Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 05/08/26...

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Official: Gonzalo García joins Fulham from Real Madrid
The academy graduate has completed a permanent move to the Premier League

Gonzalo García's next chapter is officially underway.

Real Madrid and Fulham have confirmed the transfer of the 22-year-old striker, who leaves the Santiago Bernabéu after agreeing to a move to the Premier League side. The deal is worth approximately €40 million, with Fulham acquiring 70 percent of the player's registration rights, allowing Madrid to maintain a stake in the forward's future.

Gonzalo has signed a contract with the London club through 2031.

Real Madrid retain an interest in Gonzalo's future
While Gonzalo departs permanently, the structure of the agreement ensures Real Madrid remain invested in his development.

By keeping 30 percent of his registration rights, the Spanish giants have positioned themselves to benefit from any future transfer or continued rise in value should the striker establish himself in England.

The arrangement reflects Madrid's confidence in the academy product's long-term potential while also securing a significant financial return for a player who came through the club's youth system.

Reuniting with Arbeloa
The move also sees Gonzalo reunite with Álvaro Arbeloa, who identified the striker as one of his priority targets after taking charge of Fulham.

Negotiations involved Real Madrid, Fulham, and the player before all parties reached an agreement that offered Gonzalo the opportunity for regular first-team football in one of Europe's most competitive leagues.

The Premier League presents a major opportunity for the young forward to continue his development while remaining firmly on Real Madrid's radar thanks to the terms of the transfer.

Leaving after making an impression
Gonzalo departs Madrid having scored 13 goals for the first team and leaving a positive impression during his time with the senior squad.

Although his opportunities were expected to become more limited amid increased competition for places, Fulham's strong commitment convinced the striker that now was the right time to make the move.

At 22 years old, he arrives in England with the chance to play a central role under a manager who already knows him well.

Premier League debut awaits
Gonzalo could make his competitive Fulham debut on August 24, when the club opens its Premier League campaign against Chelsea.

The fixture carries extra intrigue, with Chelsea managed by former Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso, setting up an immediate high-profile test for the academy graduate as he begins his career in English football.

For Real Madrid, the deal represents both a strong financial return and a strategic one, generating a sizeable transfer fee while preserving a stake in a player the club still believes could have a bright future.



https://www.managingmadrid.com/real-madrid-cf-news/110939/official-gonzalo-garcia-joins-fulham-from-real-madrid

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Official: César Palacios joins Fulham from Real Madrid
The Castilla winger completes a move to the Premier League

Fulham have officially completed the signing of Real Madrid academy graduate César Palacios.

The 21-year-old winger leaves the Spanish capital after the two clubs finalized a deal worth approximately €10 million, with Fulham acquiring 70 percent of the player's registration rights. Real Madrid will retain the remaining 30 percent, ensuring they maintain an interest in the youngster's long-term future.

The move reunites Palacios with former Real Madrid Castilla coach Álvaro Arbeloa, who made the winger one of his top priorities after taking charge of the Premier League side.

Arbeloa pushed for the transfer
Palacios had attracted interest from multiple clubs during the summer, including Cesc Fàbregas' side, but Arbeloa's desire to bring the young attacker to Fulham ultimately proved decisive.

According to reports from Spain, the Fulham manager urged the club's sporting department to complete the signing, with negotiations accelerating over the past few days before an agreement was reached.

Although the transfer fee falls in the region of €10 million, Real Madrid were never expected to sell all of the player's rights. By keeping a 30 percent stake, Los Blancos preserve the possibility of benefiting from Palacios' future development while receiving another significant return on one of their academy products.

Reward for Castilla performances
Palacios established himself as one of Castilla's standout performers before earning opportunities with the senior team.

His first-team debut came under Arbeloa in the Copa del Rey against Albacete, and he went on to make six additional appearances for Real Madrid. During that stretch, he also made his UEFA Champions League debut against Benfica, adding another milestone to his rapid progression through the club's ranks.

His performances convinced Fulham that he was ready for the next step in his career.

A new challenge in the Premier League
The move to England offers Palacios the opportunity to continue his development with regular first-team football under a coach who already knows his strengths and potential.

For Fulham, the signing brings in a player Arbeloa trusts after working closely with him during his rise through Real Madrid's academy.

For Real Madrid, the agreement continues a familiar strategy of generating substantial revenue from academy graduates while retaining a percentage of their rights, allowing the club to closely monitor players who could continue to develop into top-level talents.

Palacios now begins the next chapter of his career in the Premier League, while Madrid will watch his progress from afar with a continued financial stake in his future.



https://www.managingmadrid.com/real-madrid-cf-news/110942/official-cesar-palacios-joins-fulham-from-real-madrid

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A youngster to watch at each Premier League club this season
Which youngsters will make their mark on the 2026-27 season?

The Premier League is not far away, with reigning champions Arsenal hosting newly promoted Coventry City on Friday, 21 August.

We have picked 20 prospects, one from every Premier League club, who will be looking to enjoy a breakthrough season.

Who knows, some of these listed could provide a real bargain for you Fantasy Premier League managers out there.

Arsenal - Max Dowman (attacking midfielder/forward)
It feels strange to say that a player who has already scored a goal in the Premier League is about to have a breakthrough season - but that is exactly the case for Max Dowman.

He broke the record to become the youngest scorer in Premier League history last season and made his first league start on the final day of last campaign, too.

The attacker is still only 16 years old, and made six appearances in the league last season, but after being given a taste of first-team action is set to be more involved this time around.

Dowman scored in a pre-season friendly win over Girona and going forward is likely to be a legitimate option for manager Mikel Arteta, both on the wing and as a number 10.

Arteta will still protect the highly rated youngster, but this season could be the time we see Dowman in the Arsenal first team on a regular basis.

Aston Villa - George Hemmings (midfielder)
The midfielder has been highly rated at Villa Park for some time and is considered the best of their recent crop of talent to come through the academy.

He made his first-team debut at Arsenal last season and made four appearances for Unai Emery overall, including two in the Europa League.

A strong start to pre-season, including a goal in the defeat by Real Sociedad, underlines the 19-year-old's potential.

Bournemouth - Veljko Milosavljevic (defender)
Centre-half Veljko Milosavljevic is already a Serbia international and became the youngest Bournemouth player to start a Premier League match when he played against Brighton in September.

Milosavljevic, who turned 19 on 28 June, featured in seven Premier League games in 2025-26, with the Cherries winning four and drawing one.

However, the 6ft 4in defender has not featured since January because of a knee injury, but will be hoping to get back to his best and continue his impressive start at Vitality Stadium.

He joined the Cherries from Red Star Belgrade on deadline day at the start of September in 2025, for an initial fee of £13m.

Brentford - Kaye Furo (striker)
In January, Brentford paid £8m to sign Belgian striker Kaye Furo from Club Brugge.

A 6ft 3in quick and powerful striker, Furo had played in the Champions League against Arsenal before moving to west London with Bees boss Keith Andrews saying: "Kaye is someone we have tracked for a while that we are really excited about bringing to the club.

"His attributes are ones I like and feel we can develop within the environment we have created. I have no doubt he will be a big player for us."

Furo played two FA Cup ties for Brentford before making his Premier League debut in May, coming on as a late substitute in a 3-0 victory over West Ham, and Andrews will be hoping for a big season from the 19-year-old.

Brighton - Zadok Yohanna (winger)
Brighton have established a reputation for finding exciting young talent and Seagulls fans will be hoping they have done it again with the purchase of 19-year-old Nigerian right-winger Zadok Yohanna.

The club agreed a £21.5m deal to sign Yohanna from Swedish club AIK Stockholm, where he scored five goals and provided four assists in 18 appearances.

Former Brighton midfielder Warren Aspinall, speaking on the Albion Unlimited podcast, felt the club's fans had every reason to be optimistic.

"It's a little bit of a scalp because two other big clubs in England were chasing him in Chelsea and Newcastle, so they got ahead of them which is very good," said Aspinall.

"It might be the right price and the going rate for an up-and-coming, good player.

"Have we got another diamond to polish up? That's what we're looking for - these rough diamonds to polish up and sell on for big money."

Chelsea - Dastan Satpaev (forward)
Kazakhstan striker Dastan Satpaev, 17, appears the most likely of Chelsea's young prospects to break through, having received praise from new manager Xabi Alonso.

Satpaev opened the scoring against Western Sydney Wanderers with a powerful near-post finish and looks quick, powerful and capable of finding the net regularly.

He already has Champions League experience and is a superstar in his homeland, winning nine caps since 2025.

There have also been impressive cameos from midfielders Landon Emenalo, who has been converted into a left-back, Reggie Walsh, Reggie Watson and Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli.

Coventry City - Kai Andrews (midfielder)
Central midfielder Kai Andrews made his Coventry City debut aged 17 at the start of the 2023 season.

Andrews, now 19, can also play on the left and featured 10 times for the Sky Blues last season before spending the second half of 2025-26 on loan at Hibernian.

That was his second spell in the Scottish Premiership after a loan spell at Motherwell the campaign before. He scored his first senior goal in Hibernian's 2-1 league victory at Celtic in February, and he has already been capped three times by Wales.

Andrews has been back in Coventry colours in pre-season and will be hoping to force his way into Frank Lampard's Premier League line-ups.

Crystal Palace - Joel Drakes-Thomas (winger/wing-back)
Crystal Palace's successful Conference League campaign, which ended with the Eagles winning their first European trophy, provided an opportunity for young players to impress.

Joel Drakes-Thomas was one of those to shine as, aged 16 years and 192 days, he made his senior debut in the 2-2 draw with Finnish side KuPS, producing a player-of-the-match performance.

He played against Leeds two days after the KuPS match, becoming the youngest player to turn out for the club in the Premier League.

Drakes-Thomas, who can play as a right wing-back or on the wing, turned 17 in June and signed his first professional contract with the Eagles at the beginning of July after being with the club since the age of six.

He has already made four senior appearances and will be hoping for many more in 2026-27.

Everton - Harrison Armstrong (midfielder)
Central midfielder Harrison Armstrong has been with Everton since the age of five and established himself as a key member of the first team in the second half of last season.

He made his Toffees Premier League debut early in the 2024-25 campaign and has now played 16 times in the top flight as well as having half-season loans in the Championship, firstly with Derby County and then Preston North End.

His performances led to him being named Everton's young player of the season and he has regularly featured for England Under-19s. The 19-year-old can play either as a defensive midfielder or in a more advanced role.

"He's not looked out of place in the Premier League. That's the biggest compliment I could give Harrison," said Everton boss David Moyes in January.

Fulham - Jonah Kusi-Asare (forward)
It promises to be a big season for exciting forward Jonah Kusi-Asare after he completed a £5m permanent move to Fulham in the summer

The Swede, who turned 19 in July, joined on a five-year deal with an option for a further 12 months after he had played 10 times for the Cottagers while on loan from Bayern Munich last season.

Kusi-Asare is 6ft 5in and has represented Sweden at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level.

He made seven substitute appearances in the Premier League last season. However, with last season's top scorer for Fulham, Raul Jimenez, moving to Wolves in the summer, expect Kusi-Asare to play a larger role this term.

Hull City - Calvin Okike (left-back/central defender)
Eighteen-year-old Nigerian defender Calvin Okike is tipped for a bright future at Hull City and signed his first professional contract in the summer, a two-year deal with the option of a third.

He largely featured for the under-21s last season, but was an unused substitute in a 2-0 win over Norwich City in the Championship.

Okike had a loan spell at National League club Hartlepool United this year, scoring within a minute on his senior debut. Although expected to stay largely with the under-21s in 2026-27, he has featured in Hull City's friendly victories over Turkish sides Konyaspor and Caykur Rizespor, 3-0 and 2-1 respectively.

Okike won the academy player of the year award in 2025-26 and will be looking to push on into the first team this campaign.

Ipswich Town - Luca Fletcher (winger/forward)
Nineteen-year-old striker Luca Fletcher joined Ipswich Town on a permanent deal in the summer after a successful loan spell from Manchester City.

While at City, rapid forward Fletcher, an England Under-17s international, helped the club reach the FA Youth Cup final in 2024 and 2025 before impressing at Ipswich, scoring six times in the Premier League 2.

He is yet to play a senior game, but has been training with Ipswich's first team, with new boss Gary O'Neil saying he has been impressed by the youngster.

Town's attacking options look limited with unproven Brazilian striker Emersonn, 22, joining for £24m, and Japan's Daizen Maeda also signing in an £8m move from Celtic.

In the Championship, the centre-forward duties were shared between George Hirst and on-loan Spaniard Ivan Azon.

However, Hirst, an unused member of Scotland's World Cup squad, only scored 11 league goals, while Azon only got five and has returned to parent club Como.

Leeds United - Alfie Cresswell (midfielder)
When 19-year-old midfielder Alfie Cresswell makes his senior debut for Leeds, he will be the third member of his family to do so.

His dad Richard was a striker for the Whites from 2005 to 2007 and older brother Charlie, a defender who has represented the England Under-21s, came through the ranks at Elland Road and made 14 senior appearances before a £3.8m move to French side Toulouse in 2024.

Alfie Cresswell is the captain of the under-21s, featuring in the Vertu Trophy last season, and was an unused substitute in Leeds' last two Premier League matches of 2025-26.

But a first senior Leeds start is not too far away, as he was included in their squad for the tour of the United States, playing in the 3-2 friendly loss to Wrexham in Florida and the 1-0 win over Sunderland in New Jersey.

Liverpool - Trey Nyoni (midfielder)
Given last season was Rio Ngumoha's breakthrough year and the 17-year-old is expected to play a much more prominent role this season, the focus must go on Trey Nyoni, who has been one of the standouts of Liverpool's pre-season.

Nyoni, 19, was considered one of the players who could play in the first team under Arne Slot but was not given the opportunity he desired.

"Even when he [Trey] has one opponent quite close, he asks for that ball and he's confident, he doesn't rush. For me, that is very valuable," new Reds manager Andoni Iraola said.

With that in mind, the chances of the midfielder getting more game time this season have definitely increased.

Manchester City - Ryan McAidoo (winger)
Winger Ryan McAidoo, 18, scored on his first-team debut in the FA Cup last season, one of two appearances in the competition, and he may thrive in Enzo Maresca's system if given the opportunity.

McAidoo was a real livewire in the friendly against Inter Milan, coming close to scoring the winner, and the manager was suitably impressed afterwards saying the youngster is the type of winger he "loves".

The Italian will be watching his development closely in pre-season before making a decision whether to keep him with the first team or grant a loan move away to aid his development.

Notable mentions go to midfielders Divine Mukasa, 18, and Floyd Samba, 17.

Manchester United - Shea Lacey (forward)
Shea Lacey was on the fringes of the first team towards the end of Ruben Amorim's time at Manchester United, sparkled immediately after the Portuguese's dismissal at Burnley, then got sent off in the FA Cup against Brighton.

Although it was the final game of the season - also against Brighton - before he played senior football again, he did score a hat-trick on Premier League 2 duty. This pre-season he has been one of United's best players.

He was outstanding against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm, winning the penalty Bryan Mbeumo scored to level and putting Atletico's defence on the back foot. Best at starting on the right and cutting in, expect to see a lot of him being introduced from the bench.

Newcastle - Sam Alabi (midfielder)
Sam Alabi only signed his first professional contract in July, but the 17-year-old has his sights set on a senior debut for Newcastle this season.

The dynamic midfielder was named on the bench on a handful of occasions in the previous campaign after fearlessly holding his own in training with the first team.

Alabi went on to suffer a season-ending shin injury in January, but former head coach Eddie Howe backed the teenager to have a bright future if he continued to work hard.

Although Newcastle have since spent £57m on a couple of young midfielders in Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba, Alabi is one to watch as someone who has already captained England at youth level.

Honourable mention for Mason Miley (17, defender or midfielder).

Nottingham Forest - Azae Bonnick (midfielder)
Midfielder Azae Bonnick is a rising star in Forest's academy and scored 39 goals and provided 14 assists, playing up an age group for the under-16s last season.

He has also earned a call-up to the England Under-15s.

Bonnick made his under-18s debut for Forest against Sunderland in March, just a week after turning 15.

Sunderland - Chris Rigg (midfielder)
Although only 19, English midfielder Chris Rigg is closing in on 100 appearances for the Sunderland first team.

He played an integral part in helping the Black Cats get into the Premier League with 42 league appearances in 2024-25, including starting the Play-Off final win over Sheffield United at Wembley.

Rigg, who can operate as a defensive or attacking central midfielder, then made the step-up impressively, starting 11 Premier League matches, with a further seven appearances from the bench.

Already a regular for England Under-19s, Rigg will expect to play a vital role for his club this season, especially with Sunderland having more games as they will be playing in the Europa League - their first major European campaign since the 1970s.

Tottenham - Luca Williams-Barnett (forward)
Attacker Luca Williams-Barnett, 17, has been described by Spurs manager Roberto de Zerbi as a "precious diamond" - and it is easy to see why.

Quick, skilful and always looking to get a shot away, the forward is playing as though he wants to break into the first team immediately.

The highlight was arguably his decision to take a Panenka penalty in the 4-2 shootout victory over Sydney FC last week.

He has impressed in all four of Spurs' friendlies so far. Centre-back Malachi Hardy, 18, is another youngster who has earned praise from De Zerbi and excelled in the 2-1 win over Chelsea.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cre4np3pnxqo

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Official: Real Madrid finalise €50m double deal with Premier League club
Real Madrid have had a very busy summer so far, and that had continued this week with confirmation of two more deals being done. While the wait to sign Yan Diomande and Rodri goes on, two players have departed the Bernabeu in order to link up with former head coach Alvaro Arbeloa at Premier League side Fulham.

In the last couple of weeks, Fulham have stepped up plans to sign Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios. Both players have been personal requests by Arbeloa, who's been keen to continue using La Fabrica talents despite no longer being in charge at Real Madrid.

Last week, an agreement was reached for Fulham to sign both Gonzalo and Palacios, and on Monday, the London club made the two deals official. Gonzalo was the first to be announced (via X), and 30 minutes later, Palacios followed suit (also via X), with both players signing five-year contracts until the summer of 2031 – in Gonzalo's case, Fulham have the option to extend his stay by an additional 12 months.

Real Madrid receive €50m from Fulham deals
Originally it was reported that Real Madrid would receive €70m from selling Gonzalo and €10m from Palacios, although the latter deal was later corrected €40m. Still, this allows Los Blancos to rake in another €50m from players that were not expected to feature prominently for new head coach Jose Mourinho.

It is also worth noting that Real Madrid have retained a 30% sell-on clause for both players, although there has been no buy-back clause included in the negotiations with Fulham – although they do have a matching rights clause for Gonzalo, meaning that they can buy him back if a deal is agreed by the Premier League side with any other club in the future.

Real Madrid will certainly be keeping tabs on both players during their time at Fulham, and it cannot be ruled out that they end up back at the Bernabeu in the future.



https://siempremadrid.com/official-real-madrid-finalise-e50m-double-deal-with-premier-league-club/

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Is Gonzalo Garcia the number nine Fulham have been craving?
Take a deep dive into our new striker.

The transfer engine has finally roared into life at Motspur Park and Gonzalo Garcia has joined Fulham.

It's a saga that feels like its gone on for an age, and while there are lots of convoluted reports regarding transfer fees, it appears to be a £34m deal (as part of a combined £42.9m package with Cesar Palacios), with Real Madrid having a 30% sell-on clause.

Raul Jimenez was a fantastic servant for the club, but this felt like a summer in which Fulham needed to get the striker recruitment spot on - and finally replace Aleksander Mitrovic. So, have they?

The fact file
A lot of Gonzalo Garcia's career has come at youth level, with the 22-year-old only just starting to make waves in the professional game. Garcia joined Madrid's academy in 2014 and has been there ever since (barring one year in 2018 where he spent the season with the Mallorca academy).

The Spaniard rose through the ranks at La Castilla and first fully made his mark in the 2022-23 season where he was top scorer in the "Division de Honor Juvenil de Futbol" (Spain's U19 division) and also helped Madrid to a domestic U19 treble earning him a place in the Castilla side.

He did feature a few times for Real Madrid in La Liga during 2023-24 and 24-25 but spent the majority of that period playing for Real Madrid B. He did get his first senior goal in this period though scoring in the Copa del Ray quarter-final against Leganes in early 2025. His star season for Real Madrid B came in 2024-25 where he bagged 25 goals in 36 games equaling the all-time record for most goals in a single Castilla campaign.

This saw him break into the first team conversation where he impressed for Xabi Alonso's side in the 2025 Club World Cup scoring against Al-Hilal, Red Bull Salzburg and Juventus ending the tournament as the top scorer. This earned Garcia a contract renewal until 2030. During a turbulent season for Madrid, he held is own and was favoured by Alvaro Arbeloa when he took over in January. The forward played 30 times in La Liga (starting nine) and scored six goals.

At international level, Garcia was a youth international for Spain at U18, U19 and U21 levels before getting his first men's cap in June coming on against Iraq in a 1-1 draw prior to the World Cup.

A deeper dive
These stats should be taken with a pinch of salt due to his limited game time, but the metrics suggest Fulham are getting a bit of a player here.

His expected goals are 0.51 per 90 with his actual goals showing as 0.57 suggesting that he's a prolific striker in the box and with both of these stats showing in the top 20% of forwards in Europe's top five leagues he has certainly impressed. It's not just his goals that stand out; 19.38 successful passes per 90 (top 25%) alongside an 85% success rate for passes (top 5%) show that he's comfortable on the ball and will bring others into play.

He may be slightly less of a physical presence than Jimenez though averaging 1.99 duels won per 90 (top 40%) compared to Jimenez's 6.67 (top 15%). Maybe this suggests that Arbeloa will look to play football a slightly different way with a focus of playing the ball directly to Garcia's feet rather than having him be a bit more physical and "rough up" defenders.

This could also be highlighted by Garcia's defensive stats. Averaging 2.17 defensive contributions per 90 (Jimenez averaged 5.43), 1.04 tackles per 90 (Jimenez averaged 1.43) and 0.28 interceptions (Jimenez averaged 0.33) could suggest that Arbeloa wants his forward to stay further up the pitch. Another argument is that Garcia just isn't as filled out as Jimenez and that's an area of his game he will need to improve for Fulham.



Again with the stats above, this should be taken with a pinch of salt as Jimenez played double the minutes for Fulham compared to Garcia for Madrid (and a lot of Garcia's appearances came off the bench), but it shows a forward whose clinical in the box and good at linking up play but needs to work on the physical aspects of his game.

Exciting
I can't sit here and claim to have watched a whole bunch of Garcia but from what he's shown in his career so far, this is exciting. He's taken steps up in his career both at youth and professional level and adjusted to them like a duck to water. It is obviously a risk to sign a player who only scored six times in La Liga last season but I think a calculated and smart risk.

The price tag is par for the course in the modern game. We've also managed to get Real Madrid's sell-on down from 50% to 30%, which will help us significantly if he flourishes and we end on moving him on for a large fee.

We've spoke about Fulham's need to start adopting the Brighton/Brentford model and this feels like a step in the right direction. This one's a yes from me.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/is-gonzalo-garcia-the-number-nine

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Where does Cesar Palacios fit in at Fulham?
Jack Stroudley assesses the latest incoming from Real Madrid

Transfers are like London buses; you wait an age for one and two appear at the same time.

Fulham have continued in their raid of Real Madrid with the signing of Cesar Palacios. The 21-year-old has joined Alvaro Arbeloa's as part of a combined package with striker Gonzalo Garcia, with a 30% sell-on clause for his former club Real Madrid.

It's apparent to all that Fulham are in need of recruits and Palacios brings us up to three for the summer, but where will he fit in?

The fact file
Cesar Palacios started his youth career for Numancia where he stayed for 10 years before being signed by Real Madrid in June 2020. He was promoted through the ranks of the Juvenil C and B team where he managed to score 16 times in 68 appearances over three seasons.

During this period, he suffered an ACL injury during a pre-season match with the first team against AC Milan. He made his return after nine months coming on for Real Madrid B against Marbella.

Alvaro Arbeloa was impressed with Palacios during his time managing the B team and gave him his senior debut in the Copa del Ray in defeat against second division side Albacete. Palacios featured five times off the bench for Real Madrid last season and played the last six minutes of a Champions League tie against Benfica.

Palacios has also featured for Spain at U19 and U20 level scoring on debut for the U19 side against Germany. He also featured in the European U19 Championship Team of the Tournament in 2023.

A deeper dive
It's difficult to read into any stats during his professional career as he only played 81 minutes of league football for Real Madrid last season, so I've taken a look at his stats playing for Real Madrid B to understand what Arbeloa sees in Palacios. He predominately plays as an attacking midfielder but can also drift out to the left when needed.

As you may expect, I've not exactly watched much of Real Madrid B so am basing this analysis off of reports from different sites and scouts, but those said sites and scouts give encouraging signs.



What can we take away from this? Firstly, Palacios was one of the top performers in the division for goals and assists. Before he was involved with Arbeloa's first-team, Palacios managed nine goals and two assists in 19 games and was directly involved in 38% of goals scored by Real Madrid B – not bad for an attacking midfielder. His progressive carries and pass percentage also indicate towards a player whose comfortable receiving the ball and driving at players as well as someone whose happy to sit and link-up play when needed.

The obvious concern here is his lack of defensive actions and duel win perecentage. Palacios is lightweight and does appear to get bullied off the ball quite easy and this is something that may go in his favour when trying to adapt to 1) more men's football 2) more men's football in the Premier League.



The photo above showcases just where you'd imagine Palacios will want to operate. In the middle of the park and drifting out left to help wingers (and Antonee Robinson/Sess) when needed. The run-in behind here shows he's not afraid to take risks and get himself into good positions and ultimately score.

RealMadridFabrica posted about Palacios back in 2023 and gave a glowing review of Cesar. I won't go through all the list and have linked here if you want a closer look but here are a few points to take away:

    - Versatile can play in multiple positions.

    - Has an innate sense of when to move and where to move.

    - Very good and intelligent between the lines.

    - Gets into goalscoring situations easily.

That's all good, but where does he fit in? I'm not entirely sure another number 10 is what we need right now, especially given his lack of minutes. How long will he take to get up to speed? Does this signing mean that we may see King deeper? Does this signing mean that Smith Rowe may play wider?

One for the future?
I can't see Palacios strolling up to Motspur Park, stealing the show and immediately locking down a place in the starting XI. But I think being around a coach he's familiar with and playing in a new league will be good for Palacios. That Carabao Cup round two fixture in August feels like a perfect opportunity for him to show Fulham what he's about and it's clear he's got a lot of development to go.

I think for the fee it's a good signing; approximately £7m in this day and age is peanuts. It's not like we've chucked £20m-£30m down on him and there's a need for him to hit the ground running. My only concern is that I hope this isn't seen by Arbeloa as a first-teamer from the get-go.

Regardless of this signing, Fulham still need bodies in midfield (albeit slightly deeper) and options out wide after losing Wilson and Chukwueze. Palacios's position to begin with doesn't feel too dissimilar to a youth player, good to have around, but not someone who's going to pull up trees... yet.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/where-does-cesar-palacios-fit-in

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Fulham 'Asking For A Lot' As Bid For Cottagers Star Talk Denied
Roma have not put in an offer for Fulham star Kevin, amid the Cottagers putting a high price on the Brazilian's head.

Kevin joined Fulham in September last year from Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk for a club-record fee of €40m, signing a five-year contract with the Craven Cottage side.

The winger established himself as a reliable option to come off the bench and help the Cottagers, as they eased him into Premier League football.

In the recent Premier League season, the 23-year-old made 26 appearances for Fulham, while scoring one goal and providing an assist, but missed a chunk of time through injury.

After just one season at Craven Cottage, Kevin is already attracting interest from Serie A club Roma.

It has been suggested that Roma have gone in with a bid to try to take Kevin to Italy.

That talk though is wide of the mark, according to Italian journalist Eleonora Trotta, as the Giallorossi have not made an offer for Kevin.

Fulham are 'asking for a lot' in order to think about letting Kevin go and Roma are currently focused on other targets.

Kevin's career history

Club	Years
Desportivo Brasil	2020
Palmeiras	2021-2024
Shakhtar Donetsk	2024-2025
Fulham	2025-

Having paid €40m for the Brazilian and with four years still left on his contract, the Cottagers are clear that Kevin will not be allowed to go cheaply.

Fulham are preparing for a new era under Spanish boss Alvaro Arbeloa, with the Cottagers backing him in the transfer market after completing the club-record signing of Gonzalo Garcia from Real Madrid, matching the fee paid for Kevin.

Having just signed a striker, the Craven Cottage outfit are also looking to bolster their defence and are interested in Chibuike Nwaiwu, but face competition from fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

However, it has been suggested that Trabzonspor's valuation poses the biggest hurdle to any deal.

Elsewhere,It has recently been suggested that Fulham star Antonee Robinson has attracted interest from Newcastle United and 'could be tempted' to make a move to St. James' Park.



https://insidefutbol.com/2026/08/04/fulham-asking-for-a-lot-as-bid-for-cottagers-star-talk-denied/722212/

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AS Roma offer €50 million to sign Kevin, Fulham want more
AS Roma will look to sign 23-year-old Brazilian winger Kevin from Fulham in the summer transfer window.

According to a report by Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte, Kevin is the subject of interest of AS Roma. The Serie A heavyweights are eager to bolster their offensive unit by signing a versatile attacker ahead of the 2026/27 season, and they have their sights set on the 23-year-old Fulham winger.

Per Globo Esporte, AS Roma's opening bid worth €50 million has not been enough to convince Fulham to sell the South American attacker. However, the report has not mentioned the West London club's asking price, though it has suggested they value him "even higher". Meanwhile, other Italian clubs are also interested in the player, with AS Roma expected to submit an improved offer.

Kevin and his time in the Premier League so far
Kevin has endured a topsy-turvy ride since joining Fulham from Shakhtar Donetsk in a deal worth €45 million, including add-ons, last summer. While the 23-year-old showed flashes of brilliance, he was in and out of the starting lineup in his debut season with the West London club.

The Brazilian winger has amassed only 1,469 minutes of game time in 31 appearances for Fulham thus far while chipping in with three goals and four assists. However, despite not being an undisputed first-choice starter for the Cottagers, his stock remains high, with AS Roma among the prospective suitors vying for his signature.

Serie A adventure beckoning?
AS Roma's interest in Kevin is understandable. The Serie A giants have seen Stephan El Shaarawy depart from Stadio Olimpico as a free agent this summer. Additionally, Bryan Zaragoza has returned to Bayern Munich after the end of his loan spell.

Several candidates, including Oscar Bobb, have thus emerged on AS Roma's wishlist, but they have already lost many races thus far, with Alejandro Garnacho joining Aston Villa, Crysencio Summerville moving to Al-Hilal, and Mason Greenwood picking Fenerbahche as his next destination. Kevin has thus emerged as an appealing alternative on AS Roma's wishlist.

Despite the Brazilian's limited playing time in 2025/26, Fulham's rejection of a €50 million offer reflects their conviction in his potential. However, with AS Roma reportedly prepared to return with an improved offer, they will hope to meet Fulham's valuation, which remains unknown.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2026/08/04/as-roma-offer-e50-million-to-sign-kevin-fulham-want-more/

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'The First Name' – Fulham Defender Emerges As Major Target For Champions League Side
Fulham are facing interest from Turkish giants Fenerbahce in left-back Ryan Sessegnon, who has emerged as 'the first name' for the club if they lose Archie Brown and Jayden Oosterwolde.

Sessegnon joined Fulham's academy as an under-nine player and spent more than a decade progressing through the ranks before making his senior debut in 2016.

The defender re-joined the Cottagers during the summer of 2024 from fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer, and signed an initial two-year contract, which Fulham extended until June 2027.

Since then, the 26-year-old has gradually established himself as an important player for Fulham's defence, while also being much more consistent and injury-free than what he was at Spurs.

In the recent Premier League season, Sessegnon made 27 appearances for the Cottagers, while also chipping in with three goals and one assist.

Juventus made enquiries for the Fulham star during the winter transfer window, but the Cottagers were determined to keep hold of the defender beyond the summer.

Now Fulham face a fresh threat and it comes from a side who have Champions League football to offer in the shape of Fenerbahce.

According to Turkish outlet Fotomac (via A Spor), Sessegnon is 'the first name' for Fenerbahce to move for if Oosterwolde and Brown both leave.

Both players have been tipped to depart the Istanbul club and Fenerbahce are increasingly thinking about how to fill the gap

Fenerbahce will make contact in the coming days to explore a swoop for Sessegnon.

It remains to be seen whether Fulham allow Sessegnon to leave this summer or trust him with another season at Craven Cottage.

The views of the defender could be crucial, as Fenerbahce could be an attractive prospect.

Another left-back at Fulham attracting transfer market interest is Antonee Robinson, who 'could be tempted' to make a move to Newcastle United.

Elsewhere, Roma have yet to submit an offer for Fulham star Kevin, with the Cottagers demanding a substantial fee for the Brazilian.



https://insidefutbol.com/2026/08/04/the-first-name-fulham-defender-emerges-as-major-target-for-champions-league-side/722284/

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Málaga (A) Pre-Season Tickets

The Club can now confirm ticket details for Fulham's away pre-season fixture against Málaga, with the Club receiving 344 tickets.

Follow Fulham in Spain for their trip to the Estadio La Rosaleda as they face Málaga CF on Wednesday 12th August, kick-off 8pm (BST) / 9pm (local time).

Tickets for this fixture are priced at £9.50 and will go on sale to 2026/27 Season Ticket Holders at 9:30am on Wednesday 5th August. 2026/27 Members will be able to purchase tickets from 9:30am on Thursday 6th August. Tickets for both Season Ticket Holders and Members will be restricted to 1 per person due to the limited allocation available to Fulham fans.

This fixture marks the 36th edition of the Cervezas Victoria Costa del Sol Cup, Málaga's traditional summer pre-season tournament.

All supporters will receive their ticket digitally from Málaga's Ticketing Team from Tuesday 11th August.

Supporters can purchase tickets online at fulhamfc.com/tickets, by calling the Ticket Office on 0203 871 0810 (Mon-Fri, 9:30am-5pm) or in person from the Ticket Office (Mon-Fri, 9:30am-4:30pm).



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/august/04/m-laga--a--pre-season-tickets/