Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 30/06/26...

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Premier League 26/27 – Fulham
The 2026/27 Premier League campaign is right around the corner. Arsenal are aiming to defend their title, with Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea all trying to take it.

For AFC Bournemouth, it's a season like no other. Andoni Iraola has left the Cherries and taken over at Liverpool, whilst Marco Rose is entering his first season in English management, bringing his experience of European football to the south coast.

For the first time in 127 years of football, the Cherries will enjoy a European campaign, entering the UEFA Europa League. That draw will take place in August, so first up, plan your calendars around the domestic campaign.

When do AFC Bournemouth meet Fulham?

Fulham v AFC Bournemouth – Saturday 28th November 2026*

AFC Bournemouth v Fulham – Saturday 30th January 2027*

How far do the Dean Court faithful have to travel?

Distance to the 27,782-capacity Craven Cottage from Dean Court? 103 miles via M3 and M4.

What happened last time out?

9 May 2026 – This has to be one of the most memorable away trips for AFC Bournemouth for many years.

Supporters arrived by car, by train, and by boat for this one.

The atmosphere from front to back of the away stand was electric from the first whistle. The sun was shining, Balloons were flying, and the stand was bouncing. It was just the perfect away day.

Despite referee Andy Madley and VAR's attempt to take the spotlight by intervening twice to send off both Ryan Christie and Joachim Andersen. Thankfully, it was game and the atmosphere in the away end that will be the memory in years to come.

The result was 1-0 to the Cherries with Rayan Rocha running down the wing, scoring a goal, which made the Bournemouth sing...

The three points took Bournemouth up to sixth on the day, on 55 points, with two games remaining. AFC Bournemouth were 6 points clear of Chelsea in ninth, meaning European qualification had been practically secured. A moment where the fans and players connected at the full-time whistle.

Head-to-Head Record
Games won:   18
Games drawn:   13
Games lost:   12

Has anything changed at Fulham?

Fulham manager Marco Silva has left the club after five years. A week after his contract expired at Craven Cottage, he was announced as the new Benfica manager, replacing Jose Mourinho, who had made the move to return to Real Madrid.

No replacement has been named at Fulham, Alvaro Arbeloa is the leading candidate, whilst Coventry manager Frank Lampard and former Ipswich Town head coach Kieran McKenna have all been linked.

The playing squad has had a big clear out, with Raul Jimenez rejoining Wolverhampton Wanderers and Harry Wilson making the move to Leeds United.

Transfermarkt value comparison (as of 24th June 2026)

AFC Bournemouth – €565.70m

Fulham – €356.20m

Prediction for Fulham this season?

With such upheaval and a new head coach to be named, it's pretty difficult to predict anything at Fulham for next season.

It's hard to see a side that just finished 11th in the 2026/27 Premier League campaign dropping so far that they might be at threat from relegation. But it wouldn't be the first time.

Equally, get the appointment right and make some clever astute signings and perhaps they could have a tilt at qualifying for Europe.

If there's a space free on that fence over there, I'm having it.


* Fixtures are subject to change due to broadcast selection from Sky Sports and TNT Sport.
European fixtures in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League can also see many games moved to the Sunday 2pm slot.



https://vitalfootball.co.uk/premier-league-26-27-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

World Cup 2026: Luc's Canada march on

Luc De Fougerolles' World Cup journey continues after a late goal earned Canada a 1-0 win in the first Round of 32 tie against South Africa on Sunday.

For the first time in the tournament, De Fougerolles did not start the game, but he came off the bench in the 59th minute and was involved at the beginning of the move that ended with Stephen Eustaquio's stoppage time winner.

It marks a first ever last-16 appearance for Canada, in which they will take on the Netherlands or Morocco in Houston on Saturday, which could pit Fulham defender against Fulham defender, should Issa Diop's team prevail against the Dutch.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/june/29/world-cup-2026-lucs-canada-march-on/

[WhiteJC]

Why have Fulham re-signed Jonah Kusi-Asare?
Jack Stroudley takes a look at our first signing of the summer.

Well, I for one wasn't expecting that.

A signing before we've even appointed a manager - we're firmly in uncharted territory. Fulham have made a signing before July and it's Jonah Kusi-Asare.

The 18-year-old signed from FC Bayern Munich for a fee worth around €6m following his loan last season. He hardly pulled up trees during his loan spell, so why are Fulham going ahead with this one?

Another Tony Khan signing?
Tony Khan gave a fantastic interview to Jack Kelly earlier this month in which he hinted that Fulham's transfer strategy wouldn't be changing but he had learned lessons from his time working with previous managers and making signings without their full backing - but has he?

When speaking to JK about JKA (confusing I know), he said the following. "I think Jonah can be a great asset potentially, so I am open to that and interested in that for sure. I think Jonah still has a lot of development in his young career and I think he's doing fantastic."

It appeared to everyone that Jonah was signed without Marco's full backing last summer, so has TK hit the button again without speaking to a prospective manager? Has Arbeloa been consulted?

A financial win
Buckle up people, it's time to put the accountant hat on. The Premier League SCR rules mean that clubs must spend a maximum of 85% its total football revenue. JKA appears to be a good financial opportunity for Fulham, a young prospect who looked good for our U21s and has a buy-back clause with Bayern Munich. It's the type of business that would be hailed as a success down at Brighton, Bournemouth or Brentford.

I'm not saying that JKA will come in and set the world alight immediately but for €6m we could do a lot worse than him. He's incredibly raw and will be given space to develop in our U21s while serving as a third-choice striker (because surely we won't start the season with just him and Muniz).

Not the finished article - but that's OK
Expanding more on my last point, the club cannot look at JKA as the answer. Because if he is, I'm unsure on the question. Fulham still need a striker regardless of this signing, and JKA needs time with Hayden Mullins in the youth setup.

Arbeloa (if he ever signs) reportedly wants to bring youth through so this presents a fantastic opportunity for JKA and a fantastic opportunity for Fulham to start to become a more sustainable club in the transfer market. Buy low, sell high, rinse and repeat. It's worked for other clubs who have knocked down the European door, why not Fulham?



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/why-have-fulham-re-signed-jonah-kusi

[WhiteJC]

Ouaddou: Diop brings a lot to Morocco
Ahead of Morocco's Round of 32 clash with the Netherlands on Monday night/Tuesday morning, we caught up with former Fulham defender Abdes Ouaddou about their progress as a side, his thoughts on Issa Diop, and what representing the Atlas Lions meant to him.

Morocco looked very good in the group stages, and were perhaps unfortunate not to finish top?

Yes, Morocco is doing well. They just confirmed what they were doing in Qatar in the last World Cup [when they finished fourth], and I'm not surprised. It's the confirmation of the ambitions that the kingdom has had now for more than a decade. It's a vision of our King, Mohammed VI, that he wants to develop football with the boys and the girls, and he invested in the infrastructure, he invested in the sport policy for the youth, for the development, and now we start to get the fruit of what he did.

Is this one of the strongest Morocco sides in your lifetime?

Yes, I can say that it's the strongest side that we had. Why? Because it's the first time that we can see a line-up that can compete against the best players in the world, because we have a couple of players playing in the best clubs in the world as well. Tactically, they are organised, it's a team that's able to play as well, to break the lines, able to imbalance any teams in that World Cup. And the mentality has changed. The Moroccan team now is competing to win competitions, not just competing to go through a stage. This is the big difference between this generation and the previous generation, that when we just passed a stage, everybody's happy. But now, it's not enough. We go, we pass one stage, one round, but we are ambitious, we want to go all the way and to win the cup.

It's good to have some Fulham representation back in the Morocco squad – what have you made of Issa Diop's performances?

Fantastic. Fantastic performance. We've been behind him for a while trying to convince him to join the Moroccan team, because his mum or his father, I don't remember, is Moroccan, but he was not sure. But we are very pleased that at last he decided to take the decision to join the Moroccan team, and we can see really a true leadership among our defence. And we can see the confidence, the serenity that he brings in this line of the defence. He brings us a lot, you know, but I'm not surprised. I'm not surprised, because he's playing for Fulham. I know the values of the Club, I know the fighting spirit, the spirit of Fulham Football Club, and we are just happy for us that Diop is bringing us these values of Fulham Football Club in our country.

Netherlands in the Round of 32 – tough opposition but Morocco must be confident going into that?

Yes, because the quality of the game that we're playing, the contents of what we are showing on the pitch. We are not here only to defend as a low block, we are here to bother all the teams and to score goals, but at the same time we can see a very well-organised Moroccan team. The first game against Brazil was a clear message for the rest of the teams. Most of the coaches in the World Cup are respecting Morocco, you know.

You won 58 caps for the national side – what did representing Morocco mean to you?

I was born in Morocco, [but] I left Morocco when I was one year to go to France, and I lived all my life in France. But I have two countries in my heart. Actually, three! Morocco, France, and England! Of course, Morocco represents my roots, represents the country where I was born, the country that gave me the chance to compete in international football, so of course I'm following closely that team, and I really wish that this World Cup we can go far, and not just to think that it was luck in the World Cup of Qatar, you know? But I'm very proud of the path that the Moroccan football is taking.

You're now Head Coach of Orlando Pirates in South Africa, and won the treble in your first season – congratulations!

Thank you. It was not easy, but we achieved a very big, big target, because it has been 14 years that this club were chasing Mamelodi Sundowns to win the title, but now we managed to come back and win the title, and we won the National Cup as well, and the Carling Cup. So, yeah, it's been a big achievement.

You have been a frequent visitor to Craven Cottage since retiring – can we expect to see you back soon?

I will not lie to you – my time in Fulham Football Club was one of the best, best moments in my career, you know. Me and my family, we felt in love with that Club, so whenever we can come to visit, and to smell the atmosphere of Craven Cottage, for us it's like vitamins. It's like we need every year to come one week, for the Boxing Day, just to smell the atmosphere of Craven Cottage, to see the boys, to see the Club, you know, and then I'm okay for one year. It's my vitamins. I will die with Fulham in my heart. It's fantastic people, family club, fantastic values, and I'm not alone to say that. All the players that have been playing in Fulham, 10 years ago, 20 years ago, five years ago, they don't forget their moment. I don't know what happened, but I think it's the magic of Fulham Football Club. I think it's the kindness, the family atmosphere in that Club, that leaves everybody in love with that Club.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/june/29/abdes-ouaddou-morocco-diop/

[WhiteJC]

Player snubbed move to Fulham and has now signed for Marco Silva's Benfica
Marco Silva tried to sign Clément Lenglet during his time at Fulham, but the defender turned down the chance to move to Craven Cottage.

He has now ended up joining the Portuguese manager after all. However, it happened at Benfica rather than in the West London.

Lenglet was officially unveiled by Benfica this week, and A Bola explains the move brings an interesting twist to a transfer story involving Fulham.

According to the Portuguese newspaper, Silva had been pushing to sign the experienced centre-back while he was managing the Cottagers. However, the move never happened. Lenglet wanted to join a side capable of competing for major honours instead.

That ambition was one of the main reasons he accepted Benfica's offer. Also, A Bola adds the 31-year-old also rejected financially stronger proposals from Saudi Arabia. In addition, he turned down offers from other emerging markets before choosing the Portuguese club.

Fulham couldn't convince him
The French defender had already built up plenty of Premier League experience during loan spells with Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa. He made 35 appearances for Spurs in the 2022/23 season before adding another 25 for Villa the following campaign.

Interestingly, Lenglet came up against Silva's Fulham twice during those spells and won both matches by the same 2-1 scoreline.

Despite Fulham's efforts, the defender felt his next move needed to be to a club where he had a realistic chance of winning trophies.

Plenty of experience arrives in Lisbon
Clément Lenglet heads to Benfica with an impressive CV behind him. The former Barcelona defender has played in three of Europe's top five leagues. He has also made 60 Champions League appearances across spells with Sevilla, Barcelona, Tottenham and Atlético Madrid.

His time at Barcelona brought a La Liga title, a Copa del Rey and a Spanish Super Cup. He played 160 matches for the Catalan giants. Overall, he played 293 in total across his career in Spain.

Lenglet has also been capped 16 times by France. He made his debut under Didier Deschamps. Lastly, he last featured for the national side a year ago in the Nations League semi-final against Spain. In that game, he lined up alongside Ibrahima Konaté.

The defender also has previous experience against Benfica. He played in the 0-0 Champions League draw at Camp Nou in 2021, remained on the bench for Barcelona's 3-0 defeat in Lisbon later that group stage, and also watched from the Atlético Madrid bench as Benfica claimed a 4-0 Champions League victory in October 2024.

For Fulham, it is another reminder of a transfer target who slipped away. Marco Silva eventually gets to work with Lenglet – just not in the circumstances he originally hoped for.



https://sportwitness.co.uk/player-snubbed-move-to-fulham-and-has-now-signed-for-marco-silvas-benfica/

[WhiteJC]

Barnet sign former Fulham goalkeeper Ashby-Hammond
League Two side Barnet have made goalkeeper Taye Ashby-Hammond their eighth summer signing on a free transfer.

Ashby-Hammond, 27, came through Fulham's ranks and won promotion from the fourth tier in the 2022-23 season during a loan move to Stevenage, who signed the former England youth goalkeeper permanently but released him at the end of last season.

"We've been watching Taye from afar for a long time," manager Dean Brennan told Barnet's website, external, praising Ashby-Hammond's ability to deal with crosses, reliability and all-round qualities.

"He's been promoted out of this division and he's a great age for us. Some of the references we've had on him have been outstanding.

"We know he's a good kid, a fantastic level-headed character and intelligent. He will make us a better group and make the team better."

Ashby-Hammond did not appear for Fulham but was ever-present in Boreham Wood's run to the 2021-22 FA Cup fifth round while on loan at the National League side, winning at then-Championship club Bournemouth along the way.

"It feels amazing," said Ashby-Hammond, who is the older brother of Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Luca Ashby-Hammond.

"The facilities look amazing and all the guys here seem like great people. I can't wait to get started."

Defenders Zac Williams and Craig Farquhar, midfielders Brandon Comley and Charlie Lakin, winger Tom Knowles and forwards Isiah Noel-Williams and Jack Maskell have also joined the Bees this summer.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c3vye6d3l5yo

[gang]

Why have Fulham re-signed Jonah Kusi-Asare?
Jack Stroudley takes a look at our first signing of the summer.

Well, I for one wasn't expecting that.

A signing before we've even appointed a manager - we're firmly in uncharted territory. Fulham have made a signing before July and it's Jonah Kusi-Asare.

The 18-year-old signed from FC Bayern Munich for a fee worth around €6m following his loan last season. He hardly pulled up trees during his loan spell, so why are Fulham going ahead with this one?

Another Tony Khan signing?
Tony Khan gave a fantastic interview to Jack Kelly earlier this month in which he hinted that Fulham's transfer strategy wouldn't be changing but he had learned lessons from his time working with previous managers and making signings without their full backing - but has he?

When speaking to JK about JKA (confusing I know), he said the following. "I think Jonah can be a great asset potentially, so I am open to that and interested in that for sure. I think Jonah still has a lot of development in his young career and I think he's doing fantastic."

It appeared to everyone that Jonah was signed without Marco's full backing last summer, so has TK hit the button again without speaking to a prospective manager? Has Arbeloa been consulted?

A financial win
Buckle up people, it's time to put the accountant hat on. The Premier League SCR rules mean that clubs must spend a maximum of 85% its total football revenue. JKA appears to be a good financial opportunity for Fulham, a young prospect who looked good for our U21s and has a buy-back clause with Bayern Munich. It's the type of business that would be hailed as a success down at Brighton, Bournemouth or Brentford.

I'm not saying that JKA will come in and set the world alight immediately but for €6m we could do a lot worse than him. He's incredibly raw and will be given space to develop in our U21s while serving as a third-choice striker (because surely we won't start the season with just him and Muniz).

Not the finished article - but that's OK
Expanding more on my last point, the club cannot look at JKA as the answer. Because if he is, I'm unsure on the question. Fulham still need a striker regardless of this signing, and JKA needs time with Hayden Mullins in the youth setup.

Arbeloa (if he ever signs) reportedly wants to bring youth through so this presents a fantastic opportunity for JKA and a fantastic opportunity for Fulham to start to become a more sustainable club in the transfer market. Buy low, sell high, rinse and repeat. It's worked for other clubs who have knocked down the European door, why not Fulham?



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/why-have-fulham-re-signed-jonah-kusi
[/quote
Was it part of the loan deal?