rebound from a 1-0 defeat on the opening day.

New signing Joshua Zirkzee netted in the closing stages to secure all three points for Manchester United last Friday.

Heading into the first game of the 2024-25 season to be staged at Craven Cottage the club have slashed the price of drinks for supporters who arrive early to the stadium.

Those who get through the turnstiles early can enjoy pints of beer for just £1, with all soft drinks just 50p.

On Saturday The Riverside stand will open three hours before the 3pm kick-off, whilst the Johnny Haynes Stand, Hammersmith and Putney Ends will open at 1pm.

Fans who arrive within one hour of each stand's respective opening times will also be entered into a prize draw to win the club's new home shirt, signed by Silva.

The aim of the initiative is to reduce crowd congestion in the lead-up to the game getting underway, with the club's website warning that fans who arrive too close to kick-off may risk missing the opening stages of the match.

After a disappointing start to the season, the Cottagers will be hopeful of securing their first points against the newly promoted side.

Leicester were the only of the three teams to come up from the Championship to avoid defeat on the Premier League's opening weekend.

37-year-old Jamie Vardy netted the 137th goal of his Premier League career to secure a point for the Foxes after Pedro Porro headed Ange Postecoglou's side in front at the King Power Stadium.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13775703/Why-Fulham-offer-pints-just-1-home-games-Craven-Cottage-2pm.html

Mr Khan's Programme Notes


Good afternoon to everyone who has joined us today for our first home game of the 2024-2025 campaign. It is my honour to welcome back our loyal Fulham Football Club supporters for another season in the Premier League, our third consecutive appearance in top-flight football. I am also pleased to welcome to Craven Cottage the travelling supporters from Leicester City as their club returns to the Premier League just one year after relegation. All of this combined with our unparalleled setting on the River Thames guarantees a fantastic environment for today's match!

Making the afternoon even more special, however, will be the return of Bobby De Cordova-Reid to Craven Cottage. It's a challenge to describe Bobby's career during his five seasons at Fulham, because – no exaggeration – he did it all. What will not be difficult is showing our appreciation for Bobby's service to our Club. No matter the manager, and no matter the assignment, Bobby delivered with good spirit and outstanding performances. I look forward to applauding Bobby De Cordova-Reid and know that I will be far from alone in showing our respect and gratitude. Thank you, Bobby, and may you have a rewarding new chapter at Leicester City!


I was impressed with our debut at Manchester United on 16 August. The result was a disappointment, of course, but there was much to like, particularly our excellent start and fearless play. The spirit that was evident within the squad through training and our pre-season matches in Portugal and Germany was on full display at Old Trafford, a tribute to our Head Coach Marco Silva and our players alike. We were reminded that the returning core of our team is strong, and our first look at Emile Smith Rowe wearing a Fulham shirt in Premier League action was extremely encouraging, as we expected.

We will continue to consider smart options to strengthen our roster through the balance of the summer transfer window, as we do annually. For now, though, I'd like to take this moment to acknowledge the five players we have acquired, all of whom will play important roles immediately and into the future.

Emile Smith Rowe represents a record transfer spend for Fulham, underlining our intention to invest in the First Team and our ambition to thrive in the Premier League. Emile arrived from Arsenal to make an instant impact in the friendlies vs. Sevilla and Hoffenheim, and we all hope his Craven Cottage debut this afternoon will offer more of the same.


Jorge Cuenca joins Fulham from Villarreal, where he gained vast experience as a left-sided centre-half and left-back while helping his squad reach the knockout stages of the Europa League just last season. Jorge is only 24 years old and strengthens the spine of our setup, which will always be a priority. It's fantastic to have someone like Jorge, whose future is bright and will be realised here at Fulham.

Sander Berge arrived via transfer from Burnley earlier this week. Sander answers our need for a defensive midfielder and is no stranger to Premier League competition, having played for Sheffield United prior to his time at Burnley. Sander played every minute in both of our matches vs. Burnley last season, highlighted by a goal here at the Cottage just before Christmas. We are thrilled Sander is now on our side!

What a pleasure it is to welcome back Joachim Andersen to Fulham Football Club from Crystal Palace.  Joachim has played centre back for club and country, and his positive impact here while on loan in 2020-2021 from Lyon was such that he became a fan favourite, even though we rarely saw him play in person due to the pandemic. Joachim excelled throughout that challenging campaign, fighting for Fulham on loan with the same spirit as though we were his boyhood Club. Joachim is now truly with Fulham, and that's fantastic news for our back line and the entire squad.

Finally, Ryan Sessegnon is home. I spent time with Ryan and his family several weeks ago at Motspur Park, and it was an immensely joyous moment for all of us. The key factor, however, is what Ryan can and will contribute to Fulham on the pitch. That's what enthuses me the most, and Ryan expressed the same. To Emile, Jorge, Sander, Joachim and Ryan, we are delighted that you now call Fulham Football Club your home. And, in Ryan's case, happy homecoming!


Welcome, also, to Gonçalo Santos, who joins Marco's staff following the departure of Luis Boa Morte. Gonçalo played for Marco when both were at Estoril and they are together again, illustrating the importance of trust and relationships in football.

In addition to Bobby De Cordova-Reid, we have said farewell to five other players who represented Fulham with distinction. Best wishes to Willian and Tosin, both of whom capably played crucial roles for us since our return to the Premier League in 2022. Marek Rodák was a Fulham Academy product with a magnificent disposition, always putting the team first. Marek's performance in goal during our title season in the Championship was sensational, and he leaves with my deepest respect.

The spark and determination João Palhinha offered Fulham will never be forgotten. Few play football like João and, for that reason, we were far from surprised that João was attracting the attention of the world's biggest clubs early in his tenure at Fulham. We concluded that the right thing for the player and Club was to do business that would benefit both. We feel we have done that with an incoming transfer fee that has the potential to be the largest in our team's history, surpassing the previous mark set just a year ago. Thank you, João, for a two-year shift at Fulham that was intense, thrilling and memorable.

Finally, it seemed we would never say goodbye to Tim Ream, such was his reliability on the pitch and presence within our Club over nine seasons at FFC. Whatever the occasion was, Tim was there – to make a long pass with uncanny precision, to head a ball away from danger (and direct it to a teammate), to lead, to comfort, and to represent the values upon which Fulham Football Club is founded. There are too many warm memories to recite here, so I will just summarise for now that if ever someone defined the term servant, it was Tim Ream. Tim is now home in the United States with his beautiful family and new team, Charlotte FC, but he will always have a home here at Fulham and we look forward to receiving him at Craven Cottage in the future. Thank you, Tim!


There is one more player exit from Fulham that deserves recognition. Mary Southgate departed last month after more than 150 appearances for the Fulham Women's Team, which she captained on the pitch and served as its ultimate ambassador away from the game. Fulham was Mary's childhood club, and we hope it will remain so. Thank you for your brilliance and service, Mary!

The Fulham Women's Team made quite a statement in its first outing of the new campaign with a dominant 6-0 victory over Barking at Craven Cottage earlier this week. We welcome newcomers Stella Gandee Morgan, Evie Gane, Charlyann Pizzarello, Lily Stevens and Amber Webber, and I wish all of our players and Head Coach Steve Jaye all the best in their next match Sunday at Motspur Park vs. Millwall.

One final but important note on the Fulham Women's Team. Last week we announced that All Elite Wrestling, or AEW, would be the front-of-shirt sponsor for the current season. AEW is a family business announced in early 2019 that today enjoys global popularity and success that many observers deemed unimaginable, given the number of failed professional wrestling start-ups over many years and the worldwide pandemic that severely complicated AEW's launch. Undeterred, AEW prevailed.


Today we are hosting a number of AEW athletes at Craven Cottage ahead of our return this Sunday to Wembley Stadium for the second edition of AEW All In London, which last year shattered multiple records across the professional wrestling industry. Fans representing 70 countries packed Wembley for a globally televised pay-per-view event that created history in 2023, and I hope you'll take the opportunity on Sunday to experience the magic and spectacle of AEW at Wembley yourself. You will not be disappointed!

The reception to the AEW-branded shirts for the Fulham Women's Team, from players and supporters alike, has been outstanding. For that, I thank you. What is more important, however, is everything the AEW sponsorship represents. AEW proudly features a deep roster of women athletes, and this partnership is making a stand for the continued progression of women excelling in sport. It is also an investment in the continued growth of FFC Women, consistent with our recent decision to transfer the program at the Club from Foundation to Performance. Together with AEW, we will continue to identify new and creative means to elevate the Fulham Women's Team during the season ahead, and I encourage everyone to visit fulhamfc.com for the list of fixtures so you can make plans to join us soon for home match at Motspur Park.

It was a pleasure to support England on its journey to the final of the UEFA European Championship, take in Copa América in the United States, and follow men's and women's football during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. For fascination and excitement, however, nothing compares to the Premier League. I'm glad it's back and that we're able to share it together today at Craven Cottage, home to London's Original Football Club. Whether you're a season ticket holder or attending your first match with us, thank you for your support and let's have fun this season!

Come On, Fulham!



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/august/24/mr-khans-programme-notes/